SDMGA News Link
SDMGA expresses concerns in city golfing matters
November 17, 2011: The SDMGA has sent a
letter to the city golf staff expressing deep concern in the direction they
are determined to take Torrey Pines and their lack of transparency in
golfing matters......(more)
SDMGA recomendations to the Golf Ad Hoc Advisory Committee
October 16, 2011: The SDMGA made
several recommendations to the new Golf Ad Hoc Advisory Committee that are fiscally
prudent and are very beneficial to the resident public golfer.....(more)
Sand Diego Golf Advisory Council Meeting
Notice
September 21, 2011: The
SDMGA has not been invited to join the newly organized San Diego Golf
Advisory Council even though we've worked hard and provided many ideas for
its reestablishment and even though we represent the largest single body of
municipal golfers in San Diego.
We just received this
notice and even though it is late in arriving, two of our representatives
will be at the meeting as part of the public. We urge everyone who can,
please join us at the meeting. The agenda, date, time and place along
with a map are given in the following: http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/general-info/golfbusinessplancommittee.shtml
Golf
enterprise fund has deep reserves even
in troubled times
An ad-hoc committee
will be formed that will include various stakeholders
By Tod Leonard
STAFF WRITER
UNION-TRIBUNE
July 18, 2011
The five-year operating
plan for San Diego’s municipal golf courses, including
Torrey Pines, expired on July 1, and though a new plan
is still months from being implemented, the public
discussion doesn’t appear to be nearly as contentious as
the last time around.
City Golf Manager Mark
Marney appeared before the City Council’s Natural
Resources and Culture Committee on Wednesday to provide
an update, and the only golfer who appeared for the
meeting was Paul Spiegelman, the co-founder of the San
Diego Municipal Golfers Alliance.
(more)
SDMGA is recommended as
stakeholder of the GAC
July 13, 2011: An ad-hoc
committee is being formed that will include various diverse stakeholders.
In terms of the GAC makeup, Sherri Lightner asked that SDMGA
be treated as a stakeholder because we have the membership and the
interest. (more)
Report
of the Golf Operations to the NR&C
July 13, 2011:
The
purpose of this report was to provide an overview of the
Park and Recreation
Department’s Golf Division (Division)
which looked back over the last five years, as well as
setting a course for an update to the current Golf
Division Business Plan. As part of the process in
developing a new business plan, staff will work closely
with an ad-hoc advisory committee made of
representatives appointed by the Park and Recreation
Board (Board), as well as a selection of diverse golf
stakeholders. It is anticipated that the committee will
meet on a regular basis throughout a 6 to 9 month period
needed to complete the update process. Staff is
currently working with the Board Chair to identify
potential members for the committee.
(Click here to read the report).
SDMGA Report on City Council NR&C
Committee Meeting of May 12, 2010: Golf Advisory Council to Be
Re-established; Resident ID Card Cost May Be Reduced
May 12, 2010:
Acting on a proposal that SDMGA has been urging for more than a year, the
NR&C voted unanimously to direct Park & Recreation and Golf Operations to
provide a timeline for the new five year plan and to formulate a Golf
Advisory Council (GAC) to assist in the process.
(more)
SDMGA response
to City's Golf Division Information Update Report No. 10-068
May 11,
2010: SDMGA received Report No:
10-068, the Golf Division Update on Golf Resident Identification Cards
on May 9, 2010.
The report claims the city is only charging cost recovery for resident
identification cards. However, even using unrealistically high estimates of labor costs,
the report
indicates that only 29% of the revenue generated
by the Resident ID Card ($339,325) can be justified as cost
recovery ($98,995). See Report, p.3 and Appendix B (Report at p.5).
This means that even accepting the inflated figures offered in the staff
report, the cost recovery price for the resident ID card would be $7.50
(30% of the current $25.00 price).
(more)
Golf Division Update on Golf Resident
Identification Card
May 6, 2010: : Staff's recommendation
to the NR&C Committee is that no changes be made to the current golf fee
structure Click here to read the
report.
SDMGA response
to City's Golf Division Information Update Report No. 10-037
March
17, 2010: SDMGA received Report
No: 10-037 the Golf Division Update on Resident Identification
Program, Costs Associated with Special Events and Low-Income Fee Waiver
one day before the NRC meeting.
Click here to read the report. SDMGA immediately responded to the NRC
in a letter written by Paul Spiegelman
(more)
SDMGA strongly supports the proposal by Park & Rec to retain
senior golf discounts.
February 23, 2010:
The rise in greens fees
under the Five Year Business plan has already priced many local golfers off
the courses. Eliminating the senior fees would raise fees for seniors by
another 42% and price many of us out of Municipal Golf. The primary mission
of Municipal Golf Courses is allow ordinary citizens to afford golf;
eliminating the senior fees would defeat that central purpose. Golf
Operations is an enterprise fund which runs at a surplus. There is no
reason to raise fees on seniors.
(more)
San Diego will pay price to host PGA play
$200,000 loss expected, as millions in event proceeds are
given away
By Brent Schrotenboer, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Eleanor Yang Su, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 12:02 a.m.
How
much will the city of San
Diego receive for the use of
its world-famous course?
Not
enough to cover its
expenses.
The
city expects to lose
$200,000 on the Farmers
Insurance Open, stemming
from unrecouped greens fees,
staff overtime and turf
maintenance costs. That’s
almost 45 percent of its
$450,000 investment.
“The
city has serious financial
problems, and I don’t
understand why it’s
subsidizing charities,” said
Paul Spiegelman, co-founder
of the San Diego Municipal
Golfers Alliance, a group
formed to preserve the
city’s courses for ordinary
golfers. “If they’re
charging under market for
renting the course, and
inconveniencing local
golfers by closing the
course, the charity ought to
start after they’ve made up
their losses.”
(more)
Golf Operations Report Recommends No Changes in Business Plan: Senior Fees
Retained, Low Income Fee Waiver Rejected
May 21, 2009:
Acting at the request of SDMGA co-founder, Paul Spiegelman, Steve Heverly on
behalf of Councilmember Lightner moved that the Park & Recreation Board
delay consideration of item 101 – the low income waiver because the notice
did not state what the recommendation was and citizens could not know
whether to attend. Paul had tried without success to get a copy of the
report or learn its contents before the meeting. The Board granted the
motion. The report was not available at the meeting, but after the meeting
Mary Ann Kempczenski furnished Paul with a report offered by the staff that
stated that senior fees were the norm in the industry and did not
recommend ending them to pay for a low income waiver. No explanation was
made as to why the only way to fund a low income waiver would be senior fees.
Couldn’t proceeds from the Buick fund give a break for low-income golfers?
Click here to read the report.
Council Natural Resources and Cultural Committee has invited resident
golfer's to attend it's meeting on golfing matters on February 25.
Council OKs funding for golf course's '09 deficit ($1.6 Million): Carlsbad
This or worse could have been the headlines for golfing news in San Diego
had not the SDMGA protested the building of an unneeded new club house at
Torrey Pines.
SDMGA:
Watchdog or Whitewash?
