On Wednesday, September 17, the Tallahassee city commission voted 3-2 to authorize city officials to obtain an appraisal and prepare a proposal to sell the parcel associated with the Capital City Country Club. Commissioners Porter and Matlow voted no.
The property is owned by the city and is currently leased to the club. The City of Tallahassee received a letter of interest along with an appraisal report for the city-owned golf course parcel. Capital City Country Club has proposed to purchase the 18- hole golf course located behind the Country Club for $1,150,000.
The Capital City Country Club is a semi-private club founded in 1908 and located in downtown Tallahassee. The club offers limited public access to its 18-hole golf course, designed by the renowned course architect Albert W. Tillinghast. Surrounded by pines and Spanish Oaks, the course is home to a diverse array of wildlife found nowhere else in town, cementing its reputation as the most beautiful golf course in Tallahassee.
In 1956, the Tallahassee City Commission agreed to a 99-year operating lease ($1 per year) with the country club. It offers a venue for charity events, law enforcement gatherings, weddings, and community golf tournaments, while also providing numerous lessons for people of all ages.
Over the past few decades, the country club has faced some financial struggles. Due to aging infrastructure and the damage from the tornado that struck Tallahassee the year before, the club is seeking a significant investment. However, the club believes that potential lenders are likely not willing to create these commitments without the golf course.
The Capital City Country Club has expressed its commitment to providing community benefits that make the best use of the golf course.
“As part of this proposed sale and subsequent investment, the club is also committed to upgrading the course to meet the rigorous NCAA standards and partnering with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) so that the FAMU golf team can utilize the club for collegiate competitions. Doing so would benefit the FAMU golf team, attract membership, and bring increased economic activity to downtown Tallahassee.”
In November 2019, while beginning to conduct a field survey of the property, 37 anomalies were identified as potential African American grave sites, most of which were unmarked. In May 2021, a concept plan was developed that included a commemorative site with hardscaping, pathways for community access, signage, and ornamental fencing around the area.
The proposed sale would require a second appraisal, along with a sale proposal dependent on the buyer confirming the land will be used as a golf course and ensuring the protection and proper memorialization of the unmarked 19th-century African American gravesites on the property.
City Considers Selling Capital City Golf Course added by Casey Drayer on
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I urge the City not to sell the Capital City Country Club property. The current operators are grifters. They have an incredibly inappropriate sweetheart deal to lease it for $1 per year. If they cannot operate it with such an economic windfall, they should just abandon the lease and the property and give it back to the City. Commissions should not even engage in contract negotiations to sell it. They should only negotiate to buy back the lease. One dollar a year for the remainder of the term sounds like a fair deal!
Sounds like another Edison Restaurant losing deal. Banks should make loans, not tax-funded Cities.
Here is a thought, Keep it, kill the Contract since the place has not been maintained, kick them out and close it down for a few Months, let the Lively Students learning Construction do the Rehabbing and Land Scaping on it and let the Colleges run it (the Kids getting Degrees in Hospitality) like they did the Lodge at Wakulla Springs. Win-Win for everyone.
Dont any locals hold your breath for The State to step in and DOGE City/County leadership in anything they want to do.
Over the years whoever was Florida’s Govornor took a hands off policy to whatever Tallahassee Leadership wanted to do. These local leftists can be a real pain to deal with.
The city needs to look at that appraisal again, only $1,150,000 for nearly 180 acres close to downtown! That’s like the price of two decent homes in that neighborhood.
Why is the city always trying to screw us out of our property? They just gave the property to their cronies to build an opera house or some ridiculous thing over by the new police station.
Now they want to basically give our golf course to a group of their buddies that have ran the place into the ground and have made it an unwelcoming venue for members of the public who would like to play golf there.
It needs to stay open to the public, and some major changes need to be made with the snooty, disrespectful staff that run the place.
The pro is a monumental jerk to virtually everyone he doesn’t see as an influential member…
I think the unmarked grave sites should be acknowledged and preserved. I also believe that the city should not be involved in the golf course business. Leave golf courses to private investors. Our tax dollars should be focused on city services, fire and police protection…not politically correct social issues. Compared to other cities I have lived in, COT leadership has failed me. I am actively planning an exit strategy.
Did I read this correctly? On the back part of the property some “anomalies”, which is something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected, were found that could be potential African American unmarked grave sites. The city developed a plan, based on these anomalies and possibilities, to make the area into a commemorative site complete with landscaping, signage, pathways and ornamental fencing. If I read this right it is clear the city has way too much time to dream up ways to spend our tax dollars.