By Kevin Deutsch
Tamarac Parks and Recreation officials have drawn up two potential concepts to revitalize the Colony West Golf Club’s Glades Course, which has fallen into deeper disrepair since the city bought the 232-acre club in 2011.
At a city commission workshop Monday, city staff presented commissioners with two possible visions for the Glades Course, both of which seek to “elevate the conditions and experience that will attract more and new guests” to the course, city documents state.
The city vowed to preserve the Glades Course for golf after buying the club but has floated ideas for development there in the years since; changes that would likely increase revenue at the course but which draw strong opposition from some residents in the approximately 18 communities that surround the club’s courses.
The first proposed concept shown to commissioners Monday would keep the 18-hole course’s existing layout and make significant renovations. Extensive work would be performed on the course’s drainage, fairways, greens, and other areas, costing between $3.3 and $4.7 million, according to city estimates.
The irrigation system at the course is in poor condition and all components of the property are past their expected lifespan, officials said.
The second, more controversial concept shown to commissioners would convert the course to nine holes and potentially add a Toptracer driving range, instructional facility, short game area, six-hole short course, clubhouse, food and beverage outlet, and new entrance and parking lot, city records show. That concept would cost an estimated $4.7 to $7 million to make a reality and could generate around $1.2 million in revenue per year, officials said.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that the latest ideas are purely conceptual and no official plans for the property have been drafted.
Parks and Recreation officials also suggested that concepts to modify the property’s “The Champ” Course be considered, records show.
After Monday’s presentation, commissioners instructed staffers to revise their concepts for the Glades Course so that they would have the least amount of impact on neighboring residents.
The driving range and short course concept were presented at the Tamarac workshop.
Next, officials plan to take the concepts before community members to get their feedback.
No official plans for changes at the golf club are scheduled to come before the commission in the near future, nor any votes scheduled.
“While there are people here who are against [the ideas in the second concept], there are people here who have told me they’re for some kind of change to revitalize golf, bring in family play, bring in the vitality, bring in the activity … there’s never been a promise to the community that we aren’t going to enhance golf somehow,” Mayor Michelle Gomez said at Wednesday’s commission meeting.
Tamarac purchased the golf club for $3 million in a short sale in 2011 and spent nearly $2 million on upgrades in the club’s first year of city control.
The club’s previous owner could not make future lease payments, officials said at the time, leading to the city takeover.
Tamarac is struggling to generate new revenue streams and officials see the course as a potential draw for residents, visitors, families, and golf-lovers alike.
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