Comments from Golf Survey
What your neighbors are saying about River Bend
Would love to bring golf back to riverbend, an old Florida golf course would bring people from everywhere. Over development has ruined everything about what riverbend can represent.
— Ormond Beach Resident
The River Bend Golf Club ABSOLUTELY should be reopened. Immediately.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Big fan of the course — it’s where I hit my first shot with my grandfather.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Miss playing RB. Always had something to eat after my round. They were such great days…
— Ormond Beach Resident
It was good to have nearby options for those not a member of a country club. Kids and young adults are getting into golf more too.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Our family would LOVE to see this course opened back up!
— Ormond Beach Resident
Open to the public. Fresh air not housing!
— Palm Coast Resident
Stop destroying our town. Golf was a nice option to have so close to home
— Ormond Beach Resident
Open now
— Daytona Beach Resident
Never got to play the course but heard it was an amazing lay out so please bring it back!
— Ormond Beach Resident
A lot of people are moving here and more golf options would be good.
— Ormond Beach Resident
My name is currently on the waitlist to join Riviera. If Riverbend had a membershiip program the same pricing and structure as Riviera my name would be at Riverbend instead. I’ve been told the waitlist has been up to a year. That proves the need for another public course after losing Riverbend, Tomoka Oaks and Indigo
— Ormond Beach Resident
Reopening Riverbend Golf Course would be a meaningful investment in the community, offering benefits that extend far beyond the fairways. Public golf courses serve as accessible green spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather, exercise, and connect. In a time when open land is increasingly scarce, preserving and revitalizing a space like Riverbend ensures that residents continue to have a place to enjoy the outdoors in a healthy and productive way.
Public courses play a unique role in making the game of golf inclusive. Unlike private clubs, they provide affordable opportunities for beginners, families, students, and retirees to learn and play. This accessibility helps grow the game while also fostering a sense of community pride and shared ownership. For many, a public course is not just a place to play—it’s where friendships are built, lessons are learned, and lifelong memories are made.
Beyond recreation, Riverbend Golf Course contributes to the local economy and environmental health. Reopening it can create jobs, attract visitors, and support nearby businesses. At the same time, well-maintained courses act as green lungs for a city, helping manage stormwater, support wildlife, and provide a natural escape from urban development.
Most importantly, bringing Riverbend back would signal a commitment to quality of life for residents. It shows that the city values spaces that promote wellness, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Reopening the course is not just about golf—it’s about preserving a shared asset that enriches the entire community
— Ormond Beach Resident
I grew up playing riverbend, It was my favorite course and the back 9 is arguably the prettiest back 9 in all of volusia county. My dad and I played this course almost 3x a week and it never failed us. I would love to see it comeback to life instead of get used for even more ....... housing and apartments!!!
— Ormond Beach Resident
Busy course. Great restaurant. Money making property, needed different management and it would still be open.
— Ormond Beach Resident
We have enough commercial and residential development. Leave us some green space.
— Ormond Beach Resident
It was a great course. Every hole had character. I played there 2/3 times a week. Golf is not dead. There is more play than ever. We are in need of additional courses.
— Ormond Beach Resident
We lost one of the most peaceful golf courses I've ever played. Barely any houses on it each hole felt secluded and private. Very unique in the continually developed state of FL.
Ormond beach should have a golf course to go along with all of the soccer and ball fields
— Ormond Beach Resident
— Jacksonville Resident
I live on airport road and was drawn this way because of river bend. So sad to see it not here. Would love a place to take the wife and kids on any given day or night. I’d even be a member if membership was offered.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Would love to have another local course to go to especially because I live down the street
— Ormond Beach Resident
River Bend had real character and charm, just bad management. Daytona operates a successful municipal course. Why not Ormond Beach?
— Ormond Beach Resident
There are fewer and fewer golf courses available for the public to enjoy. A nice restaurant and course would be a great incentive for people to visit!
— Ormond Beach Resident
We especially miss the restaurant but miss the well maintained golf course as well. It’s now an eye sore and embarrassment.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Please reopen this course. It was a mainstay and very enjoyable course for the residents of Ormond Beach.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Such a great location and if it is rebuilt with love, it could be very enjoyable.
