BREC suspends golf clinics, introducing new program in August

The golf clinics that BREC held at its public courses for the past two years have been suspended due to staffing reductions, a spokesperson says. BREC recently notified golfers that the clinics, which formerly had been held about once or twice each month, would no longer be held as of June 3. Erin O’Neill, BREC publicity and marketing manager, says a new program of PGA-recommended clinics called First Swing are scheduled to begin in August. The First Swing clinics will be available for youth, women, men and families, O’Neill says, and they will teach newcomers the basics of the game. The timing of the clinic suspension and a public input meeting taking place this week on the future of BREC’s seven golf courses are coincidental, she says. “We had a great demand for the clinics, but the postponement does go back to staffing,” O’Neill says in an email to Daily Report. The public input meeting is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the BREC administrative building, 6201 Florida Blvd. Comments from the public will be used by BREC as it works with hired consultants from the National Golf Foundation to evaluate all aspects of its golf operations and develop a long-term master plan for its courses. After roughly 14 months on the job, BREC Director of Golf Jeffrey Marks resigned on June 2, saying he was returning to Georgia to be with his family. —Steve Sanoski