University of Florida golf course plan moves forward after vote
UF's proposed 36-hole golf course moved closer to reality after Alachua County Commission approved land use review.
The University of Florida’s proposed 36-hole championship golf course moved one step closer to becoming reality after the Alachua County Commission voted to allow state and regional agencies to review the land use for the 580-acre project. Located on the east side of Southwest 122nd Street (Parker Road), south of Myra Terwilliger Elementary School, the new course would provide the UF men’s and women’s golf teams with a new, state-of-the-art facility while also allowing the public limited access through UF/IFAS, First Tee and other educational opportunities. In a unanimous vote on April 28, county commissioners first heard from UF Vice President for Government and Community Relations Chuck Clemons, who said he appreciated the welcoming three-year partnership on the project.
Kicking off the presentation, Clemons introduced UF men’s golf coach J. C. Deacon, who has led the program for 12 years, winning one national championship and two SEC titles while coaching the team to more than 30 tournament victories.
Referencing an “unfortunate” loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the SEC championship on April 26, Deacon told commissioners the project would be a game-changer for the program, saying the current facility continues to hold the team back, especially in recruiting and the student-athlete experience. “We’re currently using a facility that’s over 100 years old, and all of our competition in the Southeastern Conference — and that other school up north here in Florida (FSU) — have facilities that are just so far above and beyond us,” Deacon said. Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler asked Deacon what would happen to the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
Deacon said the program would keep the course and continue to use it, noting UF would be able to utilize both facilities. Earlier in the discussion, Wheeler said there had been concern that the new UF golf course would not be open to the public and asked whether the Mark Bostick Golf Course could be opened to non-university golfers. Deacon said golfers can play at the course as long as they have “ties to the University of Florida.