Mile Square Makeover Adds Character to Course

The makeover of Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley is underway, and it’s expected that a second 18-hole layout will open next spring.

Since June, earthmoving equipment has been scouring the piece of land north of the existing course, shaping the fairways and digging eight lakes. Work on the irrigation system will start this week and there is about one more month of grading work remaining before they start planting grass.

The new course, designed by David Rainville and Gary Bye, will be 6,810 yards and feature rolling terrain, unlike the pancake-flat older course, which opened in 1962.

“It’s going to be quite different from the current golf course,” said Scott Chaffin, Mile Square’s general manager. “There will be a lot more character. It’s going to be great. This is what we need in Orange County--affordability with a lot of character.”

Prices haven’t been set, but Chaffin expects green fees to be about $10 more than the original course. Current rates are $26 during the week and $35 on weekends to walk.

The work is part of an $8-million renovation project. Construction on a new clubhouse will begin soon and after the new course opens, the old course will close for renovation. Throughout the project, the facility will have at least 18 holes open for play, Chaffin said.

The disruption for golfers has been minor. A fence on the right side of the 14th fairway was moved in about 10 yards and the par-three 15th hole is now 150 yards, about 40 yards shorter.

But better news is on the way. As early as February, the old course will be getting four new holes. The swapping gets complicated but essentially Nos. 15, 16, 17 and 18 will close and No. 14 will become the 18th hole. Another way to look at it: the course is losing two par threes, one par five and one par four and adding three par fours and one par three. Two new lakes are also being added to the old course.

Construction work is being done by JMF Golf Inc., the Sacramento-based company that also built the second course at Pelican Hill.

NIKE TOUR NEARBY

The Nike Tour is making its only California stop of the year at the Inland Empire Open, starting Thursday at Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club. With only three events remaining in the season, the battle for position will no doubt be intense.

The top 15 players on the money list qualify for the 2000 PGA Tour and Casey Martin is among several players fighting to make the grade. Martin is also battling time: he has Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, a painful and rare circulatory condition that is weakening his right leg. The main bone in his lower leg is so brittle it could shatter at any time. Amputation might be necessary.

Currently, Martin is 14th on the Nike Tour money list with $101,527. Bob Heintz is 13th with $104,686 and Frank Quinn and Craig Kanada are 15th and 16th with $100,913 and $100,254.

There are several local players in the field. Ahmad Bateman of Huntington Beach and Chris Tidland, a former Valencia High standout, are both Nike Tour members who have struggled this year. Tidland has earned $10,100 in 19 events and Bateman $9,831 in 15 events.

John Burkle, a mini-tour pro from Mission Viejo, won one of the Inland Empire Open’s qualifying tournaments, shooting eight-under-par 64 Monday at Menifee Lakes. Ryan Welborn, a professional from Fullerton, shot 67 to also qualify.

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NOTEWORTHY

Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel advanced into match play of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship but lost in the first round to David Nelson of Reno, 2 up, Monday at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis. Richardson, a 53-year-old who played in the U.S. Senior Open this summer, shot 71-77--148 to qualify for match play. Bob Jordan of La Habra shot 78-78--156, five strokes out of the playoff for the final spots in the match-play field. . . . Dennis Iden of Costa Mesa and Peter Daley of Newport Beach are playing in the U.S. Senior Amateur, which starts Saturday at Portland Golf Club in Portland, Ore. . . . European juniors had much easier time than the adults last week in Massachusetts, defeating the U.S. team, 10 1/2-1 1/2 in the Junior Match at New Seabury Country Club. Sonora High senior Angela Rho was on the U.S. team. Martina Eberl and Suzann Pettersen defeated Rho and Erica Blasberg of Corona, 5 and 3, on the first day and Denise Simon and Rafael Cabrera defeated Rho and Ty Tryon of Orlando, Fla., 2 and 1, on the second.

Staff writer Peter Yoon contributed to this report.