November 25, 2008:
SDMGA response
to The “Watchdog Report” – “Counting the cost of Staging the U.S. Open” (U-T
November 24).
The report
misses a key point. The green fees of San Diego golfers paid for almost all
of the expenses of the Open but the revenues went either into the City’s
general fund or to the so-called “’Friends’ of Torrey Pines”.....(more)
Counting the cost of staging U.S. Open
Officials hope for better deal next time
By Eleanor Yang Su and Brent Schrotenboer
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
November 24, 2008
The city of San Diego spared little expense in hosting
the U.S. Open golf tournament in June.
A tally of expenditures and lost revenue related to
the event totals $10.7 million, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune
analysis. That includes capital improvements to the city's bluff top Torrey
Pines Golf Course, thousands of hours of police overtime and a contract with
a media relations consultant.....(more)
SDMGA:
Estimate of Losses to Golf Enterprise Fund.
November 20, 2008: SDMGA
has prepared a summary of U.S. Open finances showing a gross loss to the city on
the U.S. Open of $
9.184,629
including the original renovation costs and a loss of $5,784,629
but not counting the South
renovation costs (more)
SDMGA urges San Diegan's to
vote to protect municipal golf
October 31, 2008: On Tuesday,
you have a chance
to protect affordable, accessible Municipal Golf. Votes for Sherri Lightner
in District 1, Steve Whitburn in District 3, and Marti Emerald in District 7
offer the best chance to block attempts by hotels and developers with the
help of Mayor Sanders to privatize Torrey Pines and make both Torrey and
Balboa less affordable and accessible....(more)
An unusual deal brought golf tourney to San Diego
Some wonder if city needed the middleman
By Brent Schrotenboer and Eleanor Yang Su
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
June 29, 2008
By most
accounts, the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines was one of the best ever
staged......To make that possible, the Friends of Torrey created an
unusual four-way arrangement with the San Diego Foundation, the USGA and
the city of San Diego, which owns Torrey Pines. The Friends have
projected getting $5.37 million from the event, which they seeded seven
years ago with $3.4 million to renovate Torrey's South Course.....(more)
U.S. Open's fiscal impact estimated in study
Please note: The Friends of
Torrey Pines, a private group of investors that helped lure the Open to San
Diego, paid about $20,000 for the study. Also see
Open is big payday, but not for city coffers - June 10, 2007
By Brent Schrotenboer
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 20, 2008
SAN DIEGO – Last month's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines
generated an economic impact of $142 million on the region, according to a
report released this week by San Diego State University......The city of San
Diego, which owns Torrey Pines, leased the course to the Friends, who in
turn leased it to the U.S. Golf Association for the Open, which lasted five
days. The city is to receive about $500,000 in rent, plus as much as
$700,000 for some costs and golf course work. The city agreed to account for
its costs by the end of the month.....(more)
SDMGA response to statements made by Bill Evans in U-T "Rumors" article of
May 6, 2008
May 7, 2008: The Union Tribune reported on
the rumors concerning the take over of Torrey Pines by special interests. Some
of the statements made by Bill Evans, proprietor of the Lodge at Torrey
Pines, were
misleading and if left unchallenged may have been
confusing to the reader. Please read our clarification of these statements.
(more)
Rumor mill rampant about TP leadership
By Tod Leonard
STAFF WRITER
UNION-TRIBUNE
May 6, 2008
The hottest rumor going around the
Torrey Pines golf courses lately has nothing to do with the U.S. Open next
month. Paul Spiegelman, a co-founder of the San Diego Municipal Golfers
Alliance, said he has heard from city employees, who wish to remain
anonymous, that the city is in talks with the owner of the Lodge at Torrey
Pines, Bill Evans, about Evans taking over the golf operations at Torrey.
(more)
Sherri Lightner, candidate for
City Council District 1, lends support to San Diego citizen golfers.
April 29, 2008:
In a letter to SDMGA, Sherri Lightner offers
her support to the San Diego municipal golfer in several important areas
(more)
SDMGA representatives meet with mayoral
candidate Steve Francis regarding municipal golfing issues.
April 18, 2008:
Steve committed that if he is elected
Mayor, Torrey Pines will always be a municipal golf course affordable and
accessible to San Diego residents.
Steve will see to it that the Golf Advisory
Council will meet regularly to provide citizens with direct input into
policy decisions. (more)
After the U.S. Open, San Diego's Golf Operations Manager
Mark Woodward, to leave for greener pastures.
After U.S. Open, Woodward
will vacate 'hot seat'
GOLF TOD LEONARD
UNION-TRIBUNE
April 22, 2008
Mark Woodward looks back now and admits he might have
been a little naive. When he took the job as San Diego's golf operations
manager three years ago, he was coming off working 31 years for the city
of Mesa, Ariz. There, he managed two golf courses, spring training
ballparks and a cemetery
(more)
Tickets anyone? It's pay off time - City officials are making US Open
tickets available for lobbyists, campaign contributors and their friends.
City officials taking advantage of hot-ticket
perk
By Matthew T. Hall
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Tickets to see the world's great golfers
compete in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course are long gone. The
only way to get them now is through brokers who are charging up to
$1,500. Yet San Diego city officials are scooping them up at face value
and allowing lobbyists, campaign contributors and friends to purchase
them. Free tickets are also available, although the City Council has not
yet decided how they will be distributed.
(more)
March 1, 2008: The SDMGA has been fighting
the city of San Diego very
hard and for a long time to keep Torrey Pines the public park it was
entrusted to be. San Diego's mayor has broken that trust and is steadfastly
turning the citizen's parkland into a commercial enterprise featuring a
circus like tournament venue benefiting the elite, for profit, golfing
organizations like the PGA, USGA, LPGA and IMG. Tee times available for our
use are vanishing at an alarming rate because of the mayor's scheme and the
willingness of these professional golfing organizations to bump the local
citizens off the Torrey Pines courses. If the situation continues in this
manner, tee times for local citizen golfers at Torrey Pines will be gone
forever. It appears from statements made by the city's golf manager in the
Union Tribune that in following the mayor's plan, the Torrey Pines golf
courses are now losing money and that the lost revenue must be recovered by
yet another cooked up scheme further costing the local citizen golfer.
Please read
the two articles below and send an email of protest to your councilmember
before Torrey Pines becomes nothing more than a memory of local use and we are
shut out forever.
•
It's now hard to get a tee time on Torrey
“It's going to get worse and worse,” city Golf Manager Mark
Woodward said yesterday.
By Tod Leonard
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 26, 2008
Local golfers are finding that as the 2008 U.S. Open
draws closer, it's getting harder and harder to get tee times on the
Torrey Pines South Course. A steady stream of complaints about calling
the city's golf reservation line and not getting a tee time have been
coming into the Union-Tribune, and the city's golf managers last
week issued a statement via e-mail to all city resident card holders
advising them that it will be difficult to get times over the seven-day
system. The e-mail encouraged golfers to use the advance reservation
system, which costs $26 extra per person for residents. It is $37 per
person for nonresidents...(more)
•
LPGA all-star tourney eyes Torrey Pines in '09
City Golf Manager Woodward said he
likes the idea of the course hosting a tournament at every top level of
golf. “It would be a feather in our cap,” he said.
