Dear Editor:
Mismanagement is the only reason the course has failed! There are a lot of courses within 20 miles or so, and they are all doing really well.
We were members and live on the Hills, but (because of) the taking away of the amenities one by one and no improvements to show us, we joined the Lakeland course. At least there we have a golf pro (taken away at WLGCC) a really nice restaurant (taken away by WLGCC) and nice trails (now ruined by the WLGCC). Let’s not forget a really nice bar (taken away by the WLGCC).
We have given up on Visions Golf’s partners, because they let us down too many times since they took over. I believe they never intended to make or keep a premier golf course.
Dan Orrico
Walden Lake
Dear Editor:
We bought a condo in Walden Lake in 2005, before going overseas. We still have it and stay there periodically throughout the year. We also purchased a tennis/fitness membership in 2005 and kept it for the next six years.
We inquired about an absentee membership, because we were not going to be back from our overseas assignment for another six years and were told it would not be an option, so we continued to pay our full membership dues. After a visit to our condo in 2011, the deteriorating state of the club and lack of any amenities became apparent, and we canceled our membership.
Despite the conditions of the club, our experience with Walden Lake and Plant City, in general, had been very positive, so we decided to purchase an eventual retirement home in Walden Lake. We found a property on the golf course with a magnificent view — the view was the selling point. So, we have owned this property since 2010, put a lot of money in it in renovations and fully plan to retire there.
But, here comes Steve Mercer and his plans to bail himself out of what he terms “misfortune.”
Although his original purchase may not have been an entirely bad initial business decision, a thoroughly mismanaged enterprise throughout is just flat-out bad business and lack of vision on his part. It appears he just expected to sit back and let the money roll in from golf memberships and greens fees, without putting anything back into the course/the Walden Lake community. The greater Walden Lake community was never offered amenities like a well-managed tennis program, an attractive fitness center/program or a great, family-oriented pool facility. What looked to us in 2005 like an attractive clubhouse that offered lunch and dinner options was not. It went rapidly downhill until it now, (when it) offers nothing.
Now, it appears Mr. Mercer’s intent is — or maybe it was all along — to disingenuously get the original zoning changed, so he can develop properties to cut his losses, make a lot of money and get out. How can he claim that developing the golf course will bring in enough revenue to save the club and enrich the community, when the majority of the community is against the plan? We also take umbrage at his self-serving appeal to American values at the end of his letter to “pursue what we see as the best use of our property.” As a combat veteran with 30 years of active-duty service and now 11 years of continued government service, what about the best use of my property and the properties of all the families who will be affected by his plans to develop “[his] property?” I know of one World War II veteran, a Silver Star winner, who has spent his golden years in a house he purchased primarily for a magnificent view over the golf course. Now, he is threatened with losing all of that in his twilight years, because Mr. Mercer wants to cash in.
All that aside, we hope thought will be given to the impact on the community Mr. Mercer’s planned development would have, if the zoning is changed to allow development. What about sewers, water, increased demand on the electrical grid, the schools’ abilities to accommodate additional students, increased traffic, the long term plans of Plant City, itself?
Currently, Walden Lake is a nice place to live. With further residential development, it will be much less so. Even if further residential development results in moderately increased property-tax revenues for the city, these more than likely will be significantly offset by the costs of the infrastructural burdens cited above, as well as the decreased taxes levied on the many properties, which would be devalued under Mr. Mercer’s plan.
In addition, there is the question of the environmental impact of any development on what now is essentially green space. This is a question which would benefit from a serious environmental study. The golf course and surrounding woods and lakes support innumerable bird and animal species, including sandhill cranes and other water birds. Wood storks and herons have rookeries in the trees by the lakes. When these are gone, so will the birds, and Walden Lake will be much diminished by their loss.
Also, we question the safety of increased development. About 3 years ago, a large sinkhole appeared on a portion of the golf course slated for development. We wonder if potential buyers into Mr. Mercer’s proposed development would be as keen to purchase if they knew the land on which their home stood was sinkhole-prone?
Yes, Mr. Mercer, we bought our property for the view. And we will just as surely sell it and move somewhere else if the proposed development takes place. We will take whatever loss we incur, because what we bought the property for will no longer exist. That said, we would love to stay in the community should a well-managed, well-maintained club with even moderate amenities be in the future for Walden Lake.
Michael and Jane Berry
Walden Lake
Dear Editor:
There were many ways the club could have been geared to the many families that live in Walden Lake and the surrounding area.
