CLEARWATER, Fla. — A popular public golf course in Clearwater could be replaced by a new sports and recreation complex.
What You Need To Know
Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment is proposing a sports complex where The Landings Golf Club is currently located
The proposal includes soccer fields, pickleball courts, a water park, and more
People who regularly go to The Landings say they are torn over the idea of losing the course
City officials said the proposal is incomplete and requested it be resubmitted before they can provide feedback
Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment is proposing to build the facility where the Landings Golf Club is.
Some golfers are split about the potential overhaul.
For Deandre Robinson, it’s a pretty convenient spot to take some practice swings.
“It’s close by the house, so I come here and do a lot of practice and short game practice,” Robinson said. “If I need a quick tee time, it’s usually pretty easy to hop on.”
He said The Landings has a good mix of course conditions and price. The Wheelehan brothers said they feel the same way.
“It’s in really good shape. It’s well maintained by the city. The greens fees are competitive, and it’s a good quality course that’s not expensive,” said Gil Wheelehan.
But that could all change after the city of Clearwater received an unsolicited proposal to redevelop the course into a sports and recreation complex.
“If it’s gone, that means I’m probably not going to come to the athletic center because I’m going to be focused more on golf,” Robinson said. “So, I’m going to take my money and time elsewhere.”
The original proposal from Sunshine Recreation and Entertainment has 13 soccer fields, including one championship field with a 5,000-seat arena. There would be 24 pickleball courts, a water park, sand volleyball courts and a fitness and wellness center. Sunshine officials say they believe it would be a better use of the land.
While the Wheelehan’s like the area as a golf course, they also umpire youth baseball and said local leagues could benefit from a new sports complex.
“We are torn,” Francis Wheelehan said. “I mean, we lose out on a great golf course, but we have great baseball. It’s, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
City officials said the proposal was incomplete and requested it be resubmitted. Once that happens, they said the city can provide feedback.
If the complex were to be built, the proposal from Sunshine Recreation and Entertainment claims that there would be $566 million in economic impact over 10 years. Plus, hundreds of local jobs would be created.