By Tod Leonard
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF
WRITER
February 26, 2008
San Diego city Golf Manager Mark Woodward said
yesterday he has had talks with officials from International
Management Group about the Torrey Pines South Course hosting the
LPGA Tour's Samsung World Championship in 2009 and 2010...In most of
its deals, IMG requires tournament sites, which are often seeking
publicity for memberships or home sales, to pay it a fee that
sometimes reaches into the millions.
(more)
Correction to the U-T's
City golf managers pass muster story.
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
September 30, 2007
“FOR
THE RECORD| In a story Thursday, it was incorrectly reported that Paul
Spiegelman of the San Diego Municipal Golfers Alliance had requested the
city of San Diego roll back its rate for senior golfers on Fridays at Torrey
Pines to the weekday rate. Actually, he requested the rates for all city
golfers on Fridays be rolled back to the weekday rate. The Union-Tribune
regrets the error. (09/30/2007, C-2)”
It should be noted that the
SDMGA proposal regarding the rollback of rates will be on the agenda for
consideration at the January 2008 NR&C Committee meeting chaired by Donna
Frye.
City golf managers pass muster
Citizen Golfers it is you who should decide whether or
not the city golf managers passed muster; not the City Council or the Mayor.
They are supposed to be working in behalf of the citizens and not special
interest groups and the destination golfers. Torrey Pines is slowly but
surely being stolen from the citizens of San Diego: The North Course will not be
open for full 18-hole plan for more than a year to accommodate the U.S. Open
and other construction projects. Only 56% of rounds on South Course went to
locals in 2007 and resident rates on the South will go up to as much as $76
per round + cart on the South by 2011($40 for seniors), so fewer local
golfers will be able to afford the South.
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
September 26, 2007
.....Fiscally, golf remains one
of the bright spots for the strapped city. Rounds played were down in the
2007 fiscal year that ended in June, but revenues were up, thanks mostly to
the controversial green fee hikes that were part of Mayor Jerry Sanders'
golf business plan that went into effect in August 2006...(more)
SDMGA Response: Way back
when the whole idea was to adjust the fees such that the locals could afford
to play more - more participation at less cost has made million of $ pre-5
year plan. It looks like the Mayor's REAL PLAN is working just fine - less
citizen participation at higher costs = higher revenues. Higher fees are a
good way to adjust the 70/30 rule - less locals more destination golfers.
Not good for the local golfers.
......The golf enterprise fund continues to contribute about $1.6 million
per year into the general fund, and golf made net revenues of $2.84 million
last year.....
SDMGA Response: The golf enterprise fund is supposed to be used
strictly for golf programs - that's why it's called an enterprises fund. If
$1.6 million is going into the general fund than it is no longer an
enterprise fund. Because it has worked so well for the citizens in the past
it should remain an enterprise fund by the strictest of definitions and not
subsidize the general fund. Something's funny in "America's Finest City"!!
SDMGA general comment: Judging from this past meeting, the golf
operations has not nor does it appear likely they ever will be transparent
with their management of golf operations. Many requests for information have
been either ignored or passed off to some future time. And when that time comes,
the
information is still not forthcoming.
"Friends of Torrey Pines" takes back "Gift" to the City!
The FOTP will receive $5.37 million directly into their pockets. The
renovation of Torrey Pines South was touted by the FOTP as a gift to the
city. Now it amounts to nothing more than a shifty payback scheme. And if
that weren't enough, city golfers will pay for the scheme with the loss of
18 hole golf on the North for most of 2008, lost revenue from the reduced
layout on the North and the South renovation costs that far exceed the
reimbursement. Please read the SDMGA
article on the subject.
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
September 26, 2007
The Friends of Torrey Pines
organization has notified Mayor Jerry Sanders that it plans to donate about
$535,000 of earnings from the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines toward the
replacement of the irrigation system at the Balboa Park Golf Course. In a
letter delivered Monday to the mayor's office, U.S. Open co-chairman Jay
Rains...(more)
SDMGA comments on Update of the
Mayor's Five Year Golf Business Plan & the Office of the Independent Budget
Analyst's report - September 21,2007
On the positive side, revenues
are up at Torrey Pines, expenses are down at Balboa, and there are plans for
a new irrigation system at Balboa in 2009. We remain concerned about...(more)
The
Natural Resources and Culture (NR&C) Committee of the San Diego City Council
will be meeting on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 2:00 on the 12th
Floor of the City Administration Building, 202 C Street.
The NR&C
would like input from municipal golfers. We plan to share the above concerns
with them and ask the NR&C to support a plan to restore weekday rates on Friday.
Hope to see you there.
Office
of the Independent Budget Analyst Report - September 20, 2007
While the Business
Plan included numerous changes to golf course operations, the most
significant changes were increasing golf rates (green fees), revising the
rate structure, and reallocating tee times at Torrey Pines. This report
provides additional questions...(more)
Update on Mayor's Five Year
Golf Business Plan - September 17, 2007
The Mayor’s Five Year
Golf (Business Plan) was approved June 26, 2006. The new rates at each
of the golf courses went into effect on August 1, 2006. Since that time,
golf operations staff has initiated many efforts to further the goals and
objectives...(more)
Open is big payday, but not for city coffers - June 10, 2007
It has been estimated that the '08 Open at Torrey
Pines could produce as much as $100 million in gross revenues for the
non-profit U.S. Golf Association.....By contrast, the city will receive $1.2
million from its contract with the Friends of Torrey Pines LLC, the
organization formed to be the negotiating entity between the city and the
USGA.
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
June 10, 2007
Meantime, the city's golf enterprise fund will make
no direct money from the U.S. Open, while about $3 million has been spent on
projects related to the Open, according to Golf Manager Mark Woodward. That
work includes the acquisition and installation of one million square feet of
kikuyu turf, the moving of trees, repainting the clubhouse and restrooms,
and the construction of new cart paths...(more)
SDMGA Founders testify about exploitation of City by USGA and Friends of
Torrey Pines (FOTP) at City Council Budget Hearing.
On May 23, 2007, John Beaver and
Paul Spiegelman testified about the raw deal the City is getting from the
USGA thanks to the so-called Friends of Torrey Pines. The North Course will
be closed for months to set up corporate tents...(more)
Response to Tod Leonard's "It takes a
corporate village to raise a U.S. Open" U-T article:
May 13, 2007
"Tod, let me first say that I
greatly appreciate your support of the citizen golfers in San Diego and I
hope you continue to shine the light of the press on our one sided City
Government."
John Beaver,
La Jolla... (more)
Torrey Pines may be the "people's
course" and like the Open at Bethpage before it; has been billed a
"People's Open".
Does this fit the bill?
May 8, 2007
It takes a corporate village to raise
a U.S. Open
Partying venues largely sold out at Torrey Pines and
look who's making the money; for sure it's not the City !
