11/3/2009 6:52:00 PM Beaver Creek golf course to get facelift Historic course will go private next year
James Spear told a packed house at the Lake Montezuma Property Owners Association that the new golf course would be "five-star" and private.
VVN/Steve Ayers
Built to PGA standards, the course would include a swimming pool and clay surface tennis court.
BEAVER CREEK - Looking at the Beaver Creek Golf Course in its present condition, it is difficult to conceive that a year from now it may be among the state's best.
That, however, is the vision as explained by James Spear, one of the owners of what will soon be called the Sanctuary at Beaver Creek, speaking before a packed house at Monday's meeting of the Lake Montezuma Property Owners Association.
"If all goes as planned, we are going to have a five-star golf course the community can be proud of. By making it a feature course it will revitalize the community.
"I know it is a project that will be supported," said Spear, a CPA in the Village of Oak Creek and a director of the investment group, Beaver Creek Redevelopment Company.
If there is a drawback to the vision, at least in the eyes of some in the audience, it is that the course will go private -- meaning you will need a membership if you want to play -- and that the ever-popular Ranch House Restaurant has served its last meal.
Spear answered questions for most of a half hour Monday, although admitting the project was long on vision and short on details at this time.
"There is a lot left to be finalized. It will be another two to three weeks," Spear said. "I will be glad to come back here and share everything when it is time."
He did, however, unveil some of the details.
"The first thing we are going to do is turn the water on," Spear said. What grass is still growing is overgrown and many of the ponds and water features are either dry or home to dying fish.
Spear said that over the next year the face of the course would change dramatically. The final product, he said, would be "relative to Oak Creek (Country Club)."
"It will be built to PGA specs, so we can host men, women and seniors PGA tournaments. We will be moving a lot of dirt this next year. You won't recognize it," Spear said.
Among the planned amenities will be a swimming pool and clay surface tennis courts. The Ranch House building will remain "aesthetically the same," but it will not be a public restaurant.
Social membership as well and golf members will be available and, according to Spear, the new owners intend to "get everyone who has supported the course, out there."
"The memberships will be much more affordable to a course of equal caliber," Spear said.
Spear said the current timeline is to have plans to the county by the first of next year and to complete the project by October 2010.
