[Reprinted from The Redmond Spokesman, Redmond, Ore.  --  Wednesday, September 12, 2001]

By GARY G. NEWMAN, Spokesman staff writer

It's been a long row without much hoeing, but Juniper Golf Club plans to finally break ground on its new golf course in the spring.

Plans drawn up by Tacoma Golf Course architect John Harbottle show a 7,000-plus yard par 71 course with a high desert character as it winds its way through the landscape southwest of the fairgrounds.

The course is expected to open for play in late fall 2003 or spring 2004.

As designed, the course will cost about $3.5 million, but details that will keep the course affordable to the club's membership still have to be nailed down.

"One of the issues is that we create affordable golf," said Juniper golf pro Bruce Wattenburger. "The intention is not to go out and spend a lot of money."

The course will be financed through revenue bonds that will be repaid through membership dues and green fees, according to Ron Bryant, president of the Redmond public building corporation which is a mechanism for funding public projects in Redmond.

Juniper Golf Club has 433 members and monthly dues are $95. Summer green fees are $35 for 18 holes and $20 for nine holes.

Bryant said he thought there would be little change in club fees.

"I don't think we believe we'll have to increase the fees," he said.

The club has worked with the city for the past four years to acquire the land from the Bureau of Land management, and has already allocated about $15 of member dues per month toward developing the new course, Bryant said. The club is still collecting on a previous revenue bond to develop the back nine at the present course and those funds will be switched to the new course, he added.

The course will sit on 177 acres, the northwest corner of which is at the present end of 19th street near the fairgrounds. It will be bounded on the west by the railroad tracks and on the south by the Bonneville power lines.

The course will be 500 yards longer than the present Juniper Golf Course. The longest hole will be a 650-yard par 5 challenge. The shortest will be a 100-yard par three hole from the short tee.

Two lakes comprising about six acres will be used as irrigation holding ponds.

There is also an eight-foot asphalt golf cart path.

"We're expecting a golf course that you would say is a championship golf course," Wattenburger said. "The intention isn't to make it so hard the average golfer can't play it."

As part of the course development, the city has applied to the state to return irrigation water to the Deschutes River in exchange for ground water.

Details such as the club house plan, restrooms and parking have yet to be settled. The club is also trying to swap land for about two to 10 acres that would lengthen the course to a par 72.