Save the golf course for future generations

When anyone speaks of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course I’m reminded of one of my favorite experiences in life, the spectacularly clear, late Sunday afternoon in the early ’80s when I whupped my husband there during a “friendly” round of golf.

His first tee shot soared into a tree and never dropped to terra firma, giving me an early lead. It was the first time I had smelled victory in any contest with him other than in a game of Scrabble.

The confidence that came from realizing Mr. I’m-Better-At-Sports-Than-You-Are had made such an error on the first hole of an easy, three-par course propelled me to beat him on all nine holes we played that day. (He wasn’t about to go for 18 after that. And, come to think of it, he’s never played a round of golf with me since.)

Verdugo Hills, just five miles from the heart of La Cañada, is a such sweet course, a real asset to the Foothills. For about a half-century, children have learned golf there and adults of varying skill levels have had the opportunity to get some exercise while enjoying the outdoors.

My mother introduced me to it when I was about 12 years old; we played at either Verdugo Hills or Arroyo Seco in South Pas because those three-par courses are so perfectly suited for a relatively quick outing — and offer minimal frustration for the less skilled golfer. They’re especially fun on a summer’s eve, when the coyotes are out and about, howling in the background.

And so, out of sentimentality and because I’d like to see future generations enjoy the same experiences, I am among those who don’t want to see a 229-home development there, as proposed by MWH Development. It’s been long in the works a long time, with MWH having purchased the property more than four years ago, with hopes at that time to build either a 320-unit condo complex or a 300,000-square-foot commercial complex.

I’m greatly simplifying here, for the sake of space, all the efforts that have gone on to save the golf course, but suffice it to say civic leaders at all levels in favor of preserving this local treasure spoke their minds and MWH has refined its plans over the past few years to include a nine-hole course surrounding the proposed condominium complex. There is a draft environmental impact report circulating and it’s in the phase that allows for public comments. That phase ends Aug. 19.

Money is being raised by Save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course committee, Sunland-Tujunga Alliance and Volunteers Organized in Conserving the Environment (V.O.I.C.E.) to fight the development. Some fundraisers have been staged and others are in the works. Frank’s Famous Kitchen & Bakery, at 3315 N. Verdugo Road in Glendale will share a portion of its sales this Friday (Aug. 7) with the cause; and Joselito’s West in Tujunga plans a similar event Aug. 31.

If you share my concern and want to learn more about the Save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course efforts, go online to www.gcvoice.org.

CAROL CORMACI is editor of the Valley Sun. E-mail her at ccormaci@valleysun.net.