Tomac Woods: From Golf Course To Solar Farm

Tomac Woods: From Golf Course To Solar Farm

On a recent drive to play a course near Grand Rapids, I noticed that Tomac Woods had been converted to a solar farm.

I played Tomac Woods in 2019, and thought it was emblematic of a category of friendly, neighborhood courses: I wouldn’t go out of my way to play, but if I lived in the area, I would be glad to have it. (Tomac Woods Review)

Tomac Woods was a family owned course built in 1964. It was sold in 2021 to the Solv Energy solar company. The owners, Jeanne Manley and her husband Dave Kennedy, had decided it was time to retire and no buyers stepped up who wanted to maintain the property as a golf course.

I think the same also is true for many farmers, as there are a lot of solar farms visible from I-94 west of Jackson, Michigan on what once was farmland.

I miss seeing the glorious green rows of corn and beans. They’ve now been replaced by hideous rows of black panels.

It’s progress, I suppose.