Cleanup underway for Port Charlotte golf course damaged during Hurricane Ian

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WINK) — Months after neighbors demanded action on a neglected, hurricane-damaged golf course, cleanup is finally underway.

WINK News first met Claire Rea in January at a Port Charlotte WINK Listens event. For years, the golf course stood as a reminder of the destruction left behind after Hurricane Ian.

"It's a sin. It breaks your heart," Rea said at the time.

The property was overgrown, abandoned and frustrating for residents. After WINK News brought their concerns to light, crews are now clearing the property.

"I don't know what precipitated this cleanup, but I'm hoping it probably was WINK Listens, because I know it works, and now they're cleaning it up," Rea said.

Neighbors say the transformation is night and day. Rea and other residents who live on the golf course say they're thrilled with the progress.

"We're so happy. All the neighbors are so happy," Rea said.

Bob Francis and Mary Ellen Ryder, who also live on the golf course, have been documenting the changes. They say they've been taking pictures and letting everyone know about the cleanup, hoping the course comes back.

For the first time in years, some residents can finally see what was lost. Rea said she can now see her neighbors' houses two fairways away, something she couldn't do before.

The property owner, Mays Holding, said there was significant vandalism across all the buildings, so the county asked him to address it.

The owner did not respond to follow-up questions about future plans for the property. While the work isn't finished yet, there's a new sense of hope in the community.

Francis and Ryder said they hope it'll come back as a golf course, maybe even better than before. For many residents, the ultimate goal is clear.

"I do hope it will return to be a golf course," Rea said.

Francis said his golf cart is sitting in the garage, and they're waiting to see what happens next.