4/26/2010 10:52:00 PM Prescott Lakes residents OK proposal; golf course to see another day
Courtesy photo
Barring any hurdles, Prescott Lakes golf course - which closed March 1 - could reopen in a few weeks under management by the community association and Arnold Palmer Golf Management. The subdivision's residents will, however, be paying more in fees.
The Prescott Lakes golf course has new lease on life.
Prescott Lakes Community board member Dave Hackathorn said late Monday afternoon that property owners overwhelmingly gave their support to a proposal that keeps the course open.
Out of 1,533 possible votes, 1,073 people voted for it and 261 voted against it with the remaining votes serving as non-votes, according to Hackathorn.
"It was a very strong endorsement of the proposal, so we're going forward with it," he said.
Barring any hurdles, Hackathorn said the deal giving the community association and Arnold Palmer Golf Management control could close around the end of the week and the management company could begin taking the reins at the course as early as next week.
The deal opens the door for the association to borrow about $2.6 million for additional amenities including a community center and restaurant, which could come online in the second half of 2011.
But it also means an additional burden to residents' wallets.
Barring any problems in completing the agreement, property owners will see their dues increase effective May 1.
That means golf club members will see their dues increase about $130 a month with everyone else paying about $30 more in monthly dues.
"In order to make this work, everybody had to pay a share to make it happen and this gives us control of the community," he said.
George Sheats, resident and member of the association's transition committee, said the proposal was the best move for the community.
"To me its really a positive step because now we can move forward with our plans as a community," he said. "It's the best alternative considering we've pretty much exhausted our options."
In late February, Bill Brownlee, managing member of M3 Companies, the developer of the subdivision, announced the temporary closure of the golf club effective March 1 for 60 days or until the property owners gave their vote on the proposal.
Brownlee said in a Feb. 24 Daily Courier story that the course "does not make economic sense to continue to operate."
Monday night, Brownlee said the outcome reflects the hard work that people put into it.
"We're glad that the community supported the proposal by Arnold Palmer Golf Management and the association and look forward to continue working on it," he said.
The vote also gets the developer out of the community, according to Hackathorn, who said the course could come back online within the next few weeks.
And Hackathorn believes the deal sends a positive message to prospective buyers, bolsters the golf side of the community with the management company's name recognition and brings better amenities that are more appealing.
"The community in general now has a vision of what we have going forward," he said. "We hope that this is going to stabilize the impression of the community."
Posted: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Article comment by:
Golf Courses in High Desert Are Not Sustainable!
Prescott Lakes and Prescott Lakes golf course is an abomination. See all the lush grass the beautiful greens? That represents a huge depletion of all of our common water resources. Even though Prescott Lakes golf course uses treated sewer water (where the affluent play golf on the effluent). That huge amount of water should be treated to high purity and returned to the aquifer. We live in a high desert, we do not have rainfall to support this kind of wasteful consumption. There are a number developer produced golf courses nearby that are not carrying their weight. These are a big selling point while the houses are being sold. But when it comes time to let the association take over and the balance sheet comes out. They are all in the red. Let the water guzzling golf course revert to natural deep rooted grasses and native bushes and trees, a perfect green belt with water catchment and sustainable landscape. It is better for the water table, it is better for the displaced animals that will move back in and it is better for all the humans surrounding this unnatural aberration.
Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Frank LeClaire
In reference to Kathy S it was one of the conditions they agreed to. The course will be opened to the public. No fees were set,prior to this they had reopened the course and it was $45 for a non resident and $35 for a resident.
Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Article comment by:
LUKE JARRETT
We can't believe how dry and boring this article was. There was more emphasis placed on the number of votes that were cast and the small increase in fees than the heart of this issue.
Prescott Lakes is a major part of our community, and right next door to your offices I might add. Having an organization like The Arnold Palmer Group managing the course, and the improvements that they are planning as a result would have built some excitement in a declining real estate market & benefitted the entire business community in Prescott as well.
When Prescott Lakes first came on the scene, it did more to promote Prescott than just about any other entity or business in town.
Had this article been written with a little more excitement and creativity, our entire business community could have benefitted greatly, like it did in the past. No wonder your readership and advertising is declining.
Sorry guys - you missed the boat with this article - too bad!! At least the residents who voted for this improvement to our community are happy about this POSITIVE change.
Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Prescott Lakes Homeowner who voted no
It is unfortunate that it was passed. According to the CCRs, M3 would be out our control by August 2, 2011. Then we could do what we wanted without increased fees. M3 probably knew they were running out of time as well as those that brought this proposal to the table. If the homeowners ever want to get 100% control, I wonder how much the cost will be to buy out Arnold Palmers 50% interest.
Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Article comment by:
Kathy S.
In a previous article I read where most of the P. Lakes residents are not golfers. Why do they not make the course semi-private and allow "outsiders" to play with area resident and non-resident fees. I would certainly think it would be a boost, and P. Lakes residents wouldn't have to have their fees/dues boosted just to placate their few resident golfers. Any intelligent answers on that?
