Despite Opposition, Supervisors Back Golf Course

The County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday reaffirmed its desire to convert the center of Mile Square Regional Park from an undeveloped strip used by model rocket and plane hobbyists into a golf course.

The action came despite protests from more than two dozen hobbyists, who said the plan would leave Orange County without a hobby park and force them to travel more than 100 miles to fly their models.

Hobbyists complained that there are already more than 50 golf courses in Orange County--two of which are in Mile Square Regional Park--but only three hobby parks in all of Southern California.

“The reason for forming this park was for recreational and open-space use,” Bob Richards, a leader of the golf course opponents, told supervisors. “We feel you are violating your stewardship of the park.”

The board action also came despite a recommendation by the Harbors, Beaches and Parks Commission to scrap the golf course plan and examine ways of preserving the open space.

Board Chairman Roger R. Stanton said that his first choice would be to use the 188-acre park “triangle” for youth recreation activities but that funding for such a development is unavailable.

County officials said the $2 million in annual revenue that a golf course would generate is needed to recoup Orange County’s $33-million investment in the park property.

Two firms are vying to develop the new golf course: American Golf Corp. and Mile Square Partners, which now operates a second golf course at the park and has the right to match any other bid.