- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,145,223
- Reaction score
- 59
The University of Florida’s proposed 36-hole championship golf course moved one step closer to becoming reality after the Alachua County Commission voted to allow state and regional agencies to review the land use for the 580-acre project.
Located on the east side of Southwest 122nd Street (Parker Road), south of Myra Terwilliger Elementary School, the new course would provide the UF men’s and women’s golf teams with a new, state-of-the-art facility while also allowing the public limited access through UF/IFAS, First Tee and other educational opportunities.
In a unanimous vote April 28, county commissioners first heard from UF Vice President for Government and Community Relations Chuck Clemons, who said he appreciated the welcoming three-year partnership on the project.
Kicking off the presentation, Clemons introduced UF men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon, who has led the program for 12 years, winning one national championship and two SEC titles while coaching the team to more than 30 tournament victories.
Referencing an “unfortunate” loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the SEC championship on April 26, Deacon told commissioners the project would be a game-changer for the program, saying the current facility continues to hold the team back, especially in recruiting and the student-athlete experience.
“We’re currently using a facility that’s over 100 years old, and all of our competition in the Southeastern Conference — and that other school up north here in Florida (FSU) — have facilities that are just so far above and beyond us,” Deacon said.
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler asked Deacon what would happen to the Mark Bostick Golf Course. Deacon said the program would keep the course and continue to use it, noting UF would be able to utilize both facilities.
Earlier in the discussion, Wheeler said there had been concern the new UF golf course would not be open to the public and asked whether the Mark Bostick Golf Course could be opened to non-university golfers.
Deacon said golfers can play at the course as long as they have “ties to the University of Florida.”
Representing the planners and engineers for the project, England-Thims & Miller Inc. CEO Tyler Matthews said in a presentation the proposed course would include stormwater ponds designed to protect karst areas, avoid fertilizer and irrigation use, and establish areas of avoidance and caution to reduce nutrient and animal movement, control erosion and improve water quality.
Alachua County resident Janice Garry voiced her disagreement with the dais, asking for a plan to address how animals would be affected by disturbances to the golf course area.
Another commenter emailed the commission, saying the project may seem like a great idea for Realtors and land speculators but questioned the logic of destroying “good farmland for 18 students” when UF already has a golf course and several Gainesville courses need new ownership.
Thanking UF and county staff, Commission Chair Ken Cornell said the decision followed two and a half years of discussion.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to show the community what we can do together,” Cornell said. “We have an 800-pound gorilla in the University of Florida, and when they lean in on things, we get a better result.”
The County Commission is expected to vote on the proposal June 23.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: SEC golf course project advances after vote
Continue reading...
Located on the east side of Southwest 122nd Street (Parker Road), south of Myra Terwilliger Elementary School, the new course would provide the UF men’s and women’s golf teams with a new, state-of-the-art facility while also allowing the public limited access through UF/IFAS, First Tee and other educational opportunities.
In a unanimous vote April 28, county commissioners first heard from UF Vice President for Government and Community Relations Chuck Clemons, who said he appreciated the welcoming three-year partnership on the project.
Kicking off the presentation, Clemons introduced UF men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon, who has led the program for 12 years, winning one national championship and two SEC titles while coaching the team to more than 30 tournament victories.
Referencing an “unfortunate” loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the SEC championship on April 26, Deacon told commissioners the project would be a game-changer for the program, saying the current facility continues to hold the team back, especially in recruiting and the student-athlete experience.
“We’re currently using a facility that’s over 100 years old, and all of our competition in the Southeastern Conference — and that other school up north here in Florida (FSU) — have facilities that are just so far above and beyond us,” Deacon said.
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler asked Deacon what would happen to the Mark Bostick Golf Course. Deacon said the program would keep the course and continue to use it, noting UF would be able to utilize both facilities.
You must be registered for see images
Earlier in the discussion, Wheeler said there had been concern the new UF golf course would not be open to the public and asked whether the Mark Bostick Golf Course could be opened to non-university golfers.
Deacon said golfers can play at the course as long as they have “ties to the University of Florida.”
Representing the planners and engineers for the project, England-Thims & Miller Inc. CEO Tyler Matthews said in a presentation the proposed course would include stormwater ponds designed to protect karst areas, avoid fertilizer and irrigation use, and establish areas of avoidance and caution to reduce nutrient and animal movement, control erosion and improve water quality.
Alachua County resident Janice Garry voiced her disagreement with the dais, asking for a plan to address how animals would be affected by disturbances to the golf course area.
Another commenter emailed the commission, saying the project may seem like a great idea for Realtors and land speculators but questioned the logic of destroying “good farmland for 18 students” when UF already has a golf course and several Gainesville courses need new ownership.
Thanking UF and county staff, Commission Chair Ken Cornell said the decision followed two and a half years of discussion.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to show the community what we can do together,” Cornell said. “We have an 800-pound gorilla in the University of Florida, and when they lean in on things, we get a better result.”
The County Commission is expected to vote on the proposal June 23.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: SEC golf course project advances after vote
Continue reading...
