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80 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, July 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 23, 2004 A historic home off North Phoenix Road sits on two acres surrounded by a large property where the Rogue Valley Manor hopes to build an 18-hole championship golf course. Above the house in the background is the Manor�s Skyline Plaza. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Manor plans new golf course At 7,282 yards, it would be the largest in the valley By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune The Rogue Valley Manor plans to build the largest golf course in Jackson County, creating a championship course that would attract everything from professional tournaments to average players. "It would be the longest course in the area," said Corey Walker, who works at the pro-shop at the Eagle Point Golf Course, which at 7,099 yards is the largest of any facility currently in the valley. The Manor, which doesn’t have a timeline yet for building its 7,282-yard course, submitted an application with Jackson County last week for a conditional use permit to build on a 208-acre tract of land bounded by North Phoenix Road and Juanipero Drive. Last year, Manor officials indicated they had no plans for this tract of land, but were pushing ahead with construction of a nine-hole extension to the existing 75-acre Quail Point Golf Course. The Manor had received a conditional use permit from Jackson County in 2000 to build the back nine on 204 acres that was previously owned by Naumes Inc. To get the permit, which is still in effect, the Manor won approval from the Oregon Supreme Court and state Court of Appeals. Advertisement The new plans abandon the idea of connecting Quail Point in favor of creating an entirely new course that would sprawl over 412 acres — a much larger area than other championship courses that have often been built on 200 acres or less. Renowned golf course architect John Fought of Scottsdale, Ariz., designed the course. Kevin McLoughlin, executive administrator for the Manor, said the extra space is necessary to take into account the natural contours of the property’s rolling hills. The land is now zoned for exclusive farm use (EFU). Because of the zoning, McLoughlin said the Manor has no plans to build housing or other development on the undeveloped space. Golf courses are a permitted use on EFU lands that are not considered "high value" farm land. The Manor has already started some preliminary work on the front nine, which will require the excavation of 164,728 cubic yards of dirt and will use 67,325 cubic yards of fill. Despite the recent spate of good weather, McLoughlin said it has been difficult to start work on the project because of heavy rains this winter. "We had equipment stuck in the field last week," he said. Since the cost of a course is somewhat dependent on the amount of excavation, McLoughlin said, "We feel good about the design, which has limited the amount of major earthwork and excavation." McLoughlin said no name has been chosen for the new course, and he didn’t have a cost for the project. Industry sources report golf courses cost roughly $100,000 to $150,000 per hole, not counting buildings, which would put the Manor course at a base of $1.8 million to $2.7 million. A clubhouse has not been designed, and the Manor hasn’t submitted an application to build one, said McLoughlin. "One step at a time," he said. Letters will be sent out this week to surrounding property owners to alert them of the Manor’s plans. McLoughlin said one potential conflict is over water use, but he pointed out that a golf course will consume less water than when the property was a pear orchard. The Manor’s proposed golf course property and its neighbors rely on wells, but some of the nearby properties are in the Medford Irrigation District. Another possible problem is increased traffic on North Phoenix Road, which has just under 7,300 vehicles per day now. The project would increase that amount 8 percent, or 643 trips, according to a traffic report prepared by the Manor. Some wetland areas are also on the land, but existing maps are inaccurate and a full study will be conducted, according to an environmental consulting firm hired by the Manor. A two-acre parcel with a historic house on it would not be included in the project. The private residence would be between the 13th, 14th and 15th greens and will be fenced off from the rest of the course. Jim Gibbons, executive director of the Oregon Golf Association, said this course, along with the others that have been built in the last 10 years, will give Southern Oregon a good supply of top- rated greens. "Generally speaking anything of 6,800 (yards) or above is championship or better," he said. While the course will be open to the public in some fashion, McLoughlin said the Manor hasn’t determined what the fees will be. "There will be cheaper places to play in the valley," he said. "This will not be a low-end golf course." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times