Debate on the future of golf courses begins

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista POA members line up to speak at the open meeting to discuss the future of the valley golf courses. A hydrology study has predicted more flooding and more repairs along the creek which runs through Berksdale, Kingswood and the Country Club.
Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista POA members line up to speak at the open meeting to discuss the future of the valley golf courses. A hydrology study has predicted more flooding and more repairs along the creek which runs through Berksdale, Kingswood and the Country Club.

Last week, the POA Board hosted another public meeting to talk about damage from flooding along Little Sugar Creek. The last serious flood in April 2017, led to the closure of nine holes of the Berksdale Golf Course and a hydrology study by an engineering firm.

In March, the POA held two public meetings to present the hydrology study to the public. According to the study, there's no way to prevent the flooding, but there are ways to reinforce the banks of the creek and prevent further erosion. The problem is the expense of the work that is needed.

There have been five floods within the last 10 years and the POA has spent over two million dollars cleaning up after those floods. Of 2 million, some $1,343,000 went to the valley courses, general manager Tom Judson said.

The hydrology study showed that flooding would probably get worse as more land is developed in Bentonville. There's a 65 percent probability that another major event will take place in the next 10 years.

There are several "big questions" that must be answered, according to board chairman Ron Stratton and the PowerPoint presentation shown at the most recent meeting.

"Is it economically and practically feasible" to maintain each of the three valley golf courses? Little Sugar Creek runs through Berksdale, Kingswood and the Country Club and each has been damaged by floods.

The answer to that question might be influenced by the answer to the question: "How many golf courses should we have?"

Bella Vista reflects the national numbers, Judson told the audience, and, nationally, the number of golf rounds played are dropping.

Last summer, with Berksdale half closed and the Highlands closed for work on bunkers and the approaches to greens, Bella Vista had only four open 18-hole courses. While some members might have had to settle for less desirable tee times, most golfers were able to get on a course. The number of rounds played can be fit on four courses, he said.

But with only four courses, it would be difficult to recruit golfers and Judson believes he can "grow golf." He plans to market Bella Vista to potential new residents and to guests and add to the number of rounds played.

Stratton presented four options for members to consider.

The first is reopen 18 holes on Berksdale and keep Kingswood open at a cost of $11.6 million over 10 years. But, he warned, there's a very real possibility of another flood with even more expensive repairs.

The second option is to close Berksdale and Kingswood, concentrate on saving the Country Club and possibly building a fifth course on the Ark-Mo land. Stratton didn't offer an estimate for a new course in the PowerPoint but later said board member David Whelchel, a professional golf course architect, had estimated that cost at six to seven million.

The third option is to continue to offer nine holes at Berksdale and 18 at Kingswood, spending about nine million over the next 10 years.

The final option, to completely close Berksdale and leave Kingswood open as an 18-hole course would cost about five million over the next 10 years.

If any of the valley courses are closed and repurposed for other recreational uses, the POA would look for partners to share the cost of the renovation. For example, the Walton Foundation might help with the cost of new trails in the area, especially if they are connected with the Razorback Greenway. No cost estimates were offered for the repurposing project.

The PowerPoint also addressed some misunderstandings members may hold -- for example, the "reversionary clause myth." While some churches may have a reversionary clause in their deeds -- a clause that forces ownership to revert to Cooper Communities if the use of the land is changed -- the golf courses do not have that clause. They do have a deed restriction that gives Cooper the right to approve the use of the land for commercial purposes. If the land is repurposed for recreation, Cooper approval is not needed.

Also, members probably overestimate the value of a 36-hole facility like the Berksdale/Kingswood courses. Last year, there were only five tournaments that needed 36 holes. Three out of the five tournaments were charity events and priced at a discount. None of the tournaments canceled when the location was changed. They probably prefer Berksdale/Kingswood because the central clubhouse is convenient, but they settle for two courses in the same town.

Another misunderstanding concerns golf revenue. While golf brings in more revenue than any of the other amenities, it is still supported by the assessments, just like the other amenities. Golf also receives a large chunk of the capital budget which funds large projects. But, even though golf doesn't make money, the POA budget is balanced. Assessments were designed to cover the expenses of amenities.

When the microphone was open to questions from the audience, most of the speakers seemed supportive of the board.

"Do what you can to give us five courses," John Riorden stated to the board.

A woman who identified herself as Monica said she moved here for the trails and the scenery. She's in favor of repurposing Berksdale as a park.

General News on 04/18/2018