City unveils historic significance of Gaither golf course
Photo by Antonio Walcott
By Antonio Walcott
Special to the Outlook
The cycle that marks the historic significant of Jake Gaither Golf Course is completed.
A group of dignitaries came together last Monday evening, unveiling a marker that stands as proof that the 66-year-old golf course is officially in National Register of Historic Places. That comes four months shy of when the golf course was nominated to the city’s national register.
“This course has long served as a landmark for avid golfers and members of the community alike” Mayor John Dailey said. “We are thrilled to be able to honor the legacy and traditions of JGGC as recognized history for many years to come.”
Scott Edwards, a historic preservationist for the Florida Division of Historical Resources, was one of the lead figures in making the push to get JGGC into the National Register of Historic Places. Edwards prepared his presentation by accumulating years of research tailored toward earning the prestigious nomination.
“I used to come here early in the morning with my father and brother and we’d run our first nine holes, pay when the shop opened, and go back out to finish our back nine,” Edwards said. “Now I continue that with family; this being where my son was able to win his first championship after three years of competing. This is a place that continues to hold a very special place in my heart and being able to have JGGC be honored like this is truly amazing.”
The ceremony for JGGC’s newest addition comes on the heels of what Commissioner Curtis Richardson described as a continued investment of nearly $270 million earmarked for projects and redevelopment on the city’s Southside.
“Funding centers of the community such as Jake Gaither as well as this being a site of such historic significance is one of the many great things happening in the city of Tallahassee,” Richardson said. “Something people can clap for.”
