Article Courtesy of Bay News 9
By Erin Maloney
Published November 25, 2016
LAND O' LAKES -- The Plantations Palms Golf Course will be
open for business this December after shutting down more than two years ago.
The course is part of a community where neighbors say they've seen property
values plummet after the closure. Weeds and unkempt grass grew as tall as eight
feet in some areas.
"You'd look at this, and
you wouldn't know it was a golf course. It looked like fields,"
said Simon Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the community
homeowner's association.
Fitzpatrick, along with HOA President Jim Hammond, began a
campaign called "Bring Back Our Course," which included a
newsletter and website.
It was that type of support and enthusiasm that roped in Ace
Golf President Bill Place.
"The community is what made the difference. Wouldn't have done
it without them," Place said. "They were so enthusiastic about
wanting to get their course back and get their property values
back." |
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Here is a before and after look at Plantations Palms,
which shut down more than two years ago. It will reopen in December.
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Place admits it wasn't easy getting the course back into
shape. Ace Golf has rehabbed courses before. Most took about two months to get
back into playing shape. This one took five.
It will still take months to get it to its peak shape. It will open to the
public Dec. 5.
Until then, the course's new mini golf course and Mulligan's Restaurant is open
and ready for business.
Place is also building a banquet hall on premises, where
Plantation Palms can begin to book weddings and corporate gatherings. |