They should have promoted a pool option better and earlier (not just this past year or two), built up the gym better, perhaps a drive-thru coffee shop via golf cart or car. They could have put in a putt-putt golf for the families, built a pavilion for outdoor yoga or Zumba, and used that same pavilion for live music on Friday and Saturday nights. There are so many ideas and things that could have been done.
I really love all the great things that I hear about Fishhawk and wish we could have many of the same extras that they have. I don’t feel it’d have to be done at the jeopardy of the Walden Lake homeowners that purchased on the golf course. Perhaps those owners would see an occasional weekend kid’s soccer game or something. Those are just my thoughts for trying to help both parties. I would surely participate in many of the activities that I listed with my family — especially if done at a reasonable price.
Jen Fiddelke
Walden Lake
Dear Editor:
I have proudly and happily lived in Plant City, and more specifically, Walden Lake, for 15 years. I say proudly and happily, because it would be difficult to find a place to live that can match Plant City. I was also very active in Walden Lake Golf & Country Club, with its extensive golf and social activity. The community had the atmosphere of a large, extended family. Although things deteriorated somewhat during the next few years, it was still a great place to live, especially for retirees like myself.
Until Steve Mercer took over and became our management nightmare.
Addressing Mr. Mercer’s letter (and first putting aside all the “poor me” victim portrayal which, I guess, is to elicit sympathy), a group did purchase WLGCC probably with life savings and loans (although it is questionable whether Mr. Mercer put in any of his money or credit). And, I believe there were at least two other parties interested in the purchase of WLGCC at the time but lost out. But, let’s be honest, these investors took a normal risk to build a successful business. For Mr. Mercer to spend nearly half of his letter trying to blame others for the dismal failure of WLGCC after his arrival is pathetic.
Let me review: A core group of dedicated members met with Mr. Mercer to give him feedback and suggestions (at his request), and asked him how we could help. These were members who believed in supporting their golf club by purchasing products offered there, as well as memberships and volunteering to help with club-sponsored events. Mr. Mercer’s claims regarding the lack of support did not paint an accurate picture.
Anyone interested in the truth should check with people who were members then, or before, for their account. Although the bad economy, which didn’t really hit until two or three years after Mr. Mercer came, had some influence on the situation, that two to three years under his “care” reduced the membership from about 700 to about 100.
Mr. Mercer drove those members away — even after we reminded him that Walden Lake was designed to be a membership club, that the primary cash flow for operation and profit needed to come from membership, and that success probably should begin with a major membership drive. That, of course, would require advantages to membership for a drive to be effective. That seemed to be totally foreign to Mr. Mercer.
By far, the primary blame with not only the lack of success but also the decline of the club should be placed at the feet of a grossly incompetent, arrogant manager who, with his demeanor and poor decisions, single-handedly drove WLGCC into bankruptcy and continued further away from possible recovery. The mystery is why he has been allowed to continue, because we, too, wanted to see the investors be successful.
It is sad to see such a disastrous decline in a facility that was once so vibrant and alive. It was a great facility not only for Walden Lake but also for Plant City. I have felt that the City of Plant City missed an opportunity to take it over and bring in a national youth golf organization (such as First Tee) to take advantage of the extensive facilities that WLGCC has to offer. Seems it could have enhanced Plant City’s already strong reputation for youth programs.
I believe there must be a win-win solution out there, if we could find it.
Dwinell “Bart” Bartlett
Walden Lake
Dear Editor:
So, the investors bought Walden Lake Golf and Country Club, knowing that most homeowners on the course were not members, but thought that they would magically decide to join with no marketing effort?
What marketing has been done within the community? New residents have never been approached by ownership with a sales pitch. Basic business sense says you would have some direct hands on marketing outreach to new Walden Lake and Plant City residents to make them aware of the club and its offerings. All that happened was they tried to strong arm the Walden Lake Community Association into making all Walden Lake residents join the club at a time when many homes were going into foreclosure.
It appears Visions Golf never had enough capital to maintain the facilities, because everything continued to go downhill from the moment it took over.
Instead of engaging current members, they alienated and drove them away. Both golfers and tennis players alike fled when the facilities went into disrepair and have found no reason to return.
The truth is the location probably cannot support 36 holes of golf, but there is no trust that the current ownership actually would upgrade the facilities should they be allowed to develop.
Steve Nussbaum
Walden Lake
Dear Editor:
Thanks for the letter about the Walden Lake Golf & Country Club in the Observer last week.
I am afraid I am one of the non-joining ones who are to blame not supporting the golf course/club house. I’m one of those who is here part-time and away part-time.
All this is too bad. It is a shame that there were not dues to support the golf courses, such as the dues we pay for streets and yard work.
Ellen Starmer
Walden Lake