Volume 29 Issue 15 July 20, 2021
Pebble Creek Golf Club Saying Goodbye By JOHN C. COTEY were sent out informing residents that the 6,436-yard golf course, the oldest in New john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Tampa, was shutting down for good.
Chuck Leisek has spent many of his Place said there is no special event or mornings the past 15 years hitting golf farewell scheduled for the club. The last balls at the Pebble Creek Golf one out on the 31st will turn Club (PCGC), where he lives off the lights, lock the door just off the 12th hole. and that will be it. The 86-year-old never Place is currently negobroke 70, but shot his age tiating with Pulte Homes on plenty of times, has just missed building 230-240 single-family a hole-in-one on the No. 2 and homes on the golf course. No. 6 holes, and loved every “Never once when I day he was out on the course. bought the course was I even When he found out that thinking it would be a develthe golf course was shutting opment site,” Place says. “We down for good on July 31, he “We’ve had a lot of took what was then a failing and his wife Janice, also an avid good times here. It’s golf course that was horribly golfer, were crestfallen. very depressing. Very maintained, and we put in “We never thought in our upsetting.—Pebble Creek probably $2 million over the wildest dreams this golf course first five years. We put in new resident Chuck Leisek would ever be closed,” says greens, built a new banquet Leisek. “It’s deeply disappointroom, and really got the club ing. And that’s an understatement.” making money initially.” Included in the improvements was The writing, however, had been on Mulligans, the popular Irish pub that the wall for the past few years, as owner opened in 2007, but also will close July 31. Bill Place, who bought the club in 2005, Place says the 2008 recession stopped has been actively trying to sell the propthe club’s momentum, and it has been on erty the past five or so years. and off ever since. The first weekend in June, letters
This view from the first tee at Pebble Creek Golf Club could soon be replaced by the addition of new homes. The club shuts down for good on July 31. (Photo: John C Cotey)
Leisek says he remembers when Place bought PCGC and restored the course to its previous glory, but says he is one of many who questions how much money Place actually has been losing. And, although he says he had heard rumors of Place “skulking around trying to sell it,” it was still a surprise to everyone he knew when they received notice that PCGC was officially closing.
Place says club members like Leisek, however, were far and few between at Pebble Creek. Although there are roughly 1,400 homes in the community, only 13 residents are among the club’s 70 current members. He describes the support from the community as non-existent. “I don’t mean that negatively, like See “Pebble Creek” on pg. 4.
Check Out The New Menu Items At Bubba’s 33! For all the details, see pages 32-33!
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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 15 • July 20, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net
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