PlanetRockwall.com

City Council Public Forum Addresses Problems at The Shores Golf Club

---

Directory Listing

The Shores - Golf & Tennis Community - North Rockwall

It was standing room only Thursday night as concerned citizens gathered at the Center to hear the latest on the situation at the Shores Country Club. On hand was the entire city council, City Manager Julie Couch, City Attorney Pete Eckert and Parks Director Brad Griggs to hear comments by the public and to provide background information and updates on current and planned actions.

Despite the prevailing pre-meeting speculation, no fur flew, no mud was slung, at least not literally. Instead, some 23 members of the audience came forth, one at a time, to complain, cajole, lambast, berate, and demand action. It was all fairly orderly, as Mayor Cecil had laid down some pretty firm ground rules from the beginning. Keep the comments to between three and five minutes, keep to the topic of the golf course itself and above all, keep it civil.

Ms. Couch set the stage with a reading of a history of the city's involvement with the golf course and its various owners. Constructed as part of the Shores residential developement in 1977, the course occupies a combination of private land and lakeshore property owned by the City of Dallas known as the "takeline". Rockwall leases the portion of the takeline within the city limits, and subleases the portion in use by the country club, which accounts for all or portions of 11 holes and fairways on the course. The remainder of the property, including the clubhouse, tennis courts and swimming pool, is owned by the club operator, currently I.R.I. Golf Group in San Diego.

It wasn't until 2001 that the city ratified an agreement with course owners establishing minimum standards of upkeep for the property. Known as "Exhibit E", this agreement was an important step in clarifying the authority that the city has over the operation of the course. Over the years, the city has conducted golf course audits aimed at identifying areas of concern over possible violations of the agreement, such as maintenance and appearance of the grounds. The most recent of the audits, conducted last month, resulted in a letter of default sent by the city to I.R.I., the fourth such letter sent since ratification of the agreement.

Those most familiar with the club noted a steady decline in the quality and condition of the course since its creation. This decline appears to have accelerated since its acquisition by I.R.I. Sand traps devoid of anything resembling sand, grass and weeds standing knee-high along the fairways, bounced paychecks, and an area described by one nearby resident as resembling "a monster-truck mud pit" all point to a consistent pattern of neglect by the owners.

Jeff Stone, the first to address the council, reported that a similar pattern exists at another I.R.I.-owned course, Oakridge Country Club in Garland, conditions at which he described as "deplorable." He stated that the Club at Twin Creeks in Allen is experiencing the same thing.

Harold Eavanson, a Shores resident for over 20 years, quoted newspaper articles covering the last ten years indicating that the city council has been aware of the problem for at least that long. He urged the council to turn up the pressure on the owners to comply with the standards they agreed to.

Bill Morrow, another resident and longtime club member, told of a letter he and another member received from I.R.I. owner Jeff Silverstein in October of 2005, threatening expulsion and lawsuit after they complained to the city about conditions at the course. His challenge to the council was to ask what, after ten years of little or no action to get the owners to comply with the conditions of operation, is the city going to do going forward. At this point, he said, Silverstein doesn't think that they will do anything, and that I.R.I. will continue doing business as usual.

Bob Blesi received a big reaction from the audience when he said of Silverstein, "This guy, without a doubt, is the slumlord of the golf world."

One after another, speakers recited their experiences, expressed their concerns, and made their suggestions. Then it was City Council's turn. Margo Nielsen kept it short and simple: "Nothing will get better until the contract is terminated". Glen Faris committed to continue inspecting the course and issuing default letters each time the owners fail to live up to the conditions they agreed to. If the letters have no effect, he said, the council will seek litigation. Matt Scott stated that after one settled lawsuit with I.R.I. which in hindsight he terms "a mistake that I don't intend to make again," he does not believe they will ever live up to their obligations. He said, "Their choices are this: do it, sell it, or get ready to go back to court."

Throughout the proceedings, two employees of I.R.I., including Shores General Manager Mike Loudder, sat silently in the front row taking notes and recording the comments made. They were understandably quick to leave once the meeting was over.

Much of the revenue that accrues to I.R.I. from the operation of the club comes from mandatory dues levied by the portion of the neighborhood surrounding the course known as the "New Shores." These funds, collected as part of the monthly Homeowners Association fees, are forwarded to the club operator twice a year. Amid homeowner allegations that I.R.I. regularly siphons these funds off to their other properties or directly into the pockets of the owners instead of investing them back into the club, the voting members of the H.O.A. board voted to investigate legal options for withholding the money pending a satisfactory resolution of the issues.

It is still unclear where the future of the Shores Country Club is heading. One thing is certain, however. This story is far from over.

Bob Lewis
Contributing Writer

Images protected by copyright 2010 ~ Planet Rockwall