How Clintionesque. This guy's obviously a total sleaseball.
Posted on 01/30/2003 5:40:47 PM PST by GailA
Sundquist gives self free golf for life
Dennis Ferrier
January 30, 2003
There is a controversial parting gift involving former governor Don Sundquist. Usually, such a "going away gift" would come from somebody else, but in this case, the former governor apparently arranged one for himself just before leaving office. It was a gift from the taxpayers of Tennessee.
I bet you have never heard of a piece of paper called a special arrangement request. It is the state's version of legal gift-giving -- and this is a big one.
It gives former Governor Don Sundquist and his wife Martha free golf for life on Tennessee's finest public golf courses -- eight courses on the Tennessee golf trail.
Now, and for the rest of their lives, Don and Martha Sundquist get green fees, carts and range balls absolutely free. This all happened on January 14th when outgoing parks commissioner Milton Hamilton gave the outgoing governor one last farewell gift.
Channel 4 News figured out that if the governor plays just once a week. The gift is worth over $5,000 a year. We showed it to some senior golfers in Nashville. This was their response.
"Did you make this up? Son of a gun! I don't believe it. This is incredulous. He hasn't done enough to this state?” said Jim Barr, Nashville golfer.
We were unable to reach former Governor Sundquist for comment. Former commissioner Milton Hamilton was also unavailable. A parks employee explained to Channel 4 News that special arrangement requests are intended to help charities and fund raisers.
For example, if you are raising money for leukemia maybe you get discount meals or half off of golf. But its intent is to help people not give rich people free golf.
“I have to pay my fees he has to pay his fees. At least he didn't take the china and the furniture," said one senior golfer.
Channel 4 News spoke with the brand new Commissioner over Parks, Betsy Child. She said she is aware Governor Sundquist was given golf for life, but she does not want to comment on the actions of the previous administration.
Commissioner Hamilton also gave his outgoing parks director, Mark Williams free golf for a year.
How Clintionesque. This guy's obviously a total sleaseball.
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