By Tod Leonard
UNION-TRIBUNE
STAFF WRITER
May 8, 2007
The Grille at The Lodge at Torrey Pines was going for $545,000,
not including food and beverage. It's sold out. The Charles Reiffel
Room in the Lodge: $520,000. Sold out. The Gamble Suite in the Lodge:
$332,500. Sold out. The Ocean Village on the fourth hole of the North
Course, where each 40-by-40-foot tent goes for $210,000: Sold out...(more)
NR&C Meeting Cancelled
The NR&C meeting scheduled for April 18, 2007 was cancelled at the final
hour because there was not a quorum of city council members. Several SDMGA
supporters were on hand and...(more)
April 18, 2007
Golf Returns to Councilmember Frye's Natural Resources and
Cultural Committee on Wednesday, April 18, 2007.
Here’s a chance for all San Diego
Municipal Golfers to let the city know what’s going on at the City Golf
Courses.
April 14, 2007
SDMGA just received an announcement from Donna Frye's office asking
golfers in
San Diego to come
to the Natural Resource and Cultural Committee (NR&C) meeting
on
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.
to express our
opinions on the state of golf operations...(more)
SDMGA
affirms its position on Torrey Pines Projects financial issues and agrees to
consult with City on golfing matters if there is a sincere interest by the City
to do so.
January 21, 2007
The question of the financing of
the projects is a live issue in no way mooted by the City Council’s actions
imposing heavy fee increases on local golfers. SDMGA argues that the fee
structure can be changed...(more)
The
University Community Planning Group (UCPG) clarifies its position on the
City's proposed construction projects at Torrey Pines
January 20, 2007
The purpose of the UCPG is to
make recommendations to the San Diego City Council, Planning Commission,
City Staff and other governmental agencies on land use matters. Torrey Pines
is within their Plan Area and the Torrey Pines projects are a land use
matter. Linda N. Colley, UCPG Chair explains to the City that the UCPG
Board's concerns are more than just about the lack of funding for the Torrey
Pines projects but that there were other concerns that remain unresolved...(more)
City responds to SDMGA's challenge on GAC approval of the Torrey Pines
projects
January 18, 2007
City Staff
member Kevin Oliver's stated position on the Torrey Pines projects is
that all references to the clubhouse, made either at the Commission meeting last
week, or in these e-mails, are moot points...(more)
SDMGA challenges City's misleading statement to Coastal
Commissioners on the Torrey Pines project approval by the
Golf Advisory Council (GAC)
January 17, 2007
San Diego City Agent, Kevin
Oliver, asserted in a rebuttal at the Coastal Commission meeting in Long
Beach on January 11 that “Mr. Spiegelman is mistaken when he says that the
Golf Advisory Council disapproved the clubhouse, they actually approved
it.” Mr. Oliver’s assertion is incorrect...(more)
Report on SDMGA participation in Coastal Commission's Torrey Pines
Construction Projects Proceedings
January 11, 2007
Paul Spiegelman, representing SDMGA,
participated in the Coastal Commission's Torrey Pines Construction Projects
Proceedings held in Long Beach on January 11, 2007. Paul's report of this
meeting...(more)
SDMGA comments
to the Coastal Commission on City's Torrey Pines Projects Phase I Parking Lot
renovation
January 8, 2007
The City has bifurcated its Torrey Pines Clubhouse Project into more than
project. Phase I is the parking lot improvement project. The
SDMGA is in opposition to approving the permit for Phase I construction...(more)
The
Coastal Commission Staff has preliminarily recommended that the Commission
approve the proposed parking lot improvements for the existing Torrey Pines
Golf Course.
December 21, 2006
The Coastal Commission Staff filed its report
and preliminary recommendation to approve the Torrey Pines parking lot only.
All other development for this site shall require review and approval by the
Coastal Commission under a new permit or an addendum to the Phase I
permit...(more)
City Council authorized
payment of $950,000 to the Century Club in 2002 as reimbursement for outlays
on the Torrey Pines South renovation
December 17, 2006
The Century Club
consistently fails to disclose this $950,000 payment when it makes claims
that it raised over $3 million for the South Course renovations. Moreover,
the undisclosed sum means that the Century Club/Friends of Torrey Pines has
made a substantial profit at the City’s expense...(more)
SDMGA comments
to Coastal Commission staff regarding the City's promotion of its fee based
Advanced Reservation System ready made for its more affluent residents
December 13, 2006
One significance of
this advertisement is that it belies the claim that the City is paying for
the projects under appeal out of fees charged to non-residents. The ad shows
that the City is seeking to charge local
residents more to raise funds...(more)
SDMGA
sends the Coastal Commission a Supplemental Statement in opposition to the Torrey Pines Projects
December 6, 2006
Since filing of the original
SDMGA Appeal to the Coastal Commission on May 10, 2006 the City of San Diego
has ignored citizen concerns and implemented plans which favor the affluent in
access to coastal recreation in violation of the Coastal Act...(more)
Golf course projects win approval
Donna Frye expressed concern about the lack of
information regarding a $2.8 million renovation of the parking lot at Torrey
Pines.
By Tod Leonard
UNION-TRIBUNE
STAFF WRITER
November 22, 2006
Frye expressed concern that the Council was moving
forward too quickly. “My fear is that we're going to authorize $2.8 million
and we're going to get caught up in a series of events in which more money
is going to be needed because we've already entered into this contract,”
Frye said...(more)
$4.8 million proposal goes to City Council
The biggest expenditure at Torrey Pines will be
Phase 1 of the clubhouse replacement project. Golf operations is asking the
council to add $2 million to the $800,000 it had previously approved.
By Tod
Leonard
UNION-TRIBUNE
STAFF WRITER
November
21, 2006
The city's Park and Recreation Department today will
ask the City Council to approve more than $4.8 million for capital
expenditures at its three golf facilities. The bulk of the money ($4.2
million) would come out of the city's golf enterprise fund for work at
Torrey Pines as it continues its preparation to host the U.S. Open...(more)
Fat Cats Bully
Commoners
"San Diego's jockstrap plutocrats, with support and succor from city
councilmember Scott Peters, are muscling in on land that belongs to the
public, say critics."
By Don Bauder
San Diego Reader
October 19, 2006
It's happening in two places: on the beach in front of the La Jolla Beach
and Tennis Club and at the city-owned Torrey Pines Golf Course. The
California Coastal Commission will be a major arbiter in both of these
disputes...(more)
Give city a bogey on Torrey
A really strong mayor is not the one who makes up his
mind and then ducks out of the room during dissent.
By
Tim Sullivan
UNION-TRIBUNE
July 4, 2006
Score it as a resounding victory for the tourism
trade and the power brokers who are bringing us the 2008 U.S. Open. Score it
a crushing defeat for those who cling to the antiquated concept that
municipal golf courses are primarily intended for the municipal golfer...(more)
San Diego
Mayor Sanders' new Golf Plan & the non-residents of North County....
"Politicians come and go, but golf in San Diego isn't going anywhere."
