Golf courses in state parks? Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Lorien]

Source: The Orlando Sentinal

A portly character on "The Simpsons," Comic Book Guy, often denounces someone or something with the catchphrase, "Worst. (fill in the blank). Ever."

Allow us to label the absurd notion of turning state parks into golf courses as the Worst. Idea. Ever. At least, so far this session. Who knows what else this state Legislature is capable of, seeing as how this notion isn't getting laughed out of the Capitol?

But this is no joke. Sen. John Thrasher of St. Augustine (who is quickly making us regret endorsing him last year) and Rep. Pat Rooney of West Palm Beach have dropped bombshells that would let private developers build five golf courses on state parks throughout Florida. Plus hotels. Because what says natural Florida like 18 holes and room service?



Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-state-park-golf-courses-031011-20110309,0,3873257.story

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So now they want to turn the last public wild places in Florida into private country clubs. Why am I not surprised?

[baldguy]

1. GEORGE CARLIN on Homelessness and Golf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSRCjG-VLk

[Desertrose]

2. Out of touch and clueless...talk about feeling entitled.

They think its all about & for them.

sigh.

Worst.Idea.EVER.

[hlthe2b]

3. If we outlaw golf carts and make them a refuge for wolves, bears,

and mountain lions at the same time, I say fine. :evilgrin:

[Aerows]

7. Don't need them...

...there are PLENTY of alligators in Florida. A few run-ins with 7 foot alligators, and that idea will turn sour LOL

[Angry Dragon]

4. Something the weeping boner can get behind

that is if you want a weeping boner behind you

[eowyn_of_rohan]

5. Oh no,.... I sincerely hope this doesn't pan out

We love your Florida state parks -just returned from Jonathan Dickinson in fact. This would be a crime.

[KamaAina]

6. Double bogey.

Maybe even a "snowman" (slang for an 8). :eyes:

[nashville_brook]

8. i'm actually speechless on this.

but i'm sure that won't last for long.

[sweetapogee]

11. the very

first job I had after college was at Spring Meadow Golf Course State Park in New Jersey. It, Spring Meadow, at the time was the only state park that actually made money for the state.

[RZM]

9. Very bad idea

It will probably go down in flames. Not all that many people play golf. And I'm sure many who do don't support this kind of thing

[Sgent]

10. I'm not sure I understand...

Public golf courses have existed in most places I've lived -- including the one at city park in New Orleans, and many state parks in the area.

Maybe I don't understand the proposal, but how is this different?

[quaker bill]

13. Because these are intact natural areas

that were bought for preservation. The city I live in owns a golf course. Many cities nearby do as well. This is bulldozing natural areas on a no-bid contract with the Nicklaus company at the helm. Florida already has more golf courses than any state in the nation and many are going broke and being redeveloped or plowed under. There are 10 courses I can play wihin 5 or 6 miles of my house. Almost no one in this state is more than 10 minutes from a course.

[wtmusic]

12. The state should donate them to the feds if they want to save them

although these days nothing's off the table.

[quaker bill]

14. It is the governor and the legislature doing this

and only they could donate them.

[wtmusic]

15. Unbelievable.

Hopefully some people with an ounce of foresight will prevent this.

Although foresight is going pretty cheap these days.

[quaker bill]

16. There seem to be few in power

capable of such consideration. But then this is the time of year when many hundreds of bills are introduced, many of them really bizzare, but usually most die in committee. It is fortunate that legislators are up for re-election every two years, this normally keeps some wildly unpopular notions from gaining many votes. This year with a viable TEA party caucus in Tally, no one is sure what might pass.

[peekaloo]

17. www.nicklaus.com

contact the Golden Shower, er, Bear and let him know what you think about this grand idea!

[lpbk2713]

18. It's the privileged taking care of their own.

At the expense of the non-privileged.

Same old story. It never changes.

[onethatcares]

19. here's the deal,

the state parks get piratized, the folks that are presently on unemployment compensation get to clear them in order to prove they are looking for work, prickscott suspends minimum wage and institutes company stores with tent cities, big bidness comes in and creates more bedmakin jobs with a lot of lawn cutting, weeding, tree trimming laborers doing the outdoor work. Prickscott goes one step further and tells prisoners that can no longer get clemency to cut down palmetto fronds and follow big bidness golfers around fanning them to keep them cool and the skeeters off of them.

prickscott then says, "see, I created jobs", and goes on to steal green fees for his next fiasco.

[LadyBugFL]

20. Here's the update...

It was Jack-o's idea to build the golf courses at state parks, supposedly to increase tourism (yeah, right). Also, the bill would allow ONE hotel and clubhouse to be built next to the golf course... Although not mentioned in the following article, I've seen others that mentioned TRex was all for the bill... Here's the update:

Arnold Palmer helps sink nutty plan for Jack Nicklaus golf courses in state parks

March 12, 2011|By Scott Maxwell, TAKING NAMES

Every once in a while, the people win one.

Such was the case last week when one of this year's goofiest pieces of legislation went down in flames.

The idea — to turn state parkland into golf courses, bars and hotels — went from being introduced by one of the most powerful senators in Florida on one Friday to dead the next.

Its ill-fated journey involved the media, the residents of this state and two of America's most famous golfers, competing again for the first time in years … only this time in the political arena.

It started March 5, when I got a text message from a legislator. "Did you see the bill from Thrasher to build golf courses on state park lands?" it asked.

"The state wouldn't even sell off the land to make money (a bad idea also), but literally issue bonds to build golf course resorts (hotel, clubhouse, etc.) on park lands!"

It sounded so silly, it was hard to believe. And yet, when I returned home and looked it up, there it was: Senate Bill 1846.

Veteran politician John Thrasher, former head of the Republican Party of Florida, wanted to develop golf resorts inside at least five state parks.

Never mind that Florida already has such a glut of courses that many have gone bankrupt. Never mind that others are struggling — and would've had to compete with these new ones.

The state senator from St. Augustine wanted more golf courses.

And he wanted his friend Jack Nicklaus to be the only one to design them.

The legislation specifically excluded other designers and PGA pros with a clause that said every course "must be designed by Jack Nicklaus."

So much for free-market enterprise.

Read the rest at: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-03-12/news/os-scott-maxwell-golf-parks-031311-20110312_1_courses-in-state-parks-golf-courses-park-lands