Ron DeSantis Faces Major Backlash Over Secret Plan with Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to Build Golf Courses in Protected State Park!

A proposal to build golf courses in a Florida state park has landed Governor Ron DeSantis in political trouble, especially given the involvement of two legendary figures in professional golf: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. The plan, which included courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Southeast Florida, has now been put on hold after facing bipartisan opposition and statewide protests.

If approved, both Woods and Nicklaus were set to contribute to the course designs. Nicklaus, who has designed over 300 courses globally, was prepared to work on the project pro bono, according to his attorney, Eugene Stearns, who called it a charitable endeavor.

The proposal, first reported by the Tampa Bay Times, was part of a broader plan to upgrade nine state parks with new amenities like pickleball courts and lodges. However, the golf courses sparked the most controversy.

An official from the DeSantis administration noted that the plans were not finalized and anticipated some resistance, but the situation escalated quickly once the proposal became public. “We kind of lost the narrative on this one,” the official admitted, adding that leaks complicated the situation.

DeSantis has distanced himself from the plan, stating that he never explicitly approved it. The backlash has been widespread, with criticism coming from Democrats, environmental groups, and prominent Republicans such as Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with Representative Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz, addressing DeSantis on X (formerly Twitter), urged him to abandon the proposal, citing their shared commitment to preserving Florida’s natural environment.

Previous attempts to introduce golf courses in Florida state parks have also met with resistance, reflecting a general reluctance among Floridians to support further development in these protected areas. Although TGR Design, Woods’ Florida-based golf course design company, declined to comment, multiple sources confirmed its involvement in the early stages of the plan.