By: MARC FIGUEROA
North County Times - Excerpt from Golf
Commentary
July
5, 2006
....the new plan eliminates the county rate and lumps in North County
players with non-resident visitors, anyone who doesn't live within San
Diego's city limits will be paying $229 per round by 2011...(more)
Mayor is huge handicap to crowd of upset golfers
This is a real shame, Mayor.
By Nick
Canepa
UNION-TRIBUNE
June 27, 2006
...it
was a classic case of your government at work. Sanders, looking sharp in his
dark blazer and tan slacks, opened the event by addressing the Council on
his proposal, as if it were the Magna Carta. And Sanders left....(more)
Sanders' golf course plan approved easily
Frye lone vote
against proposal on times, fees
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
UNION-TRIBUNE
June 27, 2006
The
Council voted 7-1 to adopt the plan, which Sanders, embracing San Diego's
new strong-mayor form of government, took over in March. The plan will go
into effect on Saturday, July 1, when the city's new fiscal year begins..(more)
Mayor
Sanders releases his Five-Year Golf Plan "Fact Sheet" -
SDMGA responds
Mayor Sanders’
5 Year Plan for the operations of the City’s golf courses will be considered
by the City Council on Monday June 26.
SDMGA response is intended to
help evaluate both sides.....(more)
Mayor promotes golf plan
The greens fees in the five-year plan will rise by as much as 69 percent on Torrey Pines' South Course, to $76 walking on weekends in 2011, and 47 percent on the North Course ($50 walking in 2011).
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
UNION-TRIBUNE
June 24, 2006
Mayor Jerry Sanders took his controversial five-year
city golf plan yesterday to a news conference in a maintenance parking lot
near the Balboa Park course.......Minutes after the mayor spoke, John
Beaver, co-founder of the San Diego Municipal Golfers Alliance, an
organization formed to oppose many aspects of the five-year plan, was
surrounded by reporters...(more)
Men's club, hotels reach accord on Torrey
But mayor wants more for public
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
UNION-TRIBUNE
June 23, 2006
“There is no agreement,” George Biagi, Sanders'
spokesman, said yesterday.....“I had a feeling that would be the (mayor's)
response,” said attorney and men's club spokesman Steven Roberts. “I just
hope the City Council recognizes the costs and risks for going forward are
sufficiently great to warrant doing our proposed settlement.”...(more)
Status of Torrey Pines GC remains in political rough
City Golf Manager Mark Woodward continues
to prepare the report in conjunction with Mayor Jerry Sanders' office.
By Tod
Leonard
STAFF WRITER
UNION-TRIBUNE
June 20, 2006
What the outcome will be, I can't predict that,” Frye
said. “I haven't seen a final report yet, and that's been part of the
problem for me. There's never been a final report that we can actually work
from. It's been like a moving target, constantly changing.”....(more)
Notice of Public
Hearing - City Council meeting on Monday June 26, 2006
June 16, 2006 - SDMGA received notification that there will be a
hearing on the golf issues we all have been working so hard resolve to the
benefit of the San Diego area municipal golfers...(more)
Mark
Woodward, Golf Operations Manager Responds to questions raised at the May 17
NR&C Committee meeting - with SDMGA Comments.
June 16, 2006 - In response to questions raised
during the Natural Resource and Culture Committee on May 17, 2006 the Golf
Operations staff has prepared a summary...(more)
Councilmember requests that Independent Budget Analyst evaluate SDMGA
Golf Plan - June 14, 2006
June 14, 2006 - District 6 Councilmember, Donna
Frye, requested the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst to conduct an
analysis of the SDMGA Golf Plan...(more)
University City Planning Group digs up old issues
Golfers cast new
light on Torrey Pines Golf Course controversy
University Golden
Triangle News
Adriane Tillman
May 25, 2006
The
University Community Planning Group (UCPG)
brought past items back to the table for another
look, or one last word, on May 16. Golfers cast
new light on Torrey Pines Golf Course...(more)
May 26 Issue
"It's a battle
for the heart and soul of the golf course" - Michael Zucchet
By
John Strege
Golf World
Where to
begin in this sordid saga of politics and passion that
has provoked an uncivil war in San Diego and is sucking
the euphoria from Torrey Pines GC's imminent appointment
with history...(more)
SDMGA:
Report of City Council NR&C Committee May 17, 2006 meeting on Golf Issues.
This City Council NR&C Committee meeting
was dominated by a public united in its opposition to the City’s plan to end
senior and county discount rates, charge weekend rates on Fridays, institute
a new charge for advanced reservations, and...(more)
SDMGA:
Twenty-one questions about the City's Golf Plan - May 18, 2006
SDMGA has put
forward twenty-one (or so) questions about the City's Five Year Golf Plan that
when answered will give everyone a better understanding of its inner workings. It
is hoped that with the answers, compromise and reason will prevail leading to a
workable resolution...(more)
Council members request more time for golf proposals
The NR&C came to few conclusions – two, to be exact –
after more than three hours of testimony.
UNION-TRIBUNE
May 18, 2006
The San Diego City Council chamber was packed
yesterday with golfers voicing their distaste for the five-year proposal on
the operation of Torrey Pines and the city's other golf courses. And though
they couldn't claim a victory when the Natural Resources & Culture Committee
meeting was over, they walked away with the hope of compromise positions and
resolution after months of rancorous debate...(more)
SDMGA motion to the Natural Resources and Cultural Committee
- May 17, 2006
SDMGA will present a motion to the Natural
Resources and Cultural Committee that they approve the plan submitted by
Mayor Sanders subject to some simple and straightforward modifications...(more)
Response to Union-Tribune May 16 article -
"Zucchet passionate about his compromise proposal for city golf."
Paul Spiegelman, a
co-founder of SDMGA, has written a letter responding to an article appearing
in the May 16 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The response
gives some added understanding to the relationship between the
Zucchet Golf Proposal and the
SDMGA Golf Proposal........(more)
Zucchet passionate about his
compromise proposal for city golf
SDMGA submits projected revenues that can match
the golf staff's projected revenues while increasing resident rates by no
more than 20 percent over five years.
UNION-TRIBUNE
May 16, 2006
The five-year proposal for the operations of Torrey
Pines and the city's other golf courses will reach a critical crossroads at
tomorrow's Natural Resources and Culture Committee meeting, and Zucchet is
so personally invested in the outcome he can't stand to stay away. “I am so
upset, really upset about what's happening,” he said...(more)
Projected Revenues on
Par - a comparison of projected revenues from the City's Five Year Golf Plan
and the SDMGA's Proposed "Put San Diegan's First" Golf Plan.
