October 21, 2026 · Ormond Beach Buzz

River Bend Residents Return to the Fence: Three Groups Want the Idle Golf Course Site

By Staff report

The River Bend Golf Club entrance sign framed by Spanish moss and green shrubs. — River Bend Golf Club entrance sign. File photo

Roughly 20 Ormond Beach residents gathered at the fenced entrance of the former River Bend Golf Course on Oct. 16 to press the city for action on a property that has been idle for nearly six years.

The short version
The 172-acre course has been closed since 2020 and is part of Ormond Beach Municipal Airport land.
Three groups are interested: two want golf back, one wants to expand the airport business park.
Any change in use runs through FAA rules; the city is waiting on FAA clarification.
No timeline has been set for a decision.

Roughly 20 Ormond Beach residents gathered at the fenced entrance of the former River Bend Golf Course on Oct. 16 to press the city for action on a property that has been idle for nearly six years.

What Residents Said

"Bring golf back to Ormond Beach!" resident Sheila Andrews-Lind shouted, according to WFTV. She called the shuttered course "an eyesore" and "an embarrassment to our community." Another resident, Nancy Wiegand, said she wants the wetlands and nature on the property to stay.

Where the Site Stands

The 172-acre property has been closed since 2020, when its former operator went bankrupt. It sits behind fences and no-trespassing signs, is part of Ormond Beach Municipal Airport land, and is not for sale. For a fuller background, see our River Bend explainer.

Three Groups Interested

Three groups have shown interest in the property. Two want to reopen or revamp the golf course. One of them is PGA professional Gerry James, who wants to buy the site and restore it as a public course. The third submitted a letter of intent to expand the airport business park and add hangars.

Officials and residents have referenced a proposed $2 million purchase price and $18 million in capital improvements. The sources we reviewed did not make clear which proposal those figures belong to.

Why It Hasn't Moved

Because the land is part of the airport, any change in use runs through federal aviation rules. The city must update its airport master plan and satisfy Federal Aviation Administration requirements before any non-aviation use can proceed. City officials say they are waiting for clarification from the FAA before deciding the next steps. No timeline has been set for a decision.

What to Watch

An FAA response, a commission discussion of the three proposals, and whether the issue comes up in the Nov. 3 Zone 2 and Zone 4 races. A petition to reopen River Bend as a municipal course had gathered more than 2,600 signatures as of a June 2026 City Commission meeting.

Ormond Beach Buzz will follow the issue as it develops.

Sources

Reported by Staff for Ormond Beach Buzz. Resident quotes from the Oct. 16 gathering are as reported by WFTV.

Read WFTV's coverage