- The Alachua County BOCC voted to submit UF's 580-acre golf course land use change to the state for review prior to a June vote.
- UF plans a 36-hole championship golf course with a 65,000-square-foot clubhouse and cottages to improve athletic recruitment and research.
- 2,600 acres across Parker Road will be used as a living laboratory, with part of the golf course land conserved to protect sensitive species.
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted on Tuesday to submit the University of Florida’s 580-acre golf course to the state of Florida for review.
UF asked the county to change the land use for the property, requiring changes to the comprehensive plan, review by FloridaCommerce and another BOCC vote in June. From there, UF will continue to amend its plans for the site before returning with a zoning change and additional design plans before construction.
UF men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon told the commissioners that the university’s current facilities have held the Gators back in recruitment and performance. He said the student-athlete experience is probably not on par with other schools as well. The planned 36-hole, championship course could elevate Gator potential for the men’s and women’s team.
“It’d be a game changer for the athletic department and certainly our golf program, and I think it would put us in position to be the best golf program in the entire country if we were able to do this,” Deacon said.
Deacon said UF has no plans to change operations at Mark Bostick Golf Course, keeping it as another option for the teams and currently public play.
Work on the land started in 2020, and the Florida Legislature approved $38 million for UF to purchase the property in 2024. UF then finished a Special Area Study started under the prior owners.
The sale officially closed last year and includes the 580-acre golf course plus 2,600 acres across Parker Road. That portion will be used as a living laboratory by UF/IFAS and students.
Tyler Matthews, CEO of development consulting firm England-Thims & Miller, said UF has its own internationally recognized experts working on the project, including Gator alum and golf course architect Steve Smyers.
The BOCC approval, once finalized, would change the property to UF Golf Institutional with a specialized set of planning criteria. The change would also finalize the maps for the 580-acre site, which sits on a sensitive ecosystem.
Part of the property will be a conservation management area and will be excluded from development. These acres are extremely karst and contain protected species like gopher tortoises and woodland poppymallow.
The “championship” level course will also have overnight cottages, a 65,000-square-foot clubhouse, a UF golf team facility, maintenance facilities and space for a golf partnership like with First Tee.
“The proposed golf course will provide a modern facility supporting recreational use, collegiate athletic competition, and academic research,” UF’s special area plan says. “The project is anticipated to enhance opportunities in turfgrass research, environmental science, land management, and sports performance, while providing broader community benefits through a destination-quality facility.”
The state will have 30 days to review and provide comments before the next BOCC vote scheduled for June 23.
The plan calls for reclaimed water to be used for the majority of the irrigation, with lined ponds serving as storage tanks and collecting stormwater. The BOCC approved the extension of municipal water and sewer from Gainesville Regional Utilities to service the site, removing the need more large wells and septic on the site.
More of the University of Florida is the last thing this area needs or wants.
Sectoral diversification should be the goal. Reliance on one sector of the economy decreases resilience when external schocks occur.
For at least 30 years Gainesville has a govt that has been anti business. So of course the economy is UF heavy. Those not liking this result should consider who they elect
You can sell anything to the County Commission if you add the word ‘championship’.
But they won’t fix our ridiculously Terrible outlying county roads
UF overrules common sense. What’s new? Ridiculous waste of water & space again for privileged folks. Golf for athletes? Really? Anybody care about water usage – especially since we are in a severe drought? How about acres of pesticides & fertilizers? I know those things don’t matter when $$$ is on the table. Very sad.
Could we stop giving freaking taxable land to the tax exempt UF, they literally own an island, they have enough
The PILT should come from UF Foundation funds.
The proposed 580-acre UF golf course in Alachua County is still moving through approvals, but the recent county vote pushes it to the state level where the final decisions will be shaped.
The project includes a 36-hole championship golf course, a large clubhouse, and related facilities, alongside UF’s claim that nearby land will serve as a “living laboratory.” Supporters highlight benefits for athletics and research, but concerns focus on long-term impacts.
A key issue is water use. Golf courses in Florida require heavy irrigation, raising concerns about added stress on local groundwater and nearby ecosystems in an already sensitive region.
Another concern is land use. Large institutional projects like this remove land from the county’s tax base, limiting local revenue potential and shifting long-term costs to the public.
Finally, while some land may be labeled as conservation or research space, critics argue that fragmented preservation within a managed golf landscape does not replace true ecosystem protection.
At its core, this project is about more than golf it’s about how Alachua County balances development, environmental limits, and long-term public benefit.
I’d like my wild spaces public places money back please.
Not happy.