SDMGA has prepared a spreadsheet which shows a
clear comparison of the projected revenues for both the City's 5 Year Golf
Plan and the SDMGA Golf Plan. The SDMGA projected revenues are equal to or
slightly larger than that of the City...(more)
Agenda for the May 17, 2006 meeting of the San Diego City Council's Committee on Natural Resources and Culture
On page 2 of the Agenda Item-5; a
Report from the Mayor's Office on the City of San Diego's Five-year
Golf Operations Business Plan will be given to the NR & C Committee. In this
report the City Staff
is recommending adoption of the Golf Operations Business Plan. The SDMGA is opposed to the City's Plan and has
offered a balanced counter proposal which will be presented during our
allotted time. The SDMGA Plan puts
San Diegan's first and not the special interests. Your continued
support is needed so please attend the meeting...(more)
San Diego
City Council Natural Resources and Cultural Committee Meeting
May 17,
2006
The San Diego City Council Natural Resources and Culture
Committee is holding a
meeting on May 17, 2006 at City Hall to have in depth public discussions of the City's 5 year Plan including
such issues as proposed projects and a greens-fee structure which price resident
golfers, particularly seniors, off the golf courses and which benefit
special interests...(more)
Putting San Diegan's First
- A Comparison between the City's 5 Year Golf Plan and the SDMGA Proposed Golf
Plan
On April 15, San Diego Municipal Golfers Alliance (SDMGA) proposed
a plan which puts the puts the golf
courses and San Diegans, not buildings or special interests, first.
To expose the severity of the City's proposed 5 year Golf Plan to
eliminate Senior rates, sharply restrict resident play in order to benefit
special interests and pave the way to privatization of the Torrey Pines golf
courses;
the SDMGA has developed a Table that clearly compares important aspects of
each plan...(more)
San Diego
Municipal Golfer's Alliance
files an appeal to the California Coastal Commission against the City's Plan to
construct a new clubhouse building, a tournament support building and associated
parking renovations.
May 10, 2006
The SDMGA filed an appeal to the California Coastal Commission against the City
of San Diego's application to develop parkland at the Torrey Pines Golf Course.
The development consists of the demolition of the existing two-story, 18,800 sq.
ft. clubhouse and the construction of a two story 27,059 sq ft. clubhouse...(more)
City's controversial five-year golf plan still being massaged
Despite numerous public meetings, at which hundreds
of golfers have appeared to oppose the plan, very little of the proposal has
been altered.
UNION-TRIBUNE
May 10, 2006
“They've had five weeks to change the plan, and they
haven't responded to anything,” said Paul Spiegelman, co-founder of the San
Diego Municipal Golfers Alliance...(more)
Golf Division Business Plan May 2006 Proposal
Five Year Business Plan Proposal (Strike-Out Version)
There's injustice in
America's finest city; and Torrey Pines is but one of its names.
Trouble at
Torrey Pines
Southern California Golf News
May 2006
And now it is Torrey Pines, that hallowed
ground for all municipal golfers in the troubled city of San Diego which is
at the center of controversy....(more)
SDMGA article published in Southern California Golf News Magazine compares City's 5 Year Golf Plan with SDMGA recommendations.
City Proposes Plan to Eliminate Senior Rates,
Sharply Restrict Resident Play to Benefit Special Interests, Pave Way to
Privatization while SDMGA recommends wants of San Diegan's should come first.
Southern California Golf News
May 2006
SDMGA summarizes the
differences between the City's 5 Year Golf Plan and our recommendations to
put San Diegan's first...(more)
SDMGA responds to USGA Executive Director David
Fay's Letter - April 30, 2006
SDMGA
responded to USGA Executive Director
David Fay's letter addressing many important issues of concern to the San
Diego municipal golfer.
We asked that the
USGA publicly stand up for municipal golf....(more)
USGA
Executive Director David Fay Replies to SDMGA
Open Letter - April 24, 2006
USGA
Executive Director David Fay replied to the SDMGA Open
Letter.
Mr. Fay's reply was
very informative giving us a
better perspective and
understanding of their position....(more)
SDMGA sends Open Letter to USGA
- April 24, 2006
San Diego Municipal Golfer’s
Alliance has sent a letter to the USGA
Executive Director David Fay
on behalf of the municipal
golfers in San Diego. We asked the USGA to use its good offices to prevent
profiteers and special interests from using the U.S. Open scheduled for 2008 as
a lever to convert Torrey Pines from what is perhaps America’s finest affordable
municipal golf complex into a destination resort which only the wealthy can
afford....(more)
TP proposal wrought predictable acrimony
For far too long, too many things have been troubling
in city golf
UNION-TRIBUNE
April 18, 2006
The process has been ugly and acrimonious. Anybody
who follows city golf in San Diego could have predicted that when a fairly
radical proposal for a new five-year plan was put forth in January by Golf
Manager Mark Woodward.
(more)
SDMGA responds to Mayor's
5 Year Golf Plan Talking Points - April 15,
2006
San Diego Municipal
Golfer’s Alliance (SDMGA) proposes a plan that puts the golf courses and San
Diegans first and not buildings or special interests. The SDMGA plan responds
to the Mayor’s talking points...(more)
Senior discount rates
eliminated, plans for new
clubhouse scrapped
La Jolla
Village News
April 13,
2006
Mayor
Jerry Sanders unveiled his own plan for the
municipal golf courses on Thursday, April 6, which
includes raising greens fees, scrapping the new
clubhouse for Torrey Pines for now, slashing the
Torrey Pines golf clubs’ tee times, limiting
individual play and eliminating senior discounts...(more)
Sanders picks a curious fight in Torrey mess
The golf mayor does not play golf. Jerry Sanders is a
ballgame and a beer guy who prizes Torrey Pines for its scenic beauty
without desecrating the place with his divots.
UNION-TRIBUNE
April 12, 2006
In seizing the initiative at Torrey Pines, in
advancing an agenda guaranteed to create enemies, Sanders has chosen a
curious place to be spending his political capital. He is taking on issues
fraught with friction at the risk of being portrayed as a stooge of special
interests...(more)
SDMGA Report: Coastal
Commission Letter to City of San Diego regarding proposed construction -
April 10, 2006
Among the
interesting items discussed is the Commission's concern over proposed
modifications to the fee structure for public use of the golf facilities. "The
Commission is required to protect and preserve lower-cost recreational
facilities such as municipal golf courses."
(more)
SDMGA
Special Report on Mayor Sanders' Golf Plan Meeting - April 9, 2006
At the last minute, at
least for representatives of the public, Mayor Sanders called a meeting of
the parties involved with his proposed fixes to be implemented at the Torrey
Pines and Balboa golf courses...(more)
Mayor
Sanders Presents 5 Year Golf Plan Talking Points - April 6, 2006
Although the Mayor's plan professes to expand
public access, equalize play, raise green fees to cover costs and preserve
the City’s outstanding assets;
the devil is in the details...(more)
Mayor's plan fans Torrey flames
New clubhouse,
club tee times cut
UNION-TRIBUNE
April 6, 2006
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders put himself in the
middle of the controversy over the city's golf business plan a month ago,
and he came out with his own proposal yesterday...(more)
SDMGA News
Update - April 2, 2006
The San Diego
Municipal Golfer's Alliance (SDMGA) has put together a letter to its
supporters updating recent events, actions and findings...(more)
In defense of brokers
'Darth Vader of
Torrey Pines' tee times says numbers show brokers' impact at course is
smaller than many believe.
