Source: The Orange County Register (California)
Laguna Beach, Calif. - Doug Hand has played golf at Aliso Creek for 30 years. He acknowledges it's not the most challenging course around, but its rugged canyons and wildlife make it a special place.
``It's a sacred spot for us, a Laguna Beach landmark,'' he said. ``It would just be a disaster if it changed.''
But change it might. In March, Montage Hotels and Resorts bought the Aliso Creek course for an undisclosed amount. The luxury resort has preliminary plans for expanding the quaint nine-hole Aliso Creek course into an 18-hole championship-caliber course. An expansion could carry it into in the nearby Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. City, county, state and federal agencies would all have to approve major changes.
If the course expands to befit the Montage's luxury status, the days of $28 greens fees would likely give way to triple-digit rates. Locals fear the best tee times would go to resort guests. Environmentalists are worried about the loss of dwindling open space.
Montage is considering building residential units along the new course that could bracket Aliso Creek.
When Montage Hotels and Resorts purchased Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course in March, it gained 80 acres including the 2,200-yard course and 62 rooms at the Aliso Inn to complement its 262 luxury rooms overlooking the beach in south Laguna.
Then in April, Montage bought the vacant 230-acre former Driftwood Estate property that overlooks the course and is already approved for development.
Necessary amenity
Speculation that the Montage was considering an 18-hole golf course has piqued the interest of designers.
Cal Olson, who developed Coyote Hills Golf Course in Fullerton, discussed designing the new course with Montage.
``Having a regulation-size course adds a lot of ambiance and class to a resort,'' he said.
But he said he believes the potential fight to expand it in the canyon won't be easy.
Carol Huffman, a consultant for Montage, said plans are in the early stages.
``We have discussed conceptual plans with the county,'' she said. ``We did not give them any plans.''
She said there was no discussion of the additional acreage that might be needed.
``It's too early to know the components,'' she said. ``It will be a totally open and public process.''
In early October, Supervisor Tom Wilson, who represents south O.C., county planners and representatives from the South Orange County Wastewater Authority toured the area. They reviewed drainage, erosion concerns and environmental habitat.
The wastewater authority operates a 6.7 million-gallon treatment plant inside the boundaries of the wilderness park. Access roads must be maintained to service the plant and wastewater pipelines, officials said.
``To build a golf course around that is a difficult proposition. We're sort of a difficult fly in the ointment,'' said David Caretto, general manager of the agency.
The wastewater board has not taken an official position on the golf course expansion.
Rick Valantine, a golf pro at Monarch Links, a championship course that serves the nearby St. Regis Resort & Spa and Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, said he enjoys the wilderness experience of playing at Aliso Creek.
He said extending the course into the canyon would be a challenge: ``You'd have to be moving mountains.''
Too many courses?
Golf-course designers say a championship course suitable for a pro-tour stop must cover 7,000-plus yards spread over about 300 acres.
Many who follow the golf scene say O.C. has too many high-end courses already.
``There are numerous $100-fee golf courses out there that are not getting play,'' said Casey O'Callaghan, who designed Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo. ``Either you build a golf course and charge an affordable rate or you build a world-class course -- like Pelican Hill in Newport Coast-- where you can determine your fees.''
Wilson said staff will take up the Montage's proposal after the first of the year.
``The idea to make a golf course and put in some high-end houses on the surface sounds OK, but you have to dig deeper,'' Wilson said.