by Sally Swartz
Audubon of Martin County and Florida Audubon wasted no time. Shortly after Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardems, and Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, filed legislation to create at least five golf courses in Florida state parks, both local and state Audubon groups took action.
Martin’s board voted to “actively oppose” legislation requiring that a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course be built in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, the only park named in the bills, but didn’t take a stand on building courses in other parks.
Audubon of Florida issued a “call to action” to conservationists, asking park users to comment on its Facebook page and to vote in an Orlando Sentinel poll.
Others provide links to e-mail Mr. Rooney and Mr. Thrasher.
The bills are even more alarming than early reports suggested. For starters, the legislation would allow hotels in the parks and beer and liquor sales at golf facilities. The golf courses would not have to follow any city or county government regulations.
The legislation is an incredible sweetheart deal for Mr. Nicklaus, who met with Gov. Scott early on to suggest the plan for a “Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail” of courses in Florida’s public parks. Nicklaus’ lobbyist Jim Smith, former attorney general and secretary of state, told the St. Petersburg Times the governor endorses the idea.
Nicklaus Design has exclusive rights to design all the courses, though the firm agrees to lower its usual rate of $2.5 million per course to $625,000 each. In a down economy, not a bad deal.
A quick read of the requirements for companies to bid, build and operate the courses shows that Mr. Nicklaus’ golf operations have an edge. How many companies have 20 years’ experience in “successful development and operation of public and private golf facilities?” Or experience in developing courses in state parks of another state which have received awards? Just in case there is another golf course development giant out there, Mr. Nicklaus’ firm gets to pass judgment on whether it participates.
Mr. Rooney told the Stuart News the legislation only targets 200 “developed” acres in Jonathan Dickinson State Park that were part of Camp Murphy during World War II. But the legislation doesn’t say that, and the reality is that wetlands, habitat for endangered plant and animal species and other sensitive lands could wind up as part of the golf course.
Considering the millions of gallons of water a golf course needs to stay green, environmentalists also ask where the water would come from. The Loxahatchee River already suffers acutely from saltwater intrusion that threatens its freshwater-loving cypress trees. Water for a golf course literally could change the character of the federally-designated wild and scenic river forever.
Supporters argue golf courses would give Florida’s tourism industry a boost.
But tourists already value the parks because they provide a glimpse of the natural, wild beauty that visitors love. Tourists treasure the Florida wilderness even more because it has disappeared from so much of the state.
Some suggest courses could be located on land owned by universities or water districts. But water districts often buy land to use as water recharge areas for groundwater. Golf course fertilizers and pesticides could be dangerous there, too.
No one disputes Mr. Nicklaus’ golf credentials or his contributions to the state and the sport. But this “golf trail” through state parks seems designed chiefly as a corporate money-maker in a bad economy.
He apparently hopes the “Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail” in Florida’s parks would create a legacy. And they would, but not a good one. Who wants to be remembered for destroying land, water and wildlife the state bought to save forever?
Sally Swartz is a former member of The Post Editorial Board. Her e-mail address is sdswartz42@comcast.net
Tags: Florida Audubon, golf, John Thrasher, Martin County, Pat Rooney, Sally Swartz
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 10th, 2011 at 5:28 pm and is filed under Economy, Environment, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
4 Responses to “Golf courses don’t belong in Florida state parks”
1. melody Says:
March 11th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Has there been a survey taken of those using the park if a golf course would be something they would use? Imagine the horror of a “golf tournament” being THROWN AT the park?
2. melody Says:
March 11th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
If there is no private land for purchase to develop golf courses where are those new gambling casinos going to be built?
3. Golf courses don’t belong in Florida state parks – Palm Beach Post (blog) | Buy Golf Today Says:
March 11th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
4. Golf courses don’t belong in Florida state parks – Palm Beach Post (blog) | Best Golf Watch Says:
March 11th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
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