All of the tee times were booked on the first day of golf at the renovated Ironwood municipal golf course.
The course, located at 2100 NE 39th Ave., had closed in March to undergo an extensive seven-month renovation, which cost more than $1 million.
The changes include reconstruction of the greens, which are now built to the United States Golf Association’s specifications, a new Toro irrigation system, and a complete paint job on the Ironwood clubhouse.
City spokesman Bob Woods said after a hard rain parts of the course would flood before the reconstruction.
“We lost a lot of golf days because of the poor drainage system. Part of this project was to solve that,” he said.
However, the renovation project has also been a source of controversy. According to a report released by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs in March, the project cost $1,267,500. The money came from city bonds.
Opponents of the renovation, such as Don Marsh, a candidate for City Commission who also lost the mayor seat to Craig Lowe, viewed the project as a waste of taxpayer money.
While Marsh declined to speak to the Alligator directly on the topic, he has strongly voiced his opinions on his website’s blog.
“City commissioners insisted on keeping Iron Wood Golf Course, even though it is projected to lose $300,000 per year,” Marsh said in an Aug. 17 blog post. “They can just keep raising your electric and water bills because they will need more and more money transferred to the general fund from GRU.”
According to the Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, the bonds will be repaid by patrons over 20 years, with a $5-per-round fee.
“No improvements have been done to the golf course since the city acquired it in the 1980s,” Woods said. “While a few individuals may have concerns, the City Commission felt this was right for the community, and all citizens now have a golf course to be proud of.”
