CAMARILLO : County to Pursue Golf Course Proposal

Saying that the money generated from a new 18-hole golf course at Camarillo Regional Park would benefit all county-sponsored recreation programs, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors has authorized staff members to seek proposals from companies that may be interested in developing a course at the park.

But the board, concerned that a new golf course would displace an archery club and a model aircraft flying club that use the park, directed staff members to work with the clubs in finding an acceptable place for relocation.

The course would be on 327 acres of vacant land that the county targeted for a community park when it acquired the parcel in 1986. Because voters rejected a 1990 bond measure that would have provided $1 million for recreational uses, the land has remained undeveloped, officials said.

The land is between the Camarillo Springs subdivision and the Camarillo State Hospital.

Supervisor Maria VanderKolk said Tuesday that she supported soliciting the proposals but wanted to look into the environmental impacts presented by the development of a golf course before any final decisions are made.

According to Blake Boyle, the county’s recreation manager, revenues from the new course are projected to range between $250,000 and $400,000 per year. Recent studies found that 65,000 golfers in the county play about 1.2 million rounds of the game annually.

A report on the proposals will be brought back before the supervisors in June, Boyle said.