PORT ST. LUCIE — Several St. Lucie West homeowners questioned why the Services District agreed to pay $1.1 million for the St. Lucie Trails Golf Course's clubhouse complex and 15 acres when the entire 125-acre property recently sold for $1.5 million.

"This just smells," said Joey Cueto, a homeowner in the Sanctuary neighborhood in St. Lucie West. "It's ridiculous they're going to spend that kind of money on a parcel of the golf course. I think they should reject it."

Debra Ramsperger, a homeowner in the Presidential Cove neighborhood, said, "It shouldn't be happening, but it is. Here's an example of a poor choice with the district overpaying, using ratepayer money for land they want."

District Manager and Utilities Director Dennis Pickle called the proposed transaction "a fair deal."

Flooding issues

The St. Lucie West Services District plans to develop stormwater drainage facilities on the 15 acres to alleviate longstanding flooding issues, Pickle said. The clubhouse would be used as a meeting place for homeowners and offices for district employees.

"I have to believe at this point it would be a good deal, unless the appraisal or the community tells us they don't feel like it's in the best interest of St. Lucie West," Pickle said.

Two independent appraisals are being done on the clubhouse complex and 15 acres to determine whether the sales price is reasonable, Pickle said.

The district board is to decide June 5 whether to sign a sales contract with CGI St. Lucie LLC, Pickle said. If the deal is approved, the closing would be about six months later.

The fate of the golf course, clubhouse and nearby pool and tennis facilities are important to the St. Lucie West homeowners because they affect their property values.

More than 100 homeowners packed the district meeting room March 27 when the board authorized Pickle and board Chairman Vincent D'Amico to negotiate for the clubhouse complex and 15 acres.

CGI St. Lucie closed on its $1.5 million purchase of the golf course March 29, county records show. A subsidiary, CGI Palm City, paid $2 million for the Evergreen Club in October 2015.

Successful strategy

Tom DeShazo, managing partner of both companies, said he's applying his successful business model from the Evergreen Club to the St. Lucie Trails Golf Course.

The strategy enables golfers to purchase membership plans based on how much they play, DeShazo said. The cheapest rate is for 12 rounds per year and the most expensive is for unlimited play.

He wants to spin off the 24,000-square-foot clubhouse and nearby pool and tennis facilities because they cost too much to operate, DeShazo said. He plans to build a new 2,500- to 3,000-square-foot clubhouse with a restaurant and bar overlooking a lake.

"We're always going to improve the golf course and make it the best it can be," DeShazo said.

D'Amico said he hopes DeShazo can sell the pool and tennis courts to St. Lucie West's umbrella homeowners association to reduce the price of the deal. If the pool and tennis courts remain in the deal, the district would try to spin them off to the homeowners.

Teri Pinney, a homeowner in the Country Club Estates neighborhood, said she believes the district should buy the clubhouse complex and 15 acres, but for a lower price.

"That looks like a sweet deal for CGI," Pinney said. "However, the district needs the space. Hopefully, I'd like to think, the district could negotiate a better bargain; $1.1 million seems a little much."