THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130290
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 168 lines
LEGIONS OF GOLF course duffers had reason to smile last Wednesday when the city began considering six plans that would strengthen Virginia Beach's position as an East Coast golf destination.
The proposals are part of a focused effort by the city to seriously consider golf course development, and they represent the first major step in a long process of study that must precede construction.
This fall the City Council is expected to select one of those plans, which will outline Virginia Beach's potential as a golf destination for tourists, visiting conventioneers and, perhaps most importantly, regional players.
Long a goal of city planners, golf course development in Virginia Beach has languished over the last 15 years as housing tracts gobbled up hundreds of acres of real estate and environmental regulations kept some land off limits. Meanwhile, the city scrambled to keep pace with new roads, schools and services.
Two courses now being developed - the West Neck Creek Course, a private/public venture off Seaboard Road, and Bayville Farms, a private club off Shore Drive - are the first to be built in seven years.
But with the commercial failure of the massive Lake Ridge project and the city's subsequent purchase of its 1,200 acres last December at bargain rates, Virginia Beach now appears closer than ever to making land available for course development.
``What we are looking for is an objective direction on whether any of this makes sense for the city and, if so, what action plan should we follow to make these things happen,'' said Patricia A. Phillips, the director of finance and one of the city's more knowledgeable people on course development.
``What we're trying to do is predict the future, to manage the future, instead of reacting to it,'' she said.
For now, the work of a city selection committee remains a closed matter. Even its membership is not made public, in part, city attorney Randy Blow said, to prevent advance lobbying from applicants. The proposals are not open for public review yet.
But a Request for Proposal issued in June by the city offers some insights into what the future of golf may hold.
The proposal calls upon the companies to define what makes a locality a golf destination, provide an analysis of the market forces shaping the golf business today and what benefits the city could derive from being a golf destination.
Within the economic analysis, the companies must show historical trends in regional golfing, the demand for services in Virginia Beach, the optimal number of courses the region will support and identify the competition.
The prospect of more courses has many developers eager to help the city move into an area of recreation widely thought to hold promise for Virginia Beach.
``The opportunities for golf course development in Virginia Beach are awesome,'' said Don Wizeman, the Myrtle Beach, S.C., golf consultant and former Beach resident whose company has bid to develop courses here.
``You have better air services from Northern cities to Virginia Beach, better hotels, and good deals with the hotels and the airlines,'' Wizeman said. ``Everything is there, except maybe the water. But we have been assured, in constant conversations with the city, that well water is not a problem.''
Regardless of which plan the city adopts, it is likely to result in the addition of three new golf courses to the city's existing complement of 14 public, private and military courses.
Although the City Council won't begin reviewing its options until Aug. 22, at least two of council's 11 members have made their wishes clear on the issue: build the courses, and soon.
``The city is prepared to put up 600 acres at Lake Ridge. That's enough space for about three courses,'' said Vice Mayor W.D. ``Will'' Sessoms Jr.
``We want more golf courses for both the citizens and to enhance tourism,'' Sessoms added. ``The golf course is a major part of a strong quality of life. If you go to current city courses, there are long waits for tee times. Red Wing, for one, is difficult to get on.''
But there are sticking points to further development. The city has made it clear that it does not want housing to surround any new golf courses, thereby forcing developers to make their money on course fees and not inflated home sales.
This raises the question of whether Virginia Beach will give away the land or sell it at below market rates to sweeten a development deal, a prospect that already has Sessoms defending the idea.
``When our existing courses were built, the value of land was not the same as it is today,'' Sessoms said. ``You cannot build many courses today because of the new environmental regulations and council feels strongly that if courses are to be built in Virginia Beach, it doesn't want housing around them.''
The problem with housing, Sessoms said, is that for developers to make money on golf course developments, the housing tends to be high density.
``Then there are other concerns about providing city services - water, police, trash,'' he said. ``We want more golf courses for citizens and to enhance tourism. I'm only one out of 11. Still, I think the direction council is taking is for us to put up the land, and in turn bring in a well-respected, knowledgeable golf course developer and let them invest the money it will take to build three courses.''
Councilman Linwood O. Branch III, who represents the Virginia Beach borough, said he favors courses in Lake Ridge.
``After watching the British Open (on television), I can say it's a sport that will only grow,'' Branch said. ``It appeals to all ages. It's great land use. It's an economic development tool. It's recreation. It's something we should try to incorporate into our plans.
``We've talked a lot about it,'' he added. ``It's time to see if we're going to realize that vision.''
Finance director Phillips made it clear that under ideal circumstances the city would not be competing with courses already open.
``The city does not want to hurt any existing courses,'' she said. ``We would rather have the private sector develop golf courses. What we're looking for is a deal that will allow the private sector to develop courses.''
If the plan works, however, the new courses will not be municipal courses.
Susan D. Walston, the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, said there are no plans to increase her maintenance staff, which presently cares for Kempsville Greens, Red Wing and Bow Creeks courses.
``We're not pursuing more municipal courses,'' she said.
Building new courses could not come a moment too soon, if the men and women who regularly play the city's greens have anything to say on the issue.
Consider the situation at Kempsville Greens. The telephone begins ringing at 8 a.m. on Friday for weekend tee-times; walk-ins arrive at 6:30 a.m. The course, like most municipal courses, is booked on fair-weather weekends when an average of 300 rounds of golf are played at Kempsville Greens.
``This phone stays busy for quite a while,'' said Bo Bolton, who works in the pro shop of Kempsville Greens. ``Every weekend, whether it's a holiday or not. Those early tee-time people will almost cut your throat for a tee-time.''
Harold G. Noyes Jr., a 69-year-old retiree, had just finished playing 18 holes at Kempsville and was enjoying a cold beer on a hot August afternoon. He barely hesitated when asked if it was a good idea for the city to build more courses.
``As far as I know, there are not enough in the area,'' Noyes said. ``We need more courses. On the weekends it's difficult to get on. On some of these courses you have to start calling by 6 a.m. Wednesday to get a tee-time.
The pressure on local duffers will only increase this fall when Bow Creek is temporarily closed while two regional drainage projects are completed for Princess Anne Plaza and the Rosemont Road/Windsor Woods area.
Out on the links, where the grass is clipped low like a carpet, Noyes found plenty of kindred souls among a foursome out for a quick 18 holes.
``Yes. Definitely,'' gushed Russ Dodson, the 28-year-old course pro at Kempsville. ``If Virginia Beach doesn't look out, Williamsburg is set to take over the golf course business around here.''
From Dodson's perspective, the demand for course time is increasingly rapidly.
``It's very big. We get calls all the time from resort businesses that have groups who want to play, but we don't have very much variety here. I mean, Virginia Beach is not some place that you come to play golf. It's not known for it,'' Dodson said. ``But with more courses, we could be that place.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
[Color cover photo - no cutline information available]
David White, 15, who says he plans to try out for the Bayside golf
team, favors more courses to relieve overcrowding and provide some
variety.
Golfers line up to tee off on the first hole at Kempsville Greens.
The course, like most municipal courses, is booked on fair-weather
weekends when an average of 300 rounds of golf are played.
Jeff Morton, Ron Clark and Jimmy Manzione, all of Virginia Beach,
line up their puts on the eighth hole at Kempsville Greens.
Graphic
Golf Courses in Virginia Beach
[List of golf courses]
For copy of list, see microfilm
KEYWORDS: GOLF COURSE VIRGINIA BEACH by CNB