UNION-TRIBUNE
March 14, 2006
Folks have never been able to agree about much when
it comes to how Torrey Pines should be run, but they could all agree about
one thing: They had no affection for the so-called tee time brokers...(more)
University Community Planning Group sends letter to Mayor Jerry Sanders
questioning the need for Torrey Pines Clubhouse project.
I am the Chair of
the UCPG and it has come to my attention that several pertinent facts
regarding the Torrey Pines Golf Clubhouse were not conveyed to the UCPG
Executive Committee in December 2005...(more)
Mayor is questioning legality of golf course fund
The mayor's
staff met on Tuesday and began to seriously question whether the golf
division's standing as an enterprise fund is legally valid.
UNION-TRIBUNE
March 9, 2006
There was another public meeting and another round of
surprising twists yesterday regarding the city's controversial proposed
five-year plan for its golf courses, including Torrey Pines...(more)
SDMGA letter to
Natural Resources and Culture Committee March 8 Meeting
SDMGA Position statement to NR&C Committee
regarding the Golf Operations Proposed 5 Year Plan and Operational Review
Recommendations.
Operational Review and Recommendations for City of San Diego Golf Operations
NFG Consulting charged with evaluating the
adequacy and funding assumptions of planned capital improvements to be made
in preparation for the 2008 U.S. Open.
Clubhouse no must to stage U.S. Open
USGA Director of Rules and Competitions Mike Davis
said he doesn't believe the existence of a new clubhouse at Torrey Pines
will make or break consideration for future U.S. Opens on the South Course.
UNION-TRIBUNE
March 7, 2006
The question was asked at last week's public hearing
on the city's proposed five-year golf plan: Does Pebble Beach, which has
hosted four U.S. Opens and is scheduled for another in 2010, have a golf
clubhouse?...(more)
Notice: The agenda for
the NR&C meeting to be held on March 8, 2006 at 2:00 pm in the Council
Chambers has been revised. Please attend to support municipal golf in San
Diego.
(Click here for
detailed information and map)
Aguirre: Courses at risk
Torrey South, Balboa also being used as collateral
- “All of the golf courses are at risk, and none of this was told to
the public,” Aguirre said. “It's just incredible.”
UNION-TRIBUNE
March 4, 2006
Aguirre said yesterday he discovered in his review of
city documents that the Torrey Pines South Course – the site of the 2008
U.S. Open – and Balboa Park Golf Course are also being used as collateral
and could conceivably be lost...
(more)
Residents ask for more access, hammer
plan for new clubhouse
La Jolla
Village News
March 3,
2006
Golfers
aren’t just swinging in opposition to the city’s
five-year plan; they have their own proposals for
the municipal courses. Forget a new clubhouse at
Torrey Pines; freeze rates...(more)
Golf Wedged into City's Distress
City officials say it's possible that one of the
courses at Torrey Pines, which will host the 2008 U.S. Open, is
inappropriately generating money that pays off an unrelated bond and has
been put up as collateral for that loan in 2003.
Voice of San Diego
March 3, 2006
Torrey Pines Golf Course, seated on the
pristine La Jolla shore, is a prized destination for golfers
worldwide and a treasure for local hackers, but the
championship-caliber course has also been thrown into the city of
San Diego's ongoing financial dramatics...(more)
Note: Be patient this
file may take 5 to 20 seconds to load - SDMGA Webmaster
Mayor stops vote on Torrey plan
The mayor eliminated the possibility that either body
would vote on the proposal this month.
UNION-TRIBUNE
March 2, 2006
It was City Attorney Michael Aguirre's meeting, and
he managed to drop his own political bombshell...(more)
Torrey Pines Tee Times Have Some Seeing Green
SAN DIEGO -- Arguments were heard Wednesday over
who controls tee times at Torrey Pines and where the money they generate
goes.
NBC San Diego
March 2, 2006
Bill Evans owns a number of hotels in San Diego, including the Lodge at
Torrey Pines. City documents show that Evans has been given 20 tee times per
day from the city for a term of 55 years. He packages and sells them ranging
from $569 per night to $839 per night, including...(more)
Proposed Agenda for City Attorney Mike Aguirre's
Forum - Wednesday March 1
UNION-TRIBUNE EDITORIAL -
Third draft, please
Golf plan must address public's concerns
UNION-TRIBUNE
February
26, 2006
SDMGA letter to City Attorney Mike Aguirre
regarding municipal golfer's issues with the City's 5 year plan which we
will bring to the table at the Wednesday March 1 Forum.
Notice:
City Attorney Mike Aguirre has decided to hold a forum
next Wednesday, March 1 on a
few of the issues in the 5 year business plan, such as the fees and the
Clubhouse.
(Click here for
detailed information and map)
GAC's rejection of contentious Torrey plan might be only prelude
Representatives from the Century Club, Torrey Pines
Lodge and PGA San Diego Chapter voted for the plan, but everyone else was
opposed, including at-large members and men's and women's club players from
Torrey Pines and Balboa Park.
UNION-TRIBUNE
February
23, 2006
The Golf Advisory Council meeting Tuesday night was
either a dramatic dress rehearsal or a one-act play, and where the
controversial five-year plan for Torrey Pines and San Diego's other
municipal golf courses goes...(more)
Golf Advisory Council rejects 5-year
plan for courses, including Torrey Pines
La Jolla
Village News
February
23, 2006
Proposed changes to Torrey
Pines Golf Course hit a snag
on Tuesday, Feb. 21 when the
Golf Advisory Council (GAC)
rejected the city’s
five-year business plan for
the municipal golf courses
by a vote of 8-3...
(more)
Advisory panel rejects plan for city's golf courses
The city's Golf Advisory Council rejected the
plan, 8-3, after the nearly 4½-hour meeting in Kearny Mesa.
UNION-TRIBUNE
February
22, 2006
A controversial five-year plan to improve San Diego's
golf courses drew harsh criticism last night as golfers blasted a
proposal...(more)
Residents: Golf Fee Hike a Hazard
Ire was focused at the proposed Torrey Pines
clubhouse, the suggested across-the-board fee hikes, the elimination
of a county resident discount, the setting-aside of tee times for
brokers and nearby hoteliers.
Voice of San Diego
February 22, 2006
San Diego city leaders have over the years
provided golfing residents with deep discounts at its three
municipal courses, especially at its crown jewel Torrey Pines, but
planned renovations to make way for a major tournament...(more)
SDMGA Position Statement to
GAC
Zucchet takes up TP cause
Ex-councilman to
speak at Golf Advisory meeting
UNION-TRIBUNE
February
18, 2006
Former San Diego City Councilman Michael Zucchet says
there are very few days when he misses the grind of his government job, but
there's at least one subject that remains dear to him – the Torrey Pines
golf courses. He's about to take a very visible step back into...(more)
City's new golf plan has lower North fees
- much higher fees for the South
Woodward said he is not trying to drive
residents away from the South Course.
UNION-TRIBUNE
February
16, 2006
...On
the South Course, which will host the 2008 U.S. Open, Woodward is asking for
increases that would raise resident weekend greens fees by 75 percent, to
$79...(more)
San Diego City Golf Division 2006 Business Plan
Five Year Business Plan Proposal (Strike-Out Version)
Changes to Proposed Five Year Business Plan
Golf Operations Fact Sheet
Notice: There
has been a date, time and place change for the GAC meeting.
