My name is Kim Krostue. I have owned a home on the tenth fairway of the Views golf course for 8 years.
I have reviewed the financials of the Town’s 45 holes of golf. Clearly the status quo is not financially sustainable. A change needs to be made.
First, the 9 holes need to be sent back to HSL.
Second, I have studied the National Golf Foundation’s 2018 report. There were 3 options discussed. The 18-hole option (Option C) is the correct one. However, the 18-hole configuration as outlined in the report seems artificial with a new 18-hole course carved out of the La Canada and El Conquistador courses, preserving holes on each course.
I would suggest changing this and just keeping the La Canada course as is. I would repurpose the El Conquistador course preserving the views of all current El Conquistador homeowners. By selecting the La Canada course, I believe the 4.2M conceptual reconfiguration cost outlined in the NGF report (Option C) could be reduced perhaps dramatically thereby leaving money for community center improvements. Plus the move to 18 holes could be done almost immediately with all required irrigation work being completed this summer.
I believe moving from 45 holes of golf to 18 is the best option to preserve the property values of all homeowners living on every golf course in Oro Valley and will also allow the La Canada course to operate in the black.
Mr. Krostue also submitted the following comments on Take Back OV (Facebook Page):
If you weren't there, take the time to watch. The attitude in the room demonstrated why Hiremath and crew were crushed in the election. The golf club members led the charge for a continued free lunch. No other way to say it. I do not remember anyone in the “keep 36 holes group” arguing that golf should operate financially in the black. The NGF study captured this group’s attitude in the 2017 study and nothing has changed.
I learned something significant at the meeting. The deed restrictions in the HSL contract apply to the La Canada course and the 9 holes, not to the El Conquistador course. It appears that the town manager (staff) did not understand what the deed restrictions actually were until after last month’s study session. Think about that for a second.
---
Editor’s Note: Mr. Krostue’s comment, “The NGF study captured this group’s attitude in the 2017 study and nothing has changed” was in reference to a comment by the National Golf Foundation after a 2017 meeting with El Con golf members and residents living along the golf courses.
“The feedback from these groups showed very little tolerance for change and lack of concern for the troubled facility economics." ~ Summary statement, Page 4, National Golf Foundation Study
