- The city of Gainesville opened a 30-day bidding period to buy or lease Ironwood Golf Course with proposals required to keep it public.
- Local coalition The Track and North Carolina’s HangTime Golf have submitted distinct bids aiming to invest millions and enhance the course.
The city of Gainesville opened its 30-day bidding period last week for bids to buy or lease Ironwood Golf Course, with at least two known proposals already circulating in the public.
The process started in June after two former University of Florida alumni, partners at HangTime Golf in North Carolina, approached the city with an offer to buy the golf course. They submitted an official unsolicited proposal, and the City Commission decided to move forward with its policy and let anyone submit ideas.
The guidelines released by the city on July 22 allow for a wide range of purchase options—outright sale, lease to own, long-term lease, public-private partnership—with one main unnegotiable: the property must remain a public golf course…