I hope the course is preserved for good and any thoughts of selling off or redeveloping part or all of it will go away, he said. It's FREE! The course remains profitable, city staff maintained in their report and in Tuesdays presentation. If you don't golf, have lunch! We look forward to our partnership and getting moving and I know the public is really anxious and excited, he said. Native oak, redwood and pine trees frame undulating greens, with the Matanzas Creek creating both strategic diversity and a stunning backdrop for golf. Unless exemptions apply, emails sent to City staff or Council members, any attachments, and any replies, are subject to disclosure upon request, and neither the sender nor any recipients should have any expectation of privacy regarding the contents of such communications. 3330 Yulupa AveSanta Rosa, CA 95405Get Directions. Bennett Valley Golf Course : Scorecard : Offcourse Golf Scorecard and GPS Nearby Golf Keep score and track stats with the Free and Easy to Use Offcourse Golf App. Visit Website. There are no upcoming events at this Course. 37 reviews of Bennett Valley Golf Course "I grew up playing this course as a teenager and attended summer golf camps by club pros Jim Knego and Bob Borowitz. It a course for beginners as course conditions are a bit rough. You can reach Staff Writer Will Schmitt at 707-521-5207 or will.schmitt@pressdemocrat.com. More than 2,000 people have joined a private Facebook group dedicated to saving the city-owned course and launched a campaign to block development of the Yulupa Avenue property, which has provided golfers with a relatively affordable place to play for more than 50 years. Funny. 38 reviews. Derek has years of experience teaching golf. 4475 Bonita Road Bonita, CA 91902 619-479-4141. To bring in an experienced management organization to operate and maintain the Bennett Valley Golf Course and Restaurant/Event Facility, the City developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) and accepted proposals from qualified organizations through planet bids from March 1 24, 2022. Bennett Valley Golf Course offers lessons from their director of junior golf, Derek Felciano, a Bennett Valley native who started his golf career in 1990. You can reach Staff Writer Paulina Pineda at 707-521-5268 or paulina.pineda@pressdemocrat.com. Designed to blend seamlessly with the existing architecture, while significantly enhancing the aesthetics, the restaurant features new interior design, furnishings and dcor, with sweeping views of the golf course; an outdoor terrace with seating overlooking the course; enhanced dining operations; and a new menu featuring seasonal specialties, casual fare, desserts, and a wide assortment of culturally diverse entre options. 7 days a week: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM* Range closes 2 hours before Sunset on Wednesday and opens at 9 AM on Thursday. Golf Pro: Bob Borowicz. But from mid-2015 months after greens fees were raised from $40 to $43 to mid-2017, use. The Valley of the Moon course is a Ted Robison designed, 6,300 yard layout that is both challenging and enjoyable for all. On February 15, 2022, City Council approved the Bennett Valley Golf Course Ad Hoc Committee, and the Transportation and Public Works Department recommendation to pursue a scope of services to solicit for a single management organization to operate and maintain the Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC), including the restaurant/event facility under a three-to-five-year contract. 2023 Bennett Valley Golf Course | Contact Us | Site MapDesigned and Hosted by 1-2-1 Marketing. Bennett Valley Golf Course: Fun gem at a public golf course - See 22 traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Santa Rosa, CA, at Tripadvisor. The current golf operator provides the day-to-day maintenance of the course and utilizes a large maintenance and material yard, on-site gas filling pumps, maintenance buildings and city-owned maintenance equipment. Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) opened in 1969 and is located at the base of Bennett Peak where Matanzas Creek meanders throughout the tree-lined course. $3 bloody Mary's at breakfast, 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesday evening & kids eat free after 4pm etc . The pro shop and restaurant remodel made the course a great venue but at a cost. Touchstone is expected to open the restaurant and event center by mid-July, as part of the contract. City staff will return to City Council prior to the mid-year budget cycle with updated revenue and expenditure funds, to review strategies proposed by Touchstone and NGF for funding the high priority capital needs. Club members make up many of the rounds played at Bennett Valley, he said. The Santa Rosa area has a lot to offer people of all ages. Enjoy drinks or your meal on the expansive, outdoor patio overlooking a gorgeous view of the course. City staff favored the study, and Vice Mayor Natalie Rogers, along with council members Eddie Alvarez, Victoria Fleming, John Sawyer and Jack Tibbetts, endorsed the spending. Touchstone has committed $50,000 of its own funds, with no city obligation, towards immediate capital repairs to the landscaping and irrigation around the restaurant and front entry to the golf course for an immediate positive impact. 