Members of the DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved an action plan and $1.6 million in funding that will allow for a long-neglected golf course to reopen.
The county-owned Sugar Creek Golf Course, located at 2706 Bouldercrest Road in Panthersville, needs an overhaul. The clubhouse, driving range and 18-hole course are closed to the public, although the tennis courts on site remained in use.
Commissioners on Tuesday jointly approved three different Sugar Creek-related measures by a 5-1-1 vote. Commissioner Nancy Jester was a "no," and Commissioner Jeff Rader abstained.
Rader said later that he did not support the measures because even at full operation the golf course is not projected to be profitable and will require a large county subsidy each year to remain in operation.
The majority sign off on the action plan and an overall project budget that will come from hotel taxes and SPLOST revenue. In the first phase, renovations to the tennis courts, clubhouse and driving range will be completed with hopes of having some amenities open to the public by the winter holiday season.
In the second phase, a general manager will be hired to run the golf course and all 18 holes could open as soon as spring 2019. The entire plan is scheduled for completion by December 2019.
The board also signed off on spending $254,050 for renovations to the golf greens. Another $243,460 was approved for leasing golf carts.
Much of the plan is the result of a June report on Sugar Creek prepared by the National Golf Foundation.
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