Golf every weekend
— Ormond Beach Resident
— Ormond Beach Resident
That golf course was one of the reasons I moved here!!
— Ormond Beach Resident
This golf course should never have been closed. Reopening would definitely help Ormond’s bottom line.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Yes always played there with my wife and ate in the restaurant. Close and convenient
— Ormond Beach Resident
This golf course should never have been closed. Reopening would definitely help Ormond’s bottom line.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Sell it to golf course rehabber and it will cost the City nothing to re-open it. they should have never allowed it to go feral. another operator should have been in place via RFP takeover as is Jan. 2021.
— Ormond Resident
Played in tournaments and just with friends. We had Land Surveyoring there. Bring it back.
— Deland Resident
Grew up playing there. Bring it back.
— Palm Coast Resident
This golf course should never have been closed. Reopening would definitely help Ormond’s bottom line.
— Ormond Beach Resident
We live close by and would be there all the time.
— Ormond Beach Resident
We moved to be closer to River Bend in 2008
— Ormond Beach Resident
You need to have affordable golf available to the public.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Fun course, great layout, sad that it’s closed.
— Palm Coast Resident
This golf course should be refurbished, it was a great asset to this city
— Ormond Beach Resident
We need to reopen the course for recreation and a good restaurant.
— Ormond Beach Resident
— Ormond Beach Resident
I golfed there often, and brought houseguests there when they came to visit.
We live in Bear Creek and my husband loves to play golf. And I would love to learn. It would be awesome if it reopened we would definitely play often!
— Ormond Beach Resident
Would play once a week
Always enjoyed playing River Bend. I miss having it as an option of the courses in the area.
— Daytona Beach Resident
— Daytona Beach Resident
Adds value to the community if run properly.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Restoring this site will boost local trade. Aside from fiscal gains, it provides a place to enjoy the outdoors, enhance physical health, and bond with other members of the golf community.
— Ormond Beach Resident
Would really like it if the course was reopened! It was one of the reasons that we bought a home near the course! Would be a great asset for the community!
— Ormond Beach Resident
— Ormond Beach Resident
My husband played in a group there every week for years always busy, now goes toRiviera 3X a week, always very busy as is the restaurant. Our visiting house guests like to play golf too. Business people flying in or out of OB could enjoy a round before or after a flight. Lots of business takes place on that 19th hole!
Need to bring the course back!!! We need a municipal course or private operator for a public course there
— Ormond Beach Resident
I vote to open the golf course
— Ormond Beach Resident
It was a nice mid level course, just enough to be challenging & keep you interested in coming back
— Plantation Bay Resident
I hope it will reopen--we need all the green space we can have!
— Ormond Beach Resident
— Daytona Beach Resident
Easy to get to and good food at restaurant
People move into golf course communities like Tomoka oaks, indigo, bear creek because they want a golf course community…it is sneaky and underhanded to change status. The city of Daytona has been running a public golf course successfully since around 1921 or so … Ormond could do the same
Miss the place, great layout, fun times...needs recreational facilities added and hopefully a new building???
Golf is very alive lets keep more green golf land on the ground.
— Port Orange Resident
— Ormond Beach Resident
— Ormond Beach Resident
Need to keep all golf open! Course was great back then !
— Port Orange Resident
Open it!!
— Ormond Beach Resident
My belief is that a well managed golf course there will be successful and provide the municipality good revenues.
The benefits of returning the land to a productive recreational resource employing a goodly number of people instead of leaving it for homeless camps and a trash dumping ground are pretty obvious. The FAA has apparently refused to authorize the 400 foot runway extension that would benefit 3 guys with jets, so it's time to bring jobs and golf back.
— Ormond By The Sea Resident
— Ormond Beach Resident
Riverbend was a fine course and deserves to be reopened as a municipal or public facility. Note that all of our sizable neighbors - New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Daytona Beach and even Palm Coast have municipal courses, and we don't.
— Ormond Beach Resident
We loved Riverbend Golf Course. We played there whenever we had the chance to do so! The course is challenging, the clubhouse was nice, the restaurant was awesome, the staff was super and friendly. We brought other family and friends who were visiting from out of town to play at Riverbend with us. PLEASE BRING IT BACK!
— Ormond Beach Resident
More community comments coming soon
— Ormond Beach Resident