Source: Reno Gazette-Journal
The owners of Ponderosa Golf Course say they are losing players to other 18-hole courses and are asking recreation officials to take over the course after they redesign it to make it more alluring to beginning golfers and players who don't have time to play longer courses.
Ponderosa representative John Steinbush approached the Truckee Donner Parks and Recreation Oct. 14 to explain the proposal. He said the owners have gone to the town of Truckee and proposed converting the 9-hole course into a Par 3 executive course in exchange for the right to develop some of the golf course into homes. If approved, they would like to turn the new golf course over to the recreation and park district to own and manage.
Although Steinbush said all existing homes on the course would continue to back up to the golf course, he said some property owners are opposed to the plan. But he said the new course design would reverse the direction of play and take many homes out of the hazard zones that result from errant shots.
Steinbush and Ponderosa owner Robert Himsl have applied to the town for a General Plan amendment that would allow the development. Town officials suggested the developers approach the recreation district and ask them to take over the redesigned course.
"We would fully reconstruct the course to a professional standard and hand you the deed," Steinbush told the recreation district's Board of Directors.
Although no final decision was made, the board voted to send a letter to the town saying that it agrees in concept to manage and own the golf course "subject to further investigation."
According to a memo from General Manager Steve Randall to the recreation board, the developers plan to build 125 homes on land not being used for the new course.
"I feel this is a good opportunity for the community and that the district should give them a letter of intent," Randall wrote.
Steinbush noted that the project is still a few years away. If the town approves the general plan amendment and allows the development, it will be two to three years before the developers would break ground, he said.
In an Oct. 5 letter to the recreation and park district, Himsl said the executive par 3 concept opens the expensive sport of golf up to more people, including people without a lot of free time and beginners hoping to hone their skills.
"An executive par 3 course will offer a beginner friendly layout, and cost less money and take less time to play," Himsl wrote.
"By being more welcoming to women golfers, children, beginning golfers and to people with too little time, an executive par 3 course will offer the fledgling golfers a more structured, less intimidating experience."
Himsl said his family has been approached by developers who want the land but aren't interested in continuing the golf course. He said the family is faced with three options - selling the course to a developer who may not keep the golf course; leaving the land vacant and unused when golfing there no longer is profitable; or developing a portion of the land and keeping a community course.
