Florida Politicians Bond Liberals, Conservatives With Nicklaus Golf Trail Idea
Two Florida politicians have finally managed to do what hundreds of others have tried and failed to accomplish at every government level and geographical region of this country.
They have bonded liberals and conservatives.
Sen. John Thrasher of St. Augustine and Rep. Pat Rooney of West Palm Beach have put forth separate bills in their respective houses that lead to the same destination – The Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail.
They propose that Mr. Nicklaus design five golf courses on land now occupied by nature-laden state parks. And oh yes, there will be hotels. Plus, as they are currently written, these bills allow for other golf courses to be built at other state parks.
This is a bad idea on so many levels that it has raised the ire of citizens left and right.
Building golf courses in state parks is a slap in the face to Florida golf course owners and operators. The blatantly unfair practice of municipalities owning golf courses and competing against private operators has united course owners in many regions of the country. Is Florida the next battleground?
Also, the supply of golf courses in Florida far outweighs the demand. Nearly three-dozen Florida golf courses have locked their doors in recent years due to lack of customers. There are already more courses in Florida than in any other state. We certainly don’t need our tax dollars spent on more.
From the left you have the liberals raising the environmental concerns (real or otherwise) from construction and operation of golf courses.
The only entity that will benefit from this is Jack Nicklaus Golf Design. And while I like and respect the Golden Bear, does he really need the work or revenue?
Well, there is one other positive – The chasm between left and right in Florida now has a small, if shaky, bridge connecting these usually antagonistic sides.
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