Susan Knox Wilson
If you ever watched the television series This Old House, you know the crest-fallen look the homeowners get when the show host, Norm, tells them that before they can even consider remodeling the kitchen, all the pipes in the whole house have to be replaced. The homeowners brighten somewhat when Norm suggests that as long as all the walls and floors are torn open, it will be a good time to consider a whole house remodel. Maybe a new powder room here, his-and-hers sinks in the master bath there, perhaps reconfigure the laundry and mud room for better traffic flow—so many possibilities.
Our 24-year-old Eagle’s Nest (EN) Golf Course is in a similar situation. We know we have to replace the failing irrigation system — and as long as the course is going to be torn up anyway, that’s the optimal time to do a renovation. After much research, study and evaluation, the HOA Board announced at the February 2016 meeting that a golf course architect and affiliated team have been hired to prepare a master plan for our old golf course.
If you’ve been up early in the morning you may have noticed award-winning golf course architect Gary Brawley roaming the course with his tablet, camera and smart level – then you know Brawley has already started on his mission. The golf course master plan Brawley and his team are developing will begin with a thorough evaluation of the golf course to understand and provide a foundation of what needs to be done. The master plan itself will be based on this evaluation and study of design options to improve not only the playing experience, but also the maintenance of the golf course with an overall approach to long-term sustainability of the golf course for the community.
Brawley, who has a life-long passion for golf, has spent the last 20 years in some aspect of the design and/or construction of some 50 projects worldwide, including over 25 master plans and golf course renovations. He’s teamed up with award-winning landscape architect, Richard Ferrero, whose work includes nearby Vistancia/Trilogy in Peoria (which Brawley was also involved in as part of the design team with Gary Panks), as well as Encanterra Golf and Country Club in San Tan Valley. Also part of the team is Missy Jones. Jones is a local resident that serves on the rules committees for many USGA, LPGA, AGA and others. Jones will consult with the design team on the master plan documents specifically related to the Ladies’ Game as well as the impact course conditions have on the Rules of Golf.
Our Golf Courses are Very Valuable Assets
Just as renovating an old house helps maintain and enhance its value, so does renovating our Eagle’s Nest Golf Course. Our golf courses are an asset worth some $20M – and the completion of the final nine holes in Tuscany Falls will add another $5M in value. As well as being a community asset, our golf courses are valuable to each of us individually. Real estate studies have shown that homes located in golf course communities maintain higher property values and often hold their value better than other properties. A 2007 study by the Longitudes Group showed that home sites on golf courses have a whopping 40 percent premium over standard home sites in the same community. In PebbleCreek, the median sales price of all homes (whether on a golf course or not) is 35% greater than other Goodyear homes.
In addition to increasing the value of our homes, PebbleCreek’s golf courses increase our wellbeing by providing substantial ecological and community benefits. Many people find playing golf keeps them mentally and physically active. But in addition to recreation, our golf courses provide an environmental sanctuary for many plants and animals and the trees and turf grass produce vast amounts of oxygen which helps clean the air of pollution and helps keep us all a bit cooler. Our golf courses also serve as retention areas for storm water runoff – another plus for the environment.
Brawley says the master plan for Eagle’s Nest will be taking into consideration existing views and view corridors of neighboring residences. “If you have a view of the putting green now, you will have a view of the green when we are done; we also won’t be moving cart paths from one side of the golf hole to the other.” He will, though, be focusing on doing a thorough evaluation of existing conditions, especially wear and tear on the turf, what’s in play, what’s not, what can be improved and what can be eliminated. Green turf is expensive to irrigate and maintain so every bit of turf needs to be evaluated. And every acre of turf that can be taken out of play and turned into low-water use landscape, Brawley noted, saves enough water to provide some 60 homes with water for a year, every year.
After Brawley and his team complete their work, the next step is to involve the community in the planning process. Meetings with golfers and non-golfers alike will be held to get everyone’s feedback and input before any course of action is decided. Times and dates of those meetings have yet to be determined, so stay tuned for updates on This Old Golf Course in the months ahead.