The time has come to start protecting homeowners from golf course owners. Nowhere is that more apparent than Myrtle Beach, where course owners are bailing out, selling their land for development and infuriating homeowners, many of whom bought their homes on the promise they would be living on a golf course forever.

Others who live in golf communities are seeing condos and high-rises where once they saw fairways and greens.

True enough, course owners are in a tough situation, though one largely of their own making. Myrtle Beach built golf courses in the 1990s like the government was handing out tax breaks. Actually, they do, the reason being that golf pulls in so many tourists to the area.

Now they’re selling out to development because profits are down.

Now, some Myrtle Beach politicians are saying it makes more sense to base property taxes on income rather than the market value of land, according to the Myrtle Beach Sun newspaper.

It seems like a good idea, and could result in more course owners deciding to stay in the business.

In any event, politicians need to look at the idea of tax breaks for golf courses if they are going to continually break promises to homeowners and members.

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