119. 333 Country Club Dr, Santa Rosa, California, 95401-5599. The large golf learning center features a driving range, two putting / chipping greens, and a 100 . The course, which includes a driving range, a pro shop and clubhouse in need of a restaurant, has suffered in recent years amid a nationwide decline in the popularity of golf. About half of last years golfers were adult Santa Rosa residents, according to city data. I think for a lot of those folks, its a special place, and theres concern that its being treated as more of a liability than an asset, Rogers said. We look forward to providing exceptional guest service at the elegant new restaurant and golf course which our residents can truly be proud of.. In the second half of the episode, the guys discuss the ongoing saga between Bennett Valley Golf Course and the citizens of Santa Rosa versus the city's government. The course was seeing about 100,000 rounds per year two decades ago, but that had fallen to about 80,000 a year in 2005, according to available city data. The Sugarloaf course is a par 63 course measuring just over 4,000 yards making it perfect for a quick round of golf for all golfers . Daily specials like $1 mimosas &. var addyf9214b386b86a08f6c152af5d9cc4f28 = 'csnyder' + '@'; But the courses profitability is hampered by the annual payments needed to retire more than $4 million in bond debt remaining from a 2005 renovation. He is obsessed with the roles that equipment, fitness, and strategy play in the golf game. View more golf courses in California. Copyright 2023 WTWH Media, LLC. New Operator for Bennett Valley Golf Course and Restaurant/Event Facility . " Great flavors, too many onions " 03/31/2020. The consultant recommended funding work through a general fund investment, bond or using golf course revenues, a move that could require the city to increase playing fees. 655 Columbus Parkway Vallejo, CA 94591 707-642-0247. He trained under some of the best golf instructors in the business, including Jim Flick, Jack Lumpkin, Bob Toski, Paul Runyan, Dean Reinmuth, and Rick Smith. 7044 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. February 2, 2021 Staff presented a study concept to Council during a study session to consider whether to pursue an evaluation of using portions of the golf course property to finance capital investments at both the golf course and the adjacent Galvin Community Park. Foxtail Golf Club - South Course. Try changing locations, changing the date, expanding your distance, or updating your filters. Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club. * Range closes 2 hours before Sunset on Wednesday and opens at 9 AM on Thursday. Thats really where his love for the game of golf started. The Par 72/6500 yard course (from the tips) is considered to be one of best maintained in the area. The golf course so thoroughly dominated Tuesdays public comment for the City Councils annual priority-setting meetings that City Manager Sean McGlynn took up the issue Wednesday morning when briefing the council. Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) opened in 1969 and is located at the base of Bennett Peak where Matanzas Creek meanders throughout the tree-lined course. The city's plan to study the Bennett Valley Golf Course comes at an opportune time for golfers, who can point to a spike in use during the pandemic from about 40,000 rounds in 2019 to about. CJ started working for his dad when he was 14 in an outside service position where he cleaned members clubs, washed carts, and picked the driving range. A consultant earlier this year recommended completing a sitewide masterplan and creating a list of priority projects. