Arnold palmer speaks out against Jack Nicklaus’s idea of new golf courses – Golf news
Arnold palmer, the celebrated trailblazer of golfing history, is apparently against Jack Nicklaus’s idea of designing golf courses within the state parks in Florida. Palmer, the formidable opponent of Nicklaus in the past, raised some logical objections
to Nicklaus’s idea and said that these new courses will ruin the beauty of the state parks.
An email from Arnold Palmer Design and Co. late Friday read, “Being a fan of golf as a tool for tourism...we do feel that there are alternative options than using our state parks for ‘new’ golf course development.”
The news of this hefty design strategy broke the headlines few days back when two Senators filed a bill in this regard. Senator, John Thrasher of St. Augustine and Republican, Patrick Rooney of the West Palm Beach are of the view that the state should have
a few more modern design golf courses within state parks and not just any other design, but specifically Jack Nicklaus designed courses. They also suggested building hotels around these courses which would eventually land in bulks of tourists.
The bill has generated quite a stir in the media as well as the general public, many of which are against the move. Nicklaus has been reported to have lobbied with and persuaded Governor Rick Scott to this idea of building a golf course in state parks of
all five regions of the state. Although he has offered attractive discounts for the design, environmentalists and wildlife conservationists have shown their reservations for the bill.
Palmer has also indicated that in case the bill is approved, it would be important that all parties at stake should be considered for the contract and not just Jack Nicklaus & Co. Palmer said, “We also would hope that all the well respected golf course architects
who call Florida home are given an opportunity to bid on design and remodel work, particularly when this trail will extend to five different regions in the state.”
Many of the ‘golden bears’ fans over the time have expressed their disarray over Nicklaus’s idea and the way he was involved and maligned his name in the whole issue.
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