THOUSAND OAKS : City Hires Consultant to Plan Golf Course

The Thousand Oaks City Council has hired a consultant to draft a plan for building recreational facilities, including a public golf course, in remote Hill Canyon.

California Muni Golf will work with a citizens advisory group to analyze traffic and accessibility, environmental impacts and engineering concerns. Within four months, the consultants will draft a rough site plan for development in Hill Canyon, which could include an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and equestrian stables.

The consulting bill--not to exceed $91,325--will come out of the city’s golf fund, which consists of the fees golfers pay to play the public Los Robles Golf Course.

The playing fees cover Los Robles’ operating budget and generate substantial reserves, City Manager Grant Brimhall said, estimating that the golf fund contains almost $2 million.

While the study represents a major step toward fulfilling the city’s long-standing promise to build a second public links, council members emphasized that they had not yet settled on Hill Canyon as an ideal site. One problem is that the site, located in the Santa Rosa Valley, is nearer to Camarillo than to Thousand Oaks.

A new golf course would cost an estimated $15 million to $20 million to build, Councilman Alex Fiore has estimated. The funds would come from revenue bonds financed by playing fees at Los Robles and the new course--so only golfers, not general taxpayers, would foot the bill, Fiore said.