Palm Bay City Council voted 5-0 last week to negotiate the purchase of 135 acres of the abandoned Majors Golf Course, a decision city officials say could prevent further deterioration of the property. The $8.5 to $10 million price range was set for negotiations, with the city planning to convert the land into a regional park and stormwater management facility. The course, which closed in 2022 after years of financial struggles, had previously been targeted for a 700-home residential development that stalled due to resident opposition.
Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe called the golf course’s decline “unfortunate” and said its current state—overgrown and plagued by rodents—has caused frustration among nearby residents. “It’s not fair to the people living next to it,” he said. The city’s plan would transform most of the land into a public park, with some areas designated for deep well injection of reclaimed water and stormwater management. Jaffe said he sees no future for the site as a golf course.
The idea of city ownership first surfaced in 2018 when the course was still operational, but council members at the time declined to pursue a purchase. City Manager Lisa Nguyen said the current opportunity arose after the course’s owner, Majors Golf LLC, failed to sell the land as planned. “We’re trying to ensure this land is used in a way that benefits the entire community,” she said.
Tony Catalano, president of the new Bayside Lakes HOA, praised the city’s move but expressed concerns about the proposed use. “I think the park idea is good,” he said, “but I worry about how it will be maintained.” The city has not yet finalized a purchase agreement, and no timeline has been set for the project’s completion. Council members said they will seek public input before moving forward.