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat), Golfers walk by the clubhouse and Legend Sports Bar & Grill at Bennett Valley Golf Course in Santa Rosa on Monday, June 3, 2013. Golfers played more than 70,000 rounds per year at Bennett Valley in the years after the recession. Local golfers, of course, would rather the city leave the course alone. The patio is large and overlooks the beautiful Bennett Valley golf course. Kyle grew up in Livermore California where his dad introduced him to golf at age 7. He's the head coach of the Santa Rosa Junior College women's golf team and has even taught at local Santa Rosa middle and elementary schools. BVGC also features a driving range with both natural grass and artificial mats, as well as a large practice putting green. When he is not golfing, CJ loves spending time with his wife, McKenzie and his daughter, Madison. UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: More than 2,000 people have joined a private Facebook group dedicated to saving the city-owned course. But the 50% jump in usage last year is an outlier. 3330 Yulupa AveSanta Rosa, CA 95405Get Directions. View Course. Its unclear how much development the site could support and what mix of residential and commercial activity would be best suited if Santa Rosa opts to replace the golf course. Southeast Santa Rosa residents and golfers have teamed up to defend the Bennett Valley Golf Course, prompting a City Council member to rescind support for the citys effort to study the 175-acre propertys redevelopment potential. Koiner, E.O. McGlynn noted that a green-fees increase or some sort of subsidy might be necessary in order to keep the golf course up and running. The Bennett Valley Golf Course Ad Hoc Committee and City staff have worked with the National Golf Foundation to develop a scope of services for solicitation of the future management of the Bennett Valley Golf Course and restaurant/event facility. Golf Instruction & Fittings Membership Tournaments & Leagues Restaurant & Events Upcoming Events Contact Book a Tee Time Thursday, February 09, 2023 07:12:20 AM To open the reservation engine in a full-screen CLICK HERE. The debt load has forced the city to use reserve funds and general fund dollars to operate the course and pay down liabilities, leaving less money for improvements. The new BVGC website will go live Friday morning as well. The Restaurant and Evnent Center, Iron & Vine features some of the bext views and is a great place to land before or after your golf round. Contact; Visitors; Address: 3330 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa California 95405-8647, Sonoma, California, 95405-8647 United States. Bennett Valley Golf Course. 707-528-3673. This is a fair-weather course and is virtually unplayable in rainy weather due to the soil type and other site characteristics. It is a gem of the city.. Partial redevelopment presents another mix of options, including a smaller course that would make way for more fields for soccer, baseball and softball organized sports that are growing as golf sinks. On Twitter @wsreports. To offset the first-year start-up capital needs of the golf course, City Council approved the transfer of $345,000 from BVGC Capital Fund to the Golf Course Operating Fund and $351,225 from the General Fund to increase anticipated reserves. The debate over the future of the golf course was sparked in early February, when the City Council voted 5-2 to contract with a commercial real estate firm for a study on future uses of the property. Additionally, staff will return to Council in late Spring 2022 to request necessary funds, the city can begin planning for the necessary large-scale capital upgrades of BVGC in two phases: Bennett Valley Golf Course is a 150-acre, 18-hole golf course with a driving range, pro shop, and restaurant with banquet rooms located in southeast Santa Rosa. The axis of the valley floor slopes 40 feet (12 m) per mile (a gradient of 0.008 or 7.6 m per km) from the pinched central portion of the valley, where knolls divide the . Try changing locations, changing the date, expanding your distance, or updating your filters. He was recognized as 2008 Bay Area Male Athlete of the year as a golfer at Livermore High. No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. Historically we have found pace of play very slow, and many of us do not love the "out and back" layout of the back nine but, yesterday we found pace of play good-4.5 hours for 18. Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) opened in 1969 and is located at the base of Bennett Peak, where Matanzas Creek meanders throughout the tree-lined course. The Par 72/6500 yard course (from the tips) is considered to be one of best maintained in the area. The 40 000 sq.m facility offers a driving range with 50 tees, 16 of them under cover. Kyle was a 3 time All-American at Chico State University and won the 2011 NCAA Individual National Championship. The 18-hole par 72 courses at Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club is 6,712 yards away from the championships tees. Winchester CC Sold to Duncan Golf Management, Club + Resort Talks Features Dr. Bern Bernacki from The Golf Heritage Society, GCSAA Releases Report on Pest Management Practices, Audubon International Adds Platinum Level. We