The Keystone Heights City Council turned away an attempt by council member Tony Brown to stop discussions about the city purchasing the Keystone Heights Golf and Country Club in Bradford County.
Golf course co-owner Brad Harvey said in June that the property is for sale, and because the nine-hole layout is currently zoned for single-family housing, the land may be more valuable as homesites rather than its current use.
He added that he was trying to convince city leaders to purchase the course to preserve its original use and historic value. The layout was designed by legendary course architect Donald Ross.
During the November 25 city council meeting, Brown said he had always opposed the idea and complained that he had kept reading on social media that the city was purchasing the approximately 46-acre tract. The council member added that many city residents oppose the proposal, which has an asking price of $1 million.
“I guess I’m an old fuddy-duddy when it comes to this stuff,” Brown told his colleagues, “but I personally think that this council tonight needs to make a decision whether we are going to do it and go forth and let the manager do his thing in the way of looking at it. I just know that I’ve had several citizens tell me we were crazy if we go and spend that kind of money in another county.”
However, Mayor Nina Rodenroth pushed for continued discussions about the possible buy. She said she foresaw a town hall meeting on the topic and possibly a referendum to approve the purchase.
City Manager Charlie Van Zant said he had researched a potential purchase and asked Crystal Lake resident Keith Cumbus to address the council on his work on the project.
Cumbus said he had consulted with golf course designer Bobby Weed to analyze the course’s income potential. He and Weed estimated that, with improvements, the course’s current 7,000 annual rounds of golf could be increased to 20,000.
“We’re in a bit of a golf desert here in North Central Florida as compared to so many other places within the state,” he said.
Brown and council member Dan Lewandowski said the course’s location in Bradford County is a sticking point. Lewandowski added that if Bradford County officials are unwilling to participate in a possible deal, he sees no future for it.
