The Sun City Center Security Patrol has leased the former clubhouse of the closed North Lakes Golf Course. They expect to move as early as April after the new roof and other improvements are completed. Bill Hodges photos.
The Sun City Center Security Patrol is moving its command center to North Pebble Beach Boulevard and LaJolla Avenue. Its 4,300-square-foot new home formerly was the clubhouse of the North Lakes Golf Course that was closed in 2009. The building is owned by ClubLink US, the Canadian company that owns and operates the golf courses here.
Security Patrol Chief Karen Ryan said they expect the move sometime in April. Regarding the lease signed with ClubLink, she said, “A year ago, the Patrol’s Board of Directors voted to allow me to start talks with ClubLink US, and we have arrived at a 10-year lease with the right of first refusal to purchase at the end of year three.” The lease includes the building and its immediate surrounding property.
Although the Patrol’s command center is located in the SCC Community Association building at 1005 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., it is not affiliated with the CA. It is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation.
CA President David Floyd said the CA’s agreement with the Patrol allows them use of the current 1,145-square-foot space as long as they need it. “We are pleased the Patrol was able to find space more suitable for its operation. We are exploring options for that section but most likely will expand the now-cramped offices to enhance service to our members,” he said.
The CA has 10 employees and nine directors/officers occupying the other 3,134 square feet in the building.
CA President David Floyd said they are exploring options for the space that will be vacated by the Patrol, but he expects that it will be used to expand the CA office operations.
Imparting a bit of history, Floyd noted that the entire CA building was moved in 1987 from the current Winn-Dixie site.
ClubLink US bought all the Sun City Center golf courses, including the already-closed North Lakes course in 2010 from WCI, the Sun City Center developer that was in bankruptcy at the time. ClubLink owns and operates 40 golf courses in Ontario and Quebec, Canada, as well as seven golf courses in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area and four in Sun City Center.
ClubLink’s Florida Executive Director Mark Trepanier said, “We’re glad we could find an organization like the Security Patrol that will now be able to make good use of a building that has been unused for many years. ClubLink is getting the ball rolling by putting on a new roof and replacing much of the air conditioning as well as making some cosmetic improvements to the building.”
He added “We’re also very pleased that we could help a nonprofit organization. The Security Patrol makes a very pronounced difference in the safety of Sun City Center, and ClubLink is very much a part of Sun City Center.”
The SCC Security Patrol has 1,100 volunteer members who patrol the residential and business areas of the community 365 days and nights a year. Its mission is “To Deter Crime in Sun City Center.” Founded in 1982, the Patrol works in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and its drivers are trained to report suspicious vehicles and/or persons and check on suspicious or unusual activities. The Security Patrol operates five marked vehicles on a day-in, day-out basis. Its motto is, “See and Be Seen.”