have made this course a occasional stop on our rounds of bay area golf courses over the past 10 years. Everything you need to know about this golf course! Home; Courses; . Since then, hes worked at Round Hill Country Club and most recently at Diablo Country Club as the Head Golf Professional for 5 1/2 years. Bennett Valley Golf Course has been open to the public since 1970, but if some people have their way, it may not be open that much longer. Location. Par 72 Based on National Golf Foundations (NGF) analysis and Touchstones experience, the new BVGC management structure, where the City will receive all revenue and fund all expenditures, indicates a projected year one gross revenue of $3.4 million and $4.6 million in year three. * Range closes 2 hours before Sunset on Wednesday and opens at 9 AM on Thursday. Legends Sports Grill, the course restaurant, closed its doors last year, citing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic. James Miller, a member of the Bennett Valley Golf Club, managed to sneak in a round Monday before the latest round of rainy weather. That redevelopment lives on not only in the contemporary clubhouse but in the citys budget, as Santa Rosa still needs to pay off roughly $4.5 million in remaining bond debt. Tee times are available Friday morning July 1! The golf course is a par 72, 6,500-yard course from the tips and was built in 1969 on heavy clay soil. Mayor Chris Rogers praised staff for working on a plan that would keep the course open and said he is excited to work with Touchstone. Location. Rates Lessons Price; 45 Minute Adult Private Instruction: $100: Adult Lesson Package (6 Lessons) $500 . Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) opened in 1969 and is located at the base of Bennett Peak where Matanzas Creek meanders throughout the tree-lined course. Native oaks, Redwood and Pine trees further enhance the course's beauty and natural setting. Visit this web page, or the BVGC website, operated by Touchstone, for future updates regarding the golf course and restaurant. A year ago, some City. Thank SuzieLS123 . Book a private corporate or social event, a breathtaking wedding, or pre-or post tournament meal in the private event space that can accommodate events for up to 180 guests. document.getElementById('cloakf9214b386b86a08f6c152af5d9cc4f28').innerHTML = ''; The company manages more than 40 courses across the country, including 20 in California, though this is the first in the North Bay. Bennett Valley Golf Course, owned by the City of Santa Rosa, Calif., will open its new Iron & Vine Restaurant, Bar & Events on March 7. Over the past 10 years they have redesigned nearly every green turning what used to be a pedestrian back nine into a challenging finish. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat). Santa Rosa City Council voted (6-1) on Tuesday (6/7/22) to approve a management agreement with Touchstone Golf, LLC (Touchstone) for the operation and maintenance of the Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) Enterprise which includes the restaurant and event center. 3330 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Almost immediately after Sonoma County issued its shelter-in-place order on March 17, the city of Santa Rosa closed its . The restaurant was originally expected to open by July 15, however necessary repairs and inspections have delayed the opening a bit longer. All Rights Reserved. As a life member of the PGA of America, Greg has worked all facets of the golf industry. Bennett Valley and Burbank Gardens are nearby neighborhoods. The City of Santa Rosa is seeking proposals from qualified organizations (Consultant) to provide a comprehensive proposal to operate, manage and maintain the Bennett Valley Golf Course and restaurant facility under a City of Santa Rosa Professional Services Agreement (PSA). He became involved with the golf club about 16 years ago. Rounds played on the course rose to about 60,500 in 2020 after dropping to about 40,250 in 2019. Seated in a flat valley surrounded by mountains, it features 18 holes that carry a par of 72/75 over 5,958 to 6,600 yards. Enjoy drinks or your meal on the expansive, outdoor patio overlooking a gorgeous view of the course. CONTACT US. No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. Theres no redevelopment plan in place, but the tone of the presentation struck many golf course advocates as overtly pro-development. Join our mailing list and be the first to receive golf updates and tee time deals. Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) opened in 1969 and is located at the base of Bennett Peak where Matanzas Creek meanders throughout the tree-lined course. Brookside Golf Club - C.W. Based on 22 reviews Visit Website Add to My Plan Location 3330 Yulupa Ave. Santa Rosa CA, 95405 Get Directions Contact Local: 707-528-3673 Social Description Amenities Reviews The Park is highly active with tennis, pickleball, soccer, baseball, a dog park, playground, picnic sites and a fly-casting pond. 3330 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Get Directions. Before rushing to bulldoze, the City Council wisely tapped the brakes and is gathering more information. . On June 7, the council voted 6-1 to approve a three-year contract with Berkeley-based Touchstone Golf to operate the 150-acre site and reopen the club house restaurant that closed in 2020. Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) opened in 1969 and is located at the base of Bennett Peak, where Matanzas Creek meanders throughout the tree-lined course. As part of its comprehensive revitalization plan, Touchstone Golf worked with city officials to completely reimagine the clubhouse restaurant, which closed in 2020. The city might also only redevelop the relatively short and narrow driving range. I'm happy they are open! The period will give the city time to craft a plan for how to fund $6.8 million in needed capital investments at the 53-year-old facility, which includes an 18-hole course, driving range, pro shop and clubhouse. He hopes the discussion is put to rest for good. 3330 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA. Copyright 2023 GolfNow. All rights reserved. Bennett Valley Golf Course is a 150-acre, 18-hole golf course with a driving range, pro shop, and restaurant with banquet rooms located in southeast Santa Rosa. The new contract ensures the course remains open for the foreseeable future after City Hall officials floated the idea of redeveloping it last year. Visit Website. Do Not Sell My Personal Information . We are delighted to work with Touchstone Golf to significantly elevate the golf, dining and event experiences at Bennett Valley Golf Course for the enjoyment of the entire community, said City of Santa Rosa Deputy Director Parks Jen Santos. Dozens of cars lined up at the course Friday afternoon, their drivers ready to pick up yard signs at $10 a pop to show their support. Bennett Valley Golf Course features a practice putting green and also a driving range with either natural grass or artificial mats. Foxtail South Golf Course 26 Golf Courses Open now By 551kena South course is pretty straightforward without many challenges. Browse the current issue and archived issues of Club & Resort Business in an easy-to-use, high-quality format. There is a restroom mid-way through the course and multiple pedestrian bridges in need of repair and updating. Park Hours Open sunrise to sunset Parks Maintenance Weekdays: 707-543-3770 Nights/Weekends/Holidays: 707-543-3805 [email protected] Picnic Reservations My traveling golf group played Bennett Valley GC yesterday. He suggested the golf course study could wait, potentially saving the city some money. The meeting ended up going three hours and at one point hosted as many as 180 people, Rogers said, forcing him to upgrade his Zoom account to accommodate the number of people who wanted to share their thoughts. Iron & Vine also features an elegantly appointed event space that offers a memorable setting for all-inclusive events ranging from intimate rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and business meetings to large-scale weddings, golf tournament banquets, fundraising galas, quinceaeras, corporate meetings and events, and holiday gatherings. June 7, 2022 - Staff to present a prepared Management Agreement for the management firm selected to operate and maintain BVGC and restaurant to City Council for review and approval. About 40,000 rounds of golf were played in 2019 and that jumped to 60,500 in 2020 as the sport saw a spike during the pandemic. Greg has always had a special emphasis on the development of an engaging year-long junior golf programs. We will remove any comments or commenters that do not follow this commenting policy. The company would transport young people to the course to teach them how to golf and train them in various course jobs that they can perform after school. Event amenities include in-house audio-visual equipment, a sound system, and fully customizable menus and event packages to suit every taste and budget. The golf course has an unlit driving range with multiple tee boxes and natural turf and artificial pads. Golfers and residents cautiously cheered the new contract. Touchstone has committed $50,000 toward landscaping at the entrance to the golf course. But the mere prospect of losing the 18-hole course galvanized its supporters to attempt to halt the $150,000 study. (The contract) is certainly a good step in the right direction but I have a feeling that subject will never be closed, he said. 33330 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa, CA 95405 (707) 528-3673. The company also will receive an annual incentive based on course revenues, estimated at $20,000 in the first year of the contract and $50,000 in the third. After a day on the course, why not experience everything that Wine Country has to offer? No off-topic remarks. The indoor restaurant area can be sectioned into three separate rooms and includes an outdoor patio dining area overlooking the golf course. