The city of Provo, Utah is in private discussions to sell holes 10, 11 and 12 of the publicly owned golf course to Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions to build a new medical school. More than 100 people gathered on October 25 to voice support for the golf course, and public comment will be heard in November.
The city of Provo, Utah is in private discussions to sell parts of the publicly owned East Bay Golf Course to a private developer, with the anticipation of promoting a new medical school on the land, the Salt Lake City, Utah-based KSL-TV reported.
The course serves as a home course for six high schools in Utah County, and nearly every high school golfer in the state will play at least one round at East Bay over the course of their career, according to Timpview golf coach Jeff Ward. “There is no other facility that caters to the junior golfers (like East Bay),” he said. “It is a fantastic facility.”
More than 100 people gathered at East Bay Golf Course October 25 to voice support for the 18-hole, par-72 championship course at a rally sponsored by Provo City Councilman Kay Van Buren, KSL-TV reported.
News has begun to emerge of a private developer that wants to take three holes of the golf course to build a medical campus. No open-air meetings have been held by the City Council during the sensitive nature of the business discussions, but the private developer has released several public statements about plans for the land, KSL-TV reported.
The chance for public comment will be available in November, according to Provo Mayor John Curtis.
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions has submitted a proposal to the city of Provo that would take holes No. 10, 11 and 12 (or “approximately 11 percent of the total golf course acreage,” the school said in a statement from Wasatch Educational, the holding company of the university) and turn them into a medical campus. The school group insists that the addition of the campus will help fill an increasing need for physicians in the state of Utah and beyond. It also promises a significant economic bump in the area of Provo south of Brigham Young University, collectively referred to by residents as “East Bay,” KSL-TV reported.
“The economic impact of the proposed education facilities to the City of Provo and Utah County during the next ten years includes 1,588 jobs, $83.1 million in construction business, and approximately $100 million annual business infusion,” the university said via statement. “It is anticipated that the medical school will be a magnet for many more health, medical, biomedical, biotechnology, and related spin-off businesses, which may add hundreds of well-paying jobs and property tax monies to the community.
“Additionally, this proposed initiative should result in more than $8 million directed to the Provo School District in the first 15 years.”
Government officials have had to balance both sides of the heated argument, KSL-TV reported.
“This can be a win-win for Provo—an enhanced golf course and a medical school,” wrote Mayor Curtis on his official blog. “Our golfing community will be able to enjoy an improved layout and design. The medical school and the health education facility bring jobs, capital investment, increased property and sales tax and educational opportunities.”
Proponents of the golf course say that the economic stimulus is more political speculation and less grounded in facts. And even more argue that the benefit of the golf course can’t be measured on monetary value—even as the city’s Parks and Recreation Department has taken ownership of East Bay and increased its financial viability in recent years, KSL-TV reported.
“There is no dollar amount that it is worth,” said Sue Nyhus, the women’s golf coach at nearby Utah Valley University who attended this week’s rally. “It promotes so many good things in our community, from the welcoming nature of the Reserve at East Bay to the high school kids and beyond. It’s a gateway for golf to be a leverage in their life for bigger things.”
Golf courses can be remodeled—even rebuilt. But East Bay is unique in its current configuration, Nyhus said. “It’s a championship golf course,” Nyhus said. “There are memories on memories of this golf course for the whole community. So many good things that happen started here and it’s grown into a larger community. We cannot lose it.”
More than 10,000 rounds of golf were played by Utah youths last year, and nearly 40% of them were played at East Bay, estimates Utah Golf Association board member Randy Dodson. “When we talk about growing the game of golf, this is one of the facilities that most supports that initiative,” Dodson said. “This is an issue that deserves public comment.”
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