Golfers at Gavilan Golf Course may have to pack their clubs in
search of a new grounds to play on
– if a land analysis conducted by the school reveals that the
37-acre site is ideal for faculty and student housing projects.
While the nine-hole course is currently home to about 450 golfers
each week, school officials are hoping the move will better serve
area students and attract those from out
of state.
Golfers at Gavilan Golf Course may have to pack their clubs in search of a new grounds to play on – if a land analysis conducted by the school reveals that the 37-acre site is ideal for faculty and student housing projects. While the nine-hole course is currently home to about 450 golfers each week, school officials are hoping the move will better serve area students and attract those from out of state.
Should development occur, Gavilan College would be one of only a handful of community colleges in the state with on campus housing.
“Nothing has been decided,” President Steve Kinsella said.
The grounds lease ends in October 2007. Annually, the college generates $35,000 from the course located northeast of the school.
“Any time you’re close to the end of a lease you re-evaluate the use. We may determine that the best use is for a golf course,” Kinsella explained. “The use that I prefer is faculty or student housing – no question.”
An additional option school officials are exploring are apartments for active adults aged 55 and older. The college introduced a series of free classes for this age group called Living Through Learning this summer to engage them more with the school.
Consultants have already been paid $35,000 to assess economical and geographical conditions. Kinsella estimated that it would be another year before the consultants were finished. The total cost will run about $500,000 for additional consultant fees and studies. The college will likely loan itself from its $3 million retiree health liability funds.
“We’re not really used as a destination college,” he said. “We don’t attract students from out of state. We don’t attract international students. And part of the reason is we have no way to accommodate them. For a community college it’s fairly unique that we would be doing this.”
School officials have contemplated development for about six months, he said.
Kinsella believes that by offering housing to students, it would create a more stable student base.
“We can create a college lifestyle that replicates what other universities have,” he explained. “As far as meeting the needs of the students we have today – housing is an issue.”
The golf course was built in 1966 and is the most affordable of the three in Gilroy. Rates run from $13 on weekdays to $17 on weekends.
Junko Stonehocker, general manager of the course, believes the site is best suited for individuals who want to get a quick game in after work, retirees, and beginner golfers.
“I don’t know anywhere you could go to pay a reasonable price to play,” she said. “A lot of golf courses are very expensive – it may be perfect for people who can’t pay a lot.”
Stonehocker pointed out that the course is home to a Gavilan golf class.
“It’s not just royalty and rent … I think it’s very unique – not too many colleges have a golf course,” she explained.
The Gavilan College men’s golf team does not use the 9-hole course – they play at Eagle Ridge.
Currently, the college offers only two golf classes – one is held over the weekends at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, the other is held at Gavilan’s course.
“Obviously (development) is going to impact that class,” said Ron Hannon who serves as the college’s Athletic Director. “But we’re talking a few years down the road. For the greater of the college, it’s going to serve a greater purpose than one class.”
Hannon is excited about the possibility of having students housed on campus and believes it will help recruitment efforts.
“That’s going to (help us attract) a different student athlete than we’ve been able to in the past,” he said. “Gav’s considered a commuter school. What’s going to be neat is having students right on campus 24 hours a day.”
Opening up the site to faculty housing has its own advantages.
“To be able to have at our fingertips (faculty housing), that might be the difference in attracting the top echelon of faculty,” he explained. “To be the best, we’ve got to attract the best.”
But not everyone is as excited about building efforts.
The Niners Club, a 27-member women’s golf club that plays on the Gavilan course every Thursday, is waiting to hear what the decision will bring.
“We would probably disband because there’s no other nine-hole golf course in the area,” said member Peggy Woolf.
She has been golfing weekly on the course since 1997.
“(The other members) know it’s a possibility that the course wouldn’t be there much longer,” she said. “We’re just going to handle it how it comes.”
Golf professional and Gavilan instructor Scott Kreuse would like the course to remain open so new generations of golfers can learn to play.
“Most every professional golfer learned to play on a course like that,” he said. “It’s meant for people to learn on … People aren’t going to learn how to play golf at Eagle Ridge.”
However, should land assessments prove fruitful and building a possibility – additional students on campus, or renting apartments to active adults may generate more revenue for the college than the golf course.
Theoretically, with more revenue the college can purchase better materials, offer staff development and more student services.
“It’s a little bit early to talk about,” said Gavilan Trustee Tom Breen. “We’re trying to explore (options for) generating income for the school. We just want to know what is the best use of the property … I’m an occasional golfer, and I’m afraid some golfers are going to miss it.”
