Golf Course Basics

Community activist Brad Morton posted an update on MissionViejoDispatch.com on Mon., Aug. 24, announcing that proponents had turned in nearly 14,000 signatures on the petition to recall Councilman Lance MacLean. Read the report at http://missionviejodispatch.com/?p=10913

Among Dispatch readers to comment online were two Casta del Sol residents who are supporting MacLean. That’s ironic, considering that MacLean made clear he favored homebuilding on the Casta del Sol Golf Course. Why would any Casta resident defend a councilman who spit in the face of those wanting to preserve the golf course? MacLean also accepted a campaign donation from the housing developer’s PR agent.

This blog asked the obvious question months ago: if American Golf sells the golf course to a housing developer, why would anyone think the golf course or any part of it will remain in operation?

Unless a golf-course operator (not a housing developer) buys the property, it might continue to look like a golf course for a while – greens, fairways and a clubhouse – but locked down to prevent trespassing.

The Casta del Sol Golf Course has been for sale for years. Just ask those who play the course about maintenance. The course is not in good condition, and the owner makes little attempt to promote golf or use of the clubhouse. The property has been for sale, is currently for sale and will continue to be for sale. A prospective buyer who makes American Golf an offer should be prepared to pay for it.

The homebuilding slump won’t last forever, and housing developers will be back. The best hope residents have to preserve the Casta golf course is Mission Viejo’s Right-To-Vote initiative, which is scheduled to be on the June 2010 ballot. Proponents of this land-use initiative qualified it by collecting approximately 11,000 signatures to allow residents the final say in major zone changes. If residents pass the initiative, which they likely will do, they will take away the council’s authority to rezone property without a popular vote.

If voters will remove MacLean in a recall election, a new majority could enact the land-use initiative, thereby saving the cost of having it on the 2010 ballot. The golf course would thereby be protected from any future council majority, and Casta residents could get a good night’s sleep.