South Florida Sun-Sentinel opposes Senator John Thrasher's bad legislation to thrash state parks with golf courses

Oppose legislation to build golf courses in state parks

THE ISSUE: Bill would allow golf courses in state parks.

March 11, 2011

Don't get us wrong. We love golf. Just not in state parks.

State Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and Rep. Pat Rooney, R-West Palm Beach, have submitted terribly ill-advised legislation to allow developers to build five golf courses in state parks throughout Florida. Plus hotels.

Even worse, the Thrasher-Rooney bills have bunker-sized loopholes that would let Florida's Division of Recreation and Parks approve even more courses once the first five are up and running.

One of the parks targeted for this misguided venture is Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, home to the wildlife-rich Loxahatchee River. Under these bills, golf courses might get built on other state parks like Silver River, Rock Springs Run, Paynes Prairie or Anclote Key. Altogether, some 40 state parks could get clubbed.

This is what passes for environmental protection these days in Tallahassee? Refusing to fund state land purchases and then handing over what we have to the highest bidder? Replacing natural habitat with sod that needs water and pesticides?

Never mind that Florida already counts plenty of golf courses. Or that some of those courses are in financial trouble. These bills would exert even more financial pressure on Florida's existing golf courses by letting the government pick development winners and letting them build on some of the choicest locations in the state.

Speaking of picking winners, the House and Senate bills specifically mandate that all of the courses be designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. What a sweet deal for the Golden Bear, a South Florida resident who met in January with Gov. Rick Scott. Mr. Scott said he wanted Mr. Nicklaus to "give me his ideas on economic development in the state."

We now have a better picture of what those ideas included, like handing the Golden Bear a no-bid, exclusive opportunity for his company to design golf courses on public property.

To ensure that state biologists don't make trouble, the bills call for a regulatory process "free from unnecessarily burdensome requirements." And local governments are told to butt out, too.

These bills perfectly illustrate Florida's steady march away from an environmental movement that is responsible for saving beaches, forests, rivers, and what's left of the Everglades. Florida's legislators, those with even a shred of respect left for their state's natural places, must stop this madness.

BOTTOM LINE: Smack this ill-advised measure into the rough.

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