NAPLES, Florida — Golf entertainment center BigShots Golf was set to open in this town next year but now company officials have pulled out of their previous agreement with Collier County.
In late April, BigShots Golf Senior Vice President Randall Cousins stood in front of the Board of Collier County Commissioners and explained how the company had faced issues while financing the project. The board voted to give BigShots a 60-day extension to finish its budget and plans.
BigShots Chief Legal Officer Emily Decker emailed county officials on June 19 saying BigShots was terminating its land lease.
“There’s no one in the room that’s more disappointed than I am that BigShots canceled their lease,” Commissioner Burt Saunders said during Tuesday’s Collier County Commission meeting. “None of us could have foreseen that.”
Why did BigShots terminate its lease?
“The world has changed significantly from the time we initially evaluated the opportunity,” BigShots Golf Senior Vice President Randall Cousins said. “Today, we face increased costs in every major category, including financing, construction, and operations. In the past several months, we’ve explored many options to mitigate these challenges and invested several million dollars of sunk cost into development and materials. Unfortunately, we did not find a sustainable solution.”
Saunders said BigShots terminated its lease because the company was unable to finish financing the project within the allotted time.
“Quite frankly, the folks at Club Corp and BigShots really just weren’t communicating with us,” Saunders said. “They weren’t really honest with us as to what was really going on. As late as April they were in here talking about financing and we all knew that that was probably not the case.”
The commissioners gave the company six extensions but BigShots was unable to finish budgeting and planning by June.
“These challenges are not exclusive to Collier County, and we are thankful for the patience and support we’ve received from Commissioner Saunders as we evaluated and exhausted our options,” Cousins said.
What was BigShots going to offer?
BigShots was planning on opening an outdoor 12-hole golf course, virtual driving range, and restaurant next year in Collier County.
The driving range would have been two stories and offered feedback for golfers based on data from their swings.
The restaurant was going to be on-site with an option to have food delivered to the driving range.
How will First Tee be affected?
First Tee, a golf program for youth, was set to meet at the BigShots facility once it opened. Saunders assured that First Tee would still have a place to meet as he proposed the county still build a 12-hole golf course and clubhouse on the land. Saunders said he had already spoken with two developers about the project.
“They can do a golf course, that’s not a problem,” Saunders said. “They can do a driving range. Most importantly, they can provide the facilities needed for First Tee, and a little practice green and a little clubhouse and a restaurant. All of that can still go on this property. And quite frankly, that is the best use of that property for our community,” Saunders said.
Commissioner William McDaniel did not support the idea to build the golf course.
“I am totally in support of bringing the property forward [and] offering it up to a developer for a public golf course with a reduced rate for our residents,” McDaniel said. “But before we make a commitment on the expenditure of that $7 million right now, I would prefer we set that aside.”
He raised concern about the cost of the golf course when the county already has financial commitments to other projects.
Commissioner Rick LoCastro expressed support for the golf course, saying the project would benefit both the community and the county.
The motion to build the golf course passed 4-1, with McDaniel voting against it.
What’s happening with the land BigShots leased?
Originally BigShots was set to build its facility on 18 acres of land at the northeast corner of Golden Gate Parkway and Collier Boulevard. A state nursing home for veterans was going to be built on 11.7 acres at the northwest corner.
The board voted on Tuesday to switch the projects’ land. Now, the state nursing home will be built on 18 acres whereas the golf course amenities will be built on the 11.7 acres.