From the Commerical Appeal.... more to come.

Lakeland nixes golf course plan
Votes against forming committee, cites need for more detailed proposal
By David Healy
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Lakeland's idea to buy Stonebridge Golf Course just got shanked in the deep rough.
Lakeland commissioners voted 3-2 on Thursday against forming a committee to purchase the golf course.
Those in favor of buying the course -- part of the city's golf course committee -- were instructed to come back to the commission with a more detailed plan. Commissioners wanted to know how the city would operate the course and how the committee members knew the course would not be a financial liability to the city.
Built in 1973, Stonebridge is owned by Chicago-based LinksCorp LLC., which put the 18-hole course on the market for $3.6 million in 2007. The city first expressed interest in buying the course last year.
Commissioner Randy Nicholson was the most vocal critic of the proposal Thursday. He had a number of problems with the idea and believed the company owning the course was trying to play the city for a sucker. Linkscorp LLC took the course off the market earlier this year, but apparently the company is still willing to sell to the city.
"I think they think this city will do what most governments will do. We won't crunch the numbers and won't do what we need to do," Nicholson said. "They think we will just look at the idealistic thing of saying, 'Yes, it will be great to have a golf course.'"
Nicholson said the city has many more priorities ahead of buying a golf course.
Vice Mayor Mark Hartz and commissioner Gerrit Verschuur also voted against the resolution.
Commissioner Clark Plunk and Mayor Scott Carmichael voted in favor of forming the purchase committee.
Plunk, a member of the golf course committee, said he won't stop pushing for Lakeland to buy the course. Plunk said if the city fixes up Stonebridge, it would be a sure money-maker.
"We don't have anywhere citizens can go and be together," Plunk said.
-- David Healy: 529-5880