Source: The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
The cost of Pierce County's planned world-class golf course in University Place is now higher than previous estimates and the golf course has gotten smaller.
When county officials first proposed the idea, they estimated it would cost between $ 12.7 million and $ 16.9 million to build a proposed 27-hole, Scottish links-style golf course on part of the county's 930-acre Chambers Creek Properties.
Now, the project will cost $ 17.47 million, which does not include planned trail, open space and start-up costs. Not only that, but instead of a 27-hole course, the course will be limited to 18 holes, according to county project manager Tony Tipton. He presented the latest information to County Council members during a budget hearing Wednesday.
All told, the golf course could cost as much as $ 20.08 million - $ 17.47 million to build the golf course, plus $ 2.61 million for start-up costs and trail and open space improvements.
Tipton said the early estimates were not set in stone and the more realistic figures resulted from a more detailed analysis of the design.
Tipton said officials determined an 18-hole golf course is a better fit than a 27-hole course at Chambers Creek Properties.
Also, to control costs, officials decided to delay construction of a permanent clubhouse and moved a practice facility to the interior of the site, Tipton said.
In response, council members peppered him with questions and comments. Discussion lasted two hours.
Councilman Kevin Wimsett (D-Spanaway), a vocal critic of the golf course, said the council was told the course would be so profitable that it would pay for other public improvements, including trails.
Now that plan has apparently been "thrown out the window and replaced with taking money out of our sewer fund to build trails," he said. "That leaves a bad taste in my mouth, because that's not what we were told."
Councilman Harold Moss (D-Tacoma) defended the project proposed by County Executive John Ladenburg. He said the county has a good team of designers and engineers, and that he was confident the golf course "will pay the bills."
Councilman Calvin Goings (D-Puyallup) said he was troubled by a "radically changed" project that is already costing more than what the council was told. He added that he hoped to "salvage the project but there are a lot of unanswered questions and deep concerns."
County officials unveiled conceptual plans for the golf course in September. In May, the council voted 5-2 to spend $ 1.3 million in sewer fees to hire renowned architect Robert Trent Jones II to design the golf course.
The golf course is intended to transform a former gravel mine into an economic engine and to clean up the environment by disposing of treated water and biosolids at the county's regional wastewater treatment plant.
Under Ladenburg's plan, the county would sell bonds for construction and startup and then use revenue from the golf course to pay off the debt. The county hopes to begin construction on the golf course in fall of 2005 and open it for play in May 2007, Tipton said.
In 2008, after a full year of operation, officials have projected that the golf course will bring in $ 80,000 after expenses.
Goings pointed out that county officials did not meet the council-imposed goal of securing an agreement with University Place and Lakewood by Nov. 1 to add lodging to the master plan.
