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Jacksonville Beach golfers urge council to reject proposed Jack—s Beach Golf Club league changes
Summary
Dozens of residents and league members told the City Council on Oct. 20 they oppose proposed bylaw changes at Jack—s Beach Golf Club that would consolidate senior leagues, shift league administration to the Pro Shop, and eliminate some reserved weekday tee times for women—s play.
Dozens of Jacksonville Beach residents urged the City Council on Oct. 20 to preserve existing league structures and reserved tee times at Jack—s Beach Golf Club, which they said support long‑running senior leagues and local businesses.
At public comment, Holden Hackbarth, president of the Jax Beach Golf Club Seniors, said the briefing materials provided in September and a subsequent newspaper article alerted league members to proposed changes in the course bylaws for 2026. Hackbarth said key concerns include consolidating the senior men—s leagues into a single Wednesday league, giving the Pro Shop authority to control and administer league play, and removing Monday and Thursday tee‑time blocks for women. "This includes league play controlled and administered by the Pro Shop staff," Hackbarth said.
Speakers said the senior leagues contribute steady year‑round revenue and volunteer labor that helps maintain the course. William Bissonette, a longtime player, said the leagues fill early tee times and manage their own schedules using software and volunteer administrators; he questioned how the Pro Shop could assume those responsibilities. "I don't understand how they can do that when we do all the work for them now through Golf Genius," Bissonette said.
Other commenters described decades‑long ties to the course. Lloyd Archibald, who said he played the course when it was in poor condition, told council members the leagues and their members helped sustain the course through lean years and continue to spend money at the club restaurant and nearby businesses. Business owner Peter Hoban said leagues draw customers from across the intracoastal and support local shops and restaurants.
League representatives offered a short list of compromises for city officials to consider: preserve the leagues— individual identities and autonomous operations, retain existing tee‑time blocks for women or return Monday tee times, avoid charging league fees if leagues continue to self‑manage, and provide additional Wednesday tee times if Monday blocks cannot be restored. Hackbarth said the senior league counts 74 members and that the group plays year‑round in all conditions, generating steady greens‑fee revenue.
The council did not take action on the golf course proposals Tuesday; staff had briefed council earlier in September but the item was not on the Oct. 20 agenda. Mayor Christine Hoffman said speakers will have further opportunity to comment when the item returns to the agenda.
