Is it possible that if the Golf Course owners can’t convince the homeowners to provide a subsidy, the Golf course could shrink from its present form to either a 9 hole course, or modified to an 18 hole short course? This writer had a discussion with Charlie Gibson yesterday and he indicated this would be his preference if the subsidy fails to materialize.  According to Charlie, the concept would be to close the back 9,  a possible cost savings of over $400,000 in water, maintenance, etc.  The front 9 in whatever form would continue to operate along with the pavilion.  That’s where Charlie apparently stands, at least at this writing.

Some goods, some bads in this proposal.  Your thoughts.

We understand there was to be a public forum on May 15 sponsored by our HOA board.  It was to discuss the Golf Course owners proposal to obtain a subsidy from the owners.  According to the Course owners the subsidy is necessary to keep the course operating as it is without change.  We have heard the meeting is being postponed, and instead, the regularly scheduled Board meeting and owners forum will take place.  Perhaps some more Q & A about the proposal will be possible.  We urge you to attend.

The reason for postponement is unclear.  Whatever it is, it appears we don’t yet have a meeting of the minds on what is being proposed.

Our golf course part owner and manager is moving on.  Charlie Gibson is selling his spacious home on Ravensworth Place and moving to Serrano.   According to Charlie he decided he did not want the pressures of living where he works.  Instead he says he will continue to manage the course himself via a daily 50 minute plus commute.  We wish him luck in his new abode.

The Morgan Creek Golf Course owners claim the business is not making money.  They have asked the community to subsidize its operation for from 3 to 10 years.  The way it is being operated this is probably true.  If they choose not to continue as is, what might the owners options be:

1. They could sell the course. Rumor has it there have been two offers.
2. They could successfully lobby for the homeowners to subsidize them.
3. They could attempt to close all or part of the course and develop the land, a tall order. See the editorial below for more.
4. They could close the course and let it lay fallow as they did at Sunset Whitney.

There is some support in the community for options 1. and 2. above. Options 3. and 4. would have a strong negative effect on our Morgan Creek lifestyle and probably negatively affect property values.

Rumors have been flying about concerning the Golf Course owners closing all or part of the course and selling to a developer.  While an attempt could be made, in this writer’s opinion, the path would be long and difficult and the outcome uncertain.  Just a few of the many obstacles would be.

• The land is virtually land-locked. Though not impossible, ingress and egress would be a problem without HOA permission.
• There is no infrastructure for sewer, water, power, etc. Installing these by a developer would be very costly.  Permitting could take many years.  There is much less expensive land in other areas in the surrounding community which would be less costly and more likely to succeed.
• The course contains many open space and protected areas, for example the riparian sanctuary along Dry Creek and the habitat of the endangered elderberry longhorn beetle.
• Likely strong Morgan Creek homeowners opposition.

In our opinion, development of the golf course for housing is an unlikely scenario and may be a smoke screen for promoting the course owners subsidy proposal.