Barrett Tennant says St. Johns County can be a “recreational desert” for families — where adult attractions abound but all age entertainments are slim.
His proposed golf-themed entertainment center, Nothing Putt Fun & Games, he told The Citizen, could help meet that unmet demand.
“There’s a lot to do for adults, there are some options for kids, but this would be something the whole family can go to and have a great time,” he said.
The project would offer indoor and outdoor miniature golf, arcade games, food trucks, and a small bar aimed at adults, creating a destination Tennant says can appeal to the entire clan.
The 4.5-acre site along U.S. 1 near Palencia would include a 16,000-square-foot indoor mini-golf facility and a 22,000-square-foot outdoor course landscaped with Florida-native vegetation.
Educational signage at each hole would highlight native plants and environmental stewardship, he told The Citizen.
The longtime Floridian, who worked in the corporate orbit before pivoting to entrepreneurship, said the concept grew out of his experiences as a parent of a 14-year-old golfer.
The project, which will have its fate decided by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, has faced some resistance.
In December, the Planning and Zoning Agency voted 5-2 to recommend denial of the rezoning request needed to move forward. Agency members cited conservation concerns, noting that much of the property is classified as wetlands.
A local resident spoke at the meeting, broaching worries over traffic in the area.
Tennant and his representative with Gulfstream Design Group, Matt Lahti, pushed back, saying the wetlands are protected under state and federal rules regardless of county zoning. They contended that their one-story design would limit environmental impacts.
Tennant said the business model would rely on repeat visits from local families, school field trips, and local business partnerships, rather than one-off birthday parties.
That structure, he said, could create a sustainable community hub.
“We want this to be a place families can come back to again and again,” he said.
