Reclaiming the Green

By Forest Balderson

Across Florida and the nation, underutilized golf courses are becoming valuable opportunities—not for tee times, but for community transformation. We see a growing trend of repurposing these expansive tracts of turf into naturalized green spaces that serve a far greater environmental function. The former 49-acre Gulf Gate Executive Golf Course in Sarasota is a perfect example of a site that could evolve into a powerful tool for water management, ecological restoration, and community resilience.

From Fairways to Flood Mitigation

Golf courses, by their very design, are well-positioned to become stormwater mitigation areas. With their open green spaces and existing grading, they already mimic some aspects of natural water flow. However, instead of channeling water into nutrient-rich retention ponds that often suffer from algal blooms, we can reshape these landscapes into multi-functional floodplains and constructed wetlands that slow, store, and filter runoff.

In neighborhoods like Gulf Gate, where low elevations and aging drainage infrastructure present a flood risk, converting a closed golf course into a natural filtration system offers a regional-scale solution. Restored wetlands and bioswales can intercept rainwater, allowing it to infiltrate slowly into the aquifer while removing contaminants through natural processes.

The former Gulf Gate Exec Golf Course was rezoned in 2015 at the request of Carlos Beruff and Medallion Homes. After initial soil and water sampling for arsenic levels it was determined that a mix/blend soil mounding plan would be deleterious to the adjacent community. The contract was voided, and the property returned to the previous owner in 2017.

The following years brought investigations from D.R. Horton, Mattamy, and others with no sale. A partnership with Lennar Homes ended in November 2022 after only a few months. 13th Floor owns it now.

Addressing the Elephant in the Soil: Arsenic and Nutrient Pollution

One of the most critical steps before any restoration is addressing the legacy of pesticide and fertilizer use common to golf courses. The Gulf Gate Executive Golf Course, like many in Florida, has arsenic—a remnant of decades of herbicide applications—along with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers.

Here’s how it can be approached:

• Soil Testing and Mapping: We begin with comprehensive testing of soil and groundwater to determine arsenic concentrations and nutrient levels across the site. This creates a contamination map for focused remediation.
• Phytoremediation: Certain plants, such as ferns, can extract arsenic from the soil naturally over time. These “hyperaccumulators” can be planted in problem zones, especially where full soil removal isn’t feasible.
• Capping and Containment: In areas with dangerously high arsenic levels, capping with clean fill or clay and covering with native plants prevents leaching and exposure.
• Engineered Wetlands: As runoff flows through constructed wetland cells, nutrient-rich water is filtered by aquatic plants and microbial activity, effectively removing nitrogen and phosphorus before reaching bays or groundwater.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Long-term monitoring ensures that contaminant levels are declining and that water quality is improving over time.

Designing for the Future

Beyond remediation, a restored golf course can become a community treasure. Walking trails, pollinator meadows, native plantings, bird habitats, and outdoor education centers can all be incorporated without compromising its stormwater function.

At Gulf Gate, there’s an opportunity to engage local homeowners, schools, and civic groups in shaping the design—ensuring it reflects both environmental and community goals. The end result isn’t just a flood buffer; it’s a public amenity that enhances quality of life, property values, and ecological health.

A Model for Resilience

As rainfall intensity and coastal flooding increase, our communities must rethink how we use land. Repurposing former golf courses like Gulf Gate isn’t just a feel-good environmental project—it’s a necessary investment in urban resilience, water quality, and public health.

Turning a relic of recreation into a regional water asset is a hole-in-one for the environment and future generations.

Forest Balderson is a Realtor with Suncoast Luxury Team at Coldwell Banker in downtown Sarasota and is President of Gulf Gate Community Association.