Myths vs. Facts – Pine Ridge Golf Course Redevelopment
Myth 1: “You did full due diligence, knew it was a golf course, and should have to keep running it as one.”
Fact: I absolutely performed due diligence before purchasing. I toured the property, reviewed records, assessed its physical and financial condition, and weighed risks. Based on that risk assessment, I decided the purchase was worth moving forward. A
What I could not fully know until after closing was the true extent of the operational and financial challenges:
- The liquor license had been revoked and could not be transferred.
- All leased golf carts and key maintenance equipment were leased and not being paid for.
- The irrigation system was non-functional, with repair costs estimated at over $1 million.
- Remaining equipment was mostly obsolete or inoperable.
- The fairways and greens required full rebuild, not just cosmetic work.
These discoveries were beyond the scope of what was visible pre-closing and changed the viability equation completely.
Operating the course would require $3.5 million in capital plus $30,000/month in ongoing maintenance — with no realistic path to profitability. Continuing as a golf course would have been financially irresponsible.
Myth 2: “You’re destroying the master plan and opening the door to high-density development.”
Fact: I’m not changing the zoning or enabling high-density use. The property remains RUR (Rural Residential), which currently allows one home per 10 acres. Most of Pine Ridge—including this property—is made up of non-conforming lots that are smaller than today’s RUR standard but are grandfathered in from when the community was originally developed.
My application removes the outdated “golf course overlay” and replaces it with a new overlay permitting no more than 80 single-family homes, each on one-acre or larger lots. These lots will be equal to or larger than the existing surrounding lots, fully consistent with the character of the neighborhood.
Future owners would be bound by this same approval and could not change it without starting the same multi-year public process I’ve gone through. RMU (Rural Mixed Use) is a future land use category, not zoning, and does not allow condos or commercial by default.
Myth 3: “This will hurt property values and remove green space.”
Fact: Market data shows property values in Pine Ridge have risen since I purchased the course. Quality new homes in the $450K–$750K range support neighborhood values.
Nearly half the property — about 100 acres — will be placed in a recorded conservation easement, permanently protecting it from development. It will have mowed walking trails open to the public, but no paving, lighting, or commercial use.
Myth 4: “The development will overwhelm local roads, water supply, and infrastructure.”
Fact: Independent traffic engineering shows the golf course generated more daily trips when operational than the proposed 80 homes will.
Water use will be far lower than the golf course’s 253,000-gallon/day permit allowed. Internal roads will be privately maintained by the new HOA, not the County.
Myth 5: “You’re re-filing after the County already said no — nothing has changed.”
Fact: The first application was denied amid organized opposition and misinformation. This new application is refined, with suport from the community.
- More community engagement and direct Q&A sessions.
- Clarified conservation easement details.
- Addressed traffic, water, and property value concerns.
- Committed to higher architectural and maintenance standards.
Myth 6: “You offered money to the POA to buy their silence.”
Fact: At one point the Pine Ridge POA wanted to purchase the property or work in partnership on its use. That was an open negotiation effort — not a bribe or hush payment. No secret deals have been made.
Myth 7: “There are plenty of empty lots in Pine Ridge — build there instead.”
Fact: Many existing lots are privately owned and not for sale. Buyers seeking new homes often want features Pine Ridge’s older sections don’t offer — sidewalks, modern deed restrictions, controlled access, and a cohesive design. This project meets that demand while keeping density low.