http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/10/2107234/2-fla-lawmakers-want-golf-courses.htmlTwo state legislators have filed bills that would require the state Division of Recreation and Parks to build golf courses in state parks in every region of Florida.
Bills filed last week by Sen. John Thrasher and Rep. Patrick Rooney would create a Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail around Florida.
The bills call for at least one Nicklaus-designed course to be built in state parks in all five regions of Florida. Rooney's version specifically names one park that has to get a Nicklaus course: Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County on the east coast.
The bills also say each course will be designed in an environmentally sensitive manner, and may include a hotel.
The National Golf Foundation says Florida already has more golf courses than any other state: more than 1,000.
From the
Orlando Sentinel:
House Bill 1239, with the companion bill Senate Bill 1846 sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, requires the construction of an 18-hole or more public golf course in the parks, "free from unnecessarily burdensome requirements," as a means to enhance tourism and create jobs.
Rooney said Nicklaus, a North Palm Beach resident, met with Gov. Rick Scott just over a month ago to brainstorm ways to improve the economy, and later approached the Rooney family.
This is especially stupid:
"We're trying to do something for tourism that's going to add some jobs, bring in some construction, and hopefully be a tourism draw," said Rooney, the chairman of the Palm Beach County Golf Association. "I'm sure [Nicklaus] would work with as many environmental groups as possible to ensure the environmental elements there aren't compromised."
So we don't need high speed rail but we can tear up our wetlands and disappearing state parks for fucking golf courses?