(Click here for
detailed information and map)
GAC shifts meeting to hold crowd
UNION-TRIBUNE
February 7, 2006
Because a large crowd is expected to appear and comment on the city's
controversial five-year golf operations proposal, the date and site have
been changed...(more)
City Council Meeting Video
Wonder why the
city is in financial trouble? Watch the City Council Give Away Nearly
$26 Million in Tee Times to Bill Evans and the Lodge at Torrey Pines.
Watch George Stevens and the other Evans City
Council puppets give away Torrey Pines tee times with no notice given to
the public or staff and no notice given at the Golf Advisory Committee
Meetings or the NRC&C meetings either. The give away of 20 tee times
(five foursomes) per day to the Torrey Pines Lodge was thrown in as yet
another incentive to Mr. Evans for entering into the sweetheart lease
deal offered him by the City. Now you might think that 20 tee times are
not much, but Mr. Evans is no fool and he got real busy reselling these
gift tee times for $180 per round paying the city only $100 per round
(assuming North Course rates), a quick brokering profit of $80 per
round. This amounts to $1,600 pure profit per day for 20 tee times. If
done for 300 days a year (allowing a 17% unused rate), this amounts to
$480,000 per year and $31,680,000 over the 66-year life of an already
overly generous lease that the City unabashedly signed with Evans. What
did the City get for this giveaway? Well, Evans does pay a 7% percentage
lease to the City for the Lodge and perhaps the TOT taxes apply; so say
the city gets $5.7 million of its own tee time money back and Evans gets
a mere $25.8 million extra sweetener. What did then Mayor Susan Golding
gleefully boast to her major campaign contributor Bill Evans? - "You
look stunned and surprised that it went so quickly!"
Should it be
that easy to give away public assets to wealthy businessmen like
Mr. Evans? Click on the
following link - Ask City Attorney Mike
Aguirre - to request that he and the present City Council’s committee reviewing city leases
to investigate!
Mixed courses
Torrey Pines, Bethpage have had similar and not-so-similar experiences as
U.S. Open venues
UNION-TRIBUNE
February 7, 2006
At a
meeting last month of the Golf Advisory Council, where the public was
getting its first glimpse of the controversial five-year plan for the city's
golf operations, one man stood up...(more)
Council will hold off on part of plan
for Torrey
Frye objects to
rush to move North's 18th
UNION-TRIBUNE
January 28, 2006
For the second
time in 15 days, City Councilwoman Donna Frye has put the brakes on talks
regarding changes to the Torrey Pines golf courses...(more)
Alliance against `hijacking' by
city and Century Club
UNION-TRIBUNE
January 26, 2006
At the same time the Century Club and the city are ramping up a campaign to get a new clubhouse and tournament operations center built at Torrey Pines, a grassroots citizens group has been formed
to...(more)
They're playing around with
playing a round
San Diego's municipal golf jewel is a public course under siege from private
interests
UNION-TRIBUNE
January 25,
2006
The Buick
Invitational lasts one week a year. The battle for Torrey Pines is
perpetual.
San
Diego's municipal golf jewel is a public course under siege from private
interests. It is a civic asset whose...
(more)
"TORREY
PINES" TTAB Dispute Roils San Diego
It looks like The Lodge at
Torrey Pines wants everything "Torrey Pines" including the trademark
The TTABlog
John L. Welch
January 19, 2005
A TTAB dispute over the TORREY
PINES trademark has the San Diego community all atwitter. Torrey Pines, the
city's municipal golf course, is scheduled to be the site of the U.S. Open
in 2008. Consequently, the TORREY PINES trademark is about to become a much
more valuable property...
(more)
Dude, Where's My Torrey?
Torrey Pines may be jinxed
GolfObserver
Geoff Shackelford
January 18, 2005
Blame it on Scott Peterson. Since the fertilizer salesman's April 17, 2003 arrest
in the Torrey Pines parking lot, the convicted murderer may have jinxed the
place. Just ask the golfers posting comments over the last
six... (more)
Trouble getting tee times at Torrey
So when is a round of golf not 18 holes?
When you're a San Diego resident trying to get a tee time to play the
courses at Torrey Pines.
UNION-TRIBUNE
January 17, 2006
Since the fathers of the game at St. Andrews made it so in 1764, golf has
been played over 18 holes. Ask anybody on the street today how many holes
are in a round of golf, and if they can't tell you, they have no clue who
Tiger Woods is, either...(more)
Golfers opine on Torrey
Across-the-board rate hikes among proposals debated
UNION-TRIBUNE
January 14,
2006
Most of the time the city's Golf Advisory Council
meetings are no more eventful or acrimonious that those of the local
quilting club. Then there
are nights such as Thursday...
(more)
Plans for city golf courses
due for review at meeting
Councilwoman Donna Frye - not
enough time for the GAC and public to review the proposal
UNION-TRIBUNE
January 12, 2006
The Golf Advisory Council will get its first look
tonight at sweeping changes being proposed for the city's golf courses,
including Torrey Pines. But it won't be taking a vote on the new five-year
business plan because Councilwoman Donna Frye was concerned that the GAC and
the public didn't have enough time to review the proposal...
(more)
Torrey Pines Tee Time
Lottery Results Friday January 6th 2006 PDF file
Tee anyone? Not much left in the tee time
pot for the locals if this is any example.
1.
NORTH – 36 Prime Tee Times. Total prime
time tee times
blocked out from lottery for Starter/Special Interest (Tournament): 36 of
36 = 100%
2.
SOUTH – 27 Prime Tee Times. Total prime
time tee times
blocked out from lottery for Starter/Special Interest (Lodge – Hilton – Pro
Shop): 22 of 27 = 81%
3.
BOTH COURSES – 63 Tee Times. Total prime
time tee times
blocked out for Starter/Special Interest (Tournament – Lodge – Hilton – Pro
Shop): 58 of 63 = 92%
4.
TOTAL TEE TIMES IN GENERAL PUBLIC
LOTTERY: 5 OF 63 = 8%. Gee whiz, how generous!
Special interests paw at Torrey Pines
An amazing work of prescience
GOLF COURSE NEWS
UNION-TRIBUNE
11/29/2004
The slick, eight-page newsletter from the Lodge at Torrey Pines arrived in
the mail at San Diego homes early last week. Featured on the seventh and
eighth pages are gorgeous photographs of the Torrey Pines golf courses...
(more)
Public
to hear Torrey Pines proposal
By the ninth hole, Zucchet was
aghast. He was ready to mutiny.
GOLF COURSE NEWS
UNION-TRIBUNE
11/19/2004
On a day late this past summer, San Diego City Councilman and Torrey
Pines men's club member Michael Zucchet joined other city officials in a
tour of the Torrey Pines North Course. The group joined an associate of
architect Rees Jones who was giving a hole-by-hole description of the
planned reconstruction of the municipal course...
(more)
