ZEPHYRHILLS - Golf Course Concerns Discussed
By Joe Potter
Residents and council members voiced concerns about the status of Silver Oaks Golf & Country Club during the Zephyrhills City Council meeting on March 23. Many speakers described the course as a growing eyesore for the community. Jenni Wickstrom, a Silver Oaks resident, said, “It’s a mess. It’s not looking good for our area at all,” during the public comments portion of the meeting. The 6,663-yard, 18-hole course, which opened in the late 1980s, sits at 36841 Clubhouse Drive.
The course was flooded by Hurricane Milton in 2024, and since then, its irrigation system and other improvements have become a major repair project. City Councilman Lance Smith estimated the needed work could cost the owner between $2 and $3 million, noting that the owner may not have insurance coverage to offset those costs. Safety concerns were raised as well. John Hammil urged the council to place no-trespassing signs on the property, citing incidents of dirt bikes and motorcycles using the closed course while repairs are underway. Smith supported the idea, stressing that the owner could be liable if riders were injured on the property.
Efforts to manage the site’s vegetation and debris were also discussed. More than 90 dead trees along the perimeter have been removed and stacked, awaiting permission to burn. However, a countywide burn ban, tied to historic drought conditions—one of the worst in about 50 years—has halted burning plans. Hammil expressed concern about the smoke from burning so many trees, noting smoke’s potential to affect nearby homes. Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson recalled smoke affecting nearby houses when a smaller burn occurred in the Silver Oaks subdivision off Eiland Boulevard.
Weeds and invasive growth were another point of contention. Hammil reported that weeds from the golf course were encroaching on his yard, even after he invested in new sod. Councilman Smith urged contacting the course owner to ensure maintenance remains at an acceptable level, warning that drought-recovery periods could accelerate weed and grass growth once rainfall resumes.
In other business, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance regarding a commercial district that includes Wareco-Pasco 1 LLC’s property, located on the east side of U.S. Highway 301 and north of Kossik Road. The ordinance would lift height restrictions for a proposed development. If the second reading on April 13 confirms the change, a hotel tentatively named the Wire Ranch Hotel could rise to a maximum height of 48 feet. The project would feature on-site food service with available meals throughout the day and evening.
The council also approved a bid for bus stop improvements as part of the city’s “Sense of Place” initiative. Flores Construction submitted a bid of $95,119.75 for concrete pads and related improvements for city bus stops, well below two competing bids that exceeded $150,000. Kimley-Horn, the city’s engineering consultant, had estimated construction costs at about $92,000.
The meeting underscored ongoing concerns about balancing property maintenance, safety, and weather-driven limits on environmental management while pursuing small-scale development and improved public amenities for Zephyrhills. Residents and officials alike emphasized the need for proactive maintenance and clear plans to address both immediate concerns at Silver Oaks and planned improvements around the community.♥