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Golfers at the city-owned Bennett Valley Golf Course in eastern Santa Rosa will see a small increase in green fees and annual memberships, a move the course's new operator hopes will keep it . But surging demand for other types of recreational space, including playing fields, and a deep shortage of affordable housing in Santa Rosa have put pressure on city leaders to consider other uses for the 175-acre public property. If you wish to calculate a 9-hole Course Handicap, please visit the Course Handicap Calculator page. 181. Get your practice on so that you can play your absolute best game. Bennett Valley Golf Course 4 22 #8 of 17 Outdoor Activities in Santa Rosa Golf Courses Visit website Call Write a review About This fun, scenic public course is economical and well-managed. After the interviews, the review committee selected the overall highest ranked management firm and recommended city staff negotiate a management agreement to operate and maintain BVGC and restaurant/event facility. The course offers a wide spectrum of player development programs for juniors and adults taught by top professionals including PGA Head Golf Professional CJ Snyder. Its kind of like Cheers everybody knows your name. Sonoma County golf courses and course information. $995,000. Touchstone plans to host other types of events, such as runs and luncheons, to bring people to the site, too, he said. Under the previous contract, not enough revenue was being captured to cover costs, Parks Deputy Director Jen Santos said. But over the last two decades, the Bennett Valley course has not been spared from the headwinds hitting the sport. Hundreds joined a private Facebook group, Save Bennett Valley Golf Course, fearing the links will be bulldozed taking a cue from a recent Press Democrat editorial that used that word. CEO Steve Harker said Touchstones goal is to operate the golf course in a way that its an asset for golfers and nongolfers. #43 of 366 Restaurants in Santa Rosa. Sign me up to receive emails from GolfNow and NBC Sports golf brands. Hours of Operation. 9.36 acres lot - Lot / Land for sale. Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Fulton are nearby cities. The city won't tear out the greens for affordable housing. Golfers played more than 70,000 rounds per year at Bennett Valley in the years after the recession. Were sorry, there are currently no available tee times for your search. Bennett Valley Golf Course. Phase 1 completion of a full site master plan, and with community input, create a priority ranking of capital investments. But its a big part of the city, I think. He played in many JGANC events locally as a junior golfer and qualified for Junior World in San Diego as a 16-year-old. Santa Rosa, California. We will remove any comments or commenters that do not follow this commenting policy. But from mid-2015 months after greens fees were raised from $40 to $43 to mid-2017, use of the course plummeted from more than 71,000 rounds a year to about 46,500 rounds. 0 Warehill Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Bennett Valley Golf Course. The next step in the citys effort, which Rogers said likely wont come up for at least a few weeks, is the formal decision on whether to approve a deeper study to build on CBREs initial report. Situated among the hills of Sonoma County and populated by native oaks, redwoods, and pines, Bennett Valley Golf Course is a beautiful Par 72 course. Listing information deemed reliable but not . Bennett Valley Golf Course 3330 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa, CA 707.528.3673 Visit Website Scorecard: Bennett Valley Golf Course 6. Santa Rosa also continues to carry more than $4 million in debt from a bond the city issued 16 years ago to finance upgrades at the course, including a new clubhouse. That vote was nowhere close to a final decision to shut down the golf course and use the land for other purposes, potentially including a housing development. Louis Capuano, president of the Bennett Valley Golf Club, said the new contract signals that the course will remain playable for at least the next few years, but infrastructure needs must be addressed to ensure it remains an asset for generations.