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City will study enhancements and increased recreational opportunities for residents with a Golf Course and Open Space Vision Plan

casta del sol

As part of the newly rehabilitated Casta del Sol Golf Course, which was built in 1970, the City continues to complete long overdue repairs to the clubhouse and outdoor spaces. Over the last several months, electrical, gas lines, and a collapsed sewer line were repaired, and the clubhouse was upgraded with interior and exterior paint. The most visible and impressive improvement is the revamp of Terrace on the Green patio as well as the initial return of food and beverage service.

In a recent community survey, the top improvements requested by residents include enhancing food and beverage service and expanding trail connections. In response to the community's desires, the City embarked on an effort to identify various opportunities to enhance food and beverage service and other hospitality opportunities in a cost-effective, sustainable manner.
 
To assist with this effort, the City contracted with MR-ProFun Inc. to prepare a community Vision Plan for the City's newly purchased property.  The goal of a Vision Plan is to study potential enhancements with hospitality-related activities such as a new restaurant, wedding functions, banquet facilities and increased recreational opportunities.  Residents have long been concerned the former privately owned property would be redeveloped with additional housing; however, the City acquired the property last year to preserve the more than 100 acres of open space. The study will NOT consider housing as part of golf-course enhancements.  The golf course property and open space behind it (totaling 108 acres) provide a critical link to the Oso Creek Trail and well beyond.   
 
The Tustin-based consulting firm was selected from a Request For Proposal (RFP) process that began in March. The consultant's work, which began with a kick-off meeting, will include a detailed market analysis to understand market trends and specific fiscal impact; a comprehensive community outreach effort including public workshops and meetings with stakeholders; study sessions with the Economic Development Committee and Planning and Transportation Commission. The proposed Vision plan will be considered by the community at public hearings with the Planning and Transportation Commission and City Council. 
 
Stay up to date with news and information about our community golf course by following us on Instagram @osocreekgolf and Facebook @osocreekgolf.

Comments

Submitted by Marco on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 6:05 pm

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Hi, question. I remember you hosting a contest to name the newly acquired golf course (Casta Del Sol). Are you keeping the name? So does that mean there were no winners?

Submitted by Brian Fallman on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 6:14 pm

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Great news!! Really enjoy hearing our public course is getting improved!

Any Future talk about improving cycling lanes? Or cleaning bike lanes a bit better? Or adding more? Or improving and connecting cycling friendly dirt or paved trails?

Submitted by Mardell Wilkins on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 6:19 pm

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Need a bridge for walkers to cross on 18 so they do not have to go on the cart path and encounter tee shots from # 1 tee. Water areas need to be cleaned up. Residents should have a better opportunity such as being able to book times earlier than non-residents and at a fee less than non-residents.
The city owns it but residents have a hard time getting a tee time.

Submitted by Ellen Marizzaldi on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 6:36 pm

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When will the golf course receive it’s new name? I note that this article still refers to the area as Casts Del Sol, which isn’t bad either. Thank you in advance for your response .

Submitted by Robert Elkins on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 6:52 pm

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Please avoid any layout changes to the course that are not improvements .

Shorting the course should not be an option.

This is a opportunity for the city to improve this vital recreation area as it has with other parts of our community.

This is where I have taught golf to many young people, met many new friends and created relationships with people I would never meet otherwise . The game itself teaches , integrity , honesty and rules that make the game important for the rest of their lives. It’s not just hitting a ball.

We have soccer , softball, football, tennis fields that we have spent huge money on that are never used as regularly as this vital area.
It may not seem significant if you only see it driving by on Marguerite parkway, but it adds a layer to our community that cannot be replaced once it is altered.
Please be careful.
Bob Elkins

Submitted by Don Beier on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 9:28 pm

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Experienced food and beverage Sr Manager and have lived here for 37 years. Golf course management experience for the past 11 years. I am ready to assist if needed.

Submitted by Russ Harding on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 9:53 pm

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There are over 250 folks who are members of golf clubs that played weekly at Casta. Since the purchase and the pandemic, Club play has been suspended and the members don’t know when or if the clubs will get to continue calling Casta their “home” course. The clubs should play prominently as important stakeholders in the development of the vision for the course. We have been patrons and promoters of Casta for decades.

Submitted by Hal Steele on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 7:53 am

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Great work on the slopes surrounding the golf course, and other landscape work. My only suggestion is that you get new, quality sand for all of the sand traps on the course.

Submitted by City Staff on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 8:47 am

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The City received just under 1,000 entries for the naming contest. The Council and Commissions have been on summer hiatus but have just returned and the City Council is expected to choose a winning name and runners up in September. We will publicize the new name in an upcoming article.

Submitted by JeffLodder on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 8:51 am

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FYI
The Casta Del Sol golf course was NOT built in 1960 since we had not yet started with the building of Mission Viejo.
Thought you better check your records.
Thank you.
Sincerely
Jeff Lodder
Former SVP,Mission Viejo Co.

Submitted by Mike Rowave on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 8:59 am

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I am a lifelong golfer, but golf is a dying sport that only appeals to an extremely small percentage of the community.

Bulldoze the course and create one of the best open space and recreational areas in Orange County. Walking and biking trails, picnic shelters, trout pond, archery range, restaurant, dog park, playgrounds, campsites, outdoor amphitheater, and more.

I have played at Casta del Sol many times and love it, but it will only be a drain on city funds year after year. The folks wanting to keep and improve the course will be the same ones bellyaching about how much it costs in 5 years. Just ditch the money pit now and make it more useful for all residents.

Submitted by City Staff on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 10:31 am

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To answer Mr. Fallman's question: The City adopted a Master Plan of Trails last year. We are working on some new opportunities to expand the trails and they are in a conceptual phase at this time. All of the bike lanes on the roads are swept weekly. In some places, our lanes could be wider and that is being evaluated. The City just purchased the open space connecting the golf course to the Oso Creek Trail and we have been out grading the dirt trail and fixing some grades and are working on signage. With COVID-19 there were some funding cuts but we are continuing to improve the trail system every year in big and small ways. It is on our radar and we are committed to continual improvement!

Submitted by Bob Tellar on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 10:48 am

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Please keep Calico Canyon (the open space between the course and Oso creek) wild and natural. We have very few open spaces that are still in their natural state. The canyon is filled with native plants and animals. In the spring it fills with wildflowers and butterflies. We don't need another sterile grass filled path with small planters of generic bushes along the way. Please don't pave the trail, Oso park is filled with wonderful paved trails. We need native areas where our children can still see the land as it was.

Save Calico Canyon!

Submitted by Maribeth McFaul on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 11:05 am

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Congratulations on improvements to the golf course! With the new Casta del Sol golf course and the Marguerite Aquatics Complex the city has been working hard to improve and enhance Mission Viejo.

What about the Potocki Center for the Arts? Will the Arts Alive Street Painting Festival return next year? I hope we can continue to advance Cultural Arts in the city as much as we have our sports complexes!

Submitted by John I Ibrahimi on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 1:04 pm

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We appreciate City's effort to take on the long overdue improvements. We love this course.
We are ok with the existing name. Can't wait to play and have breakfast and after the game lunch and beer.

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