Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/251767
opened. And, yes, Bobby Jones did play on the Ross-designed course, along with many of the sport's early notables. "All of the first, second and some of the third class of inductees to the Golf Hall of Fame played here," Pierson told the crowd. "What should we do with it? Should it benefit just golfers or the entire city? Visitors? Folks from Manatee and Sarasota counties? The neigh- bors across the street?" CLIMBING THE LADDER Pierson is a member of the city's Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Advisory board, nicknamed the PREP board. It was reorganized a few years ago when the Sarasota City Commission abolished a num- ber of advisory groups and amalgamated others. The Bobby Jones advisory board was boiled down to one member serving on the PREP board. Today that representative is Shawn Pierson. After hearing Pierson's dream, the PREP board recommended he make his pitch to the City Commission. It in turn recommended a public meeting of golfers, neighbors and any other interested parties to talk about a master plan for the Bobby Jones Golf Club. Bobby Jones was unquestionably the greatest amateur golfer in American history, regularly trouncing the professionals in tournaments. Here he is in a photo taken at his namesake course in Sarasota. Photo taken by Stan Zimmerman of an old photo Sarasota News Leader January 31, 2014 Page 52