Residents may lose affordable Palmetto golf course

Article Courtesy of Bay News 9

By Angie Angers

Published April 3, 2017

 

PALMETTO -- The future of a longtime Manatee County golf course is up in the air.
   

Palmetto Pines golf course has been around for sixty years. It’s known as an affordable place for people to play, but that might soon change.

Developer Pat Neal bought the property in 2006 with plans to turn it into a gated community. That process may start soon.

It’s hard news for longtime fans of Palmetto Pines to hear

“I would hate to see this place go. I don’t know where I’d go. I’m not sure,” said golfer, John Liner.

Manager Randy Bates, whose parents used to run the course, has been there almost every week since the 1960s.

 

Bates said his parent’s goal from the beginning was to keep it simple.

“He wanted to keep it affordable, keep the golf course low maintenance so people could afford it and you didn’t have to go up on the price so much,” Bates said.

Some nearby residents are less concerned about losing the golf course, but are more concerned about the impact of 600 new homes in the quiet community.

“That’s all we need is more houses. Frankly, it’s a shame. We don’t need any more developments,” said resident, Carol Troy.

Doreen Hall added, “I don’t think we’re excited about the developments -- we’ve gotten past that. It’s about the roads, the infrastructure, we need to slow down.”

As for Palmetto Pines, they plan to just keep moving forward.

“I mean it’s kind of like anything that’s part of your family and you grew up with and you’ve had all your life --then something happens to it and it goes away. It’ll be kind of like losing a family member,” said Bates.

Right now, there is no date set on when construction will begin or if Palmetto Pines will close at all -- or just part of the course.

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