Fernandina Beach Golf Course of value to community - An opinion

July 15, 2014 4:025 p.m.

Unfortunately I voted for Fernandina Beach Commissioner Johnny Miller, who suggests that we don't need the city owned golf course. I love it when people voice opinions on something they don’t participate in.

I work in the golf shop at the City course. It is my retirement job. I also live in the City and my taxes help support the Marina and City Park, neither of which I use. But I gladly support them because they have value. They help make Amelia Island a great place to visit and a wonderful place to live. I feel the same way about the golf course. It is one of the reasons my wife and I chose Amelia Island as our retirement home. We thought having a 27 hole public golf course nearby was fantastic.

It is true that the golf course loses money, due to old debt (club house and irrigation system). Without it the golf course would break even. It's also true that the golf course made significant profits for a number of years, which went directly to the City, and was subsequently spent, not reinvested in the golf course. As a result the golf course deteriorated to the point where it was no longer competitive.

Despite many challenges, bumps in the road, and a limited budget, the golf course has significantly improved under Billy Casper management, compared to it's condition just prior. It is now very playable and can compete once again in the marketplace. Bad press in newspapers kept some people away, and those that have tried us anyway are pleasantly surprised. The Fernandina High School golf teams practice and play some of their matches at the City course. Junior camps are also hosted during the summer months. We are a perfect course for families, providing an affordable and playable golf course.

The course has 340 members and hosts numerous winter visitors, some of which have been golfing at the City course for 25 years. Groups of winter visitors, some as large as 40, play the course nearly every day for the 3 or 4 months they are here. They not only spend money at the golf course, they rent condos, eat out at our restaurants, and support many of our local businesses. Would they visit the Island without the City golf course? Perhaps. But, without competition, the rates at the other public golf course would most likely increase, potentially forcing some winter visitors to look elsewhere for a winter vacation spot.

Sending vacationers to other cities for golf, doesn’t seem to support our goal of increasing profits for our local businesses. When tourists come in after a round of golf and ask for recommendations for where to eat and shop, I send them to one of our many wonderful local businesses. I don’t believe that one of the off-island courses would send them back here…do you? This could potentially cost our businesses a lot of revenue.

The other golf courses on the island are associated with the Omni Amelia Island Plantation or are semi-private, private, and expensive. We frequently have guests staying at the Ritz Carlton or Omni playing golf at the City course. The other 2 courses in Yulee are either too difficult, expensive, or both.

Although the golf course loses money, I believe it can be profitable again. The South course 9 holes is receiving new greens, and will reopen Aug 1.. The plan is to redo the West and North course greens next. This will substantially make the golf course more competitive, and I think some of the golfers who left due to poor conditions will return. And the improvements will increase our ability to draw new golfers who were not willing to try us before.

Keep the City golf course. It is an under-appreciated gem!

Editor's Note: For four years, Carl Galpin has lived in Fernandina Beach. He now works at the Fernandina Beach Golf course. Prior to Carl's retirement, he spent 32 years working for Ford Motor Company in various IT positions.