California bill AB 672 to redevelop municipal golf courses stalls, but golf officials expect more challenges
The death of a California assembly bill that could have allowed municipal golf courses in the state to be developed into affordable housing should be a wakeup call for golf in the state, an official of the Southern California Golf Association says.
“We aren’t out of the woods yet,” said Craig Kessler, director of public affairs for the SCGA. “I believe (Assembly member Cristina Garcia) will re-file, and even if she doesn’t, there is a long-range issue. Golf has to come to terms with the reality that it encumbers a good deal of space, and it is increasingly in competition not just with other recreational uses, desert reserve uses, but now, for the first time, development uses, which has never been the case.”
Known as AB 672, the bill was authored by Cristina Garcia, a Democrat from the 58th Assembly District, which covers areas near Los Angeles like Artesia, Bell Gardens and Downey. The bill could have allowed golf courses owned by municipalities to be redeveloped into affordable housing and provided $50 million in state grants for developers.
Kessler said approximately 22 percent of the 1,100 golf courses in the state are municipally owned.
More: California municipal golf courses could be converted into affordable housing under new bill
Originally filed in February of 2021, the bill did not get out of committee last year. The bill was amended last September and again at the start of this month. On Jan. 12, the bill advanced out of the Housing and Community Development Committee by a 6-2 vote and later that day advanced out of the Local Government Committee by a 5-2 vote. But the bill never came up for a vote in the Committee on Appropriations.
“Very disappointed my bill #AB672 was held in Asm Appropriations Committee today. It’s not over yet though! I will try again,” Garcia tweeted on Jan. 20.
Since the bill in its second year only had until Jan. 31 to advance to the Assembly floor, the lack of a vote in Appropriations essentially ended the current bill. Garcia now has until Feb. 18 to re-file the bill for any action this legislative session.
“She has vowed to re-file. It would take a new number, a new title, maybe a somewhat different bill, and then it would go through the regular process,” Kessler said.
More challenges to come
Whether the bill is re-filed for the current legislative session or not, golf officials in California believe there will be other attempts to re-developing golf courses as developable land.
“It is a battle and so far we have succeeded,” said Tom Addis, executive director of the SCPGA, which represented golf professionals in the area. “Can it come back? Sure.”
Addis said he believes an outcry from golfers throughout the state helped to tell politicians in Sacramento that golf is an important activity for many people in their districts.
“The constituent participation was so large this time, and it was gratifying, and I think that made an impact,” Addis said. “The Desert Chapter participated strong, the San Diego chapter, all the chapters in our section were huge in getting the word out and I know the SCGA membership, all of our constituents can be really proud in the contribution.”
Five desert cities – Palm Springs, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Indio – have developed eight municipal course. While many golfers at those courses have not heard of AB 672, those who had were happy to hear the bill has stalled.
“I don’t know why someone would want to take a course like this away from golfers,” said Manny Garza after hitting golf balls at The Lights in Indio, an 18-hole municipal course. “A course like this is for the people, where we can play without playing $100 a round.”
“Let them go after the private golf courses,” said Lisa Lopez. “Courses like this need to be protected and appreciated.”
Addis said he understands why golf courses are often targeted, from tax increases proposed in 2009 to water issues during droughts to AB 672. People who target golf often don’t play the game and don’t understand what the 1,100 golf courses in the state offer, including the 22 percent of those courses that are publicly owned.
The activities include not just golf but tennis, swimming and social activities, with the number of rounds of golf increasing in the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Golf has proven to be one of the healthiest activities out there, and not just because of what we went through with COVID,” Addis said. “Golf is a safe place for a healthy activity. And people don’t understand that, and when they say that municipal courses are a financial burden on the community, they just don’t understand.”
Like Addis, Kessler said that he expects more challenges to golf in the future. Kessler added he hopes the sport won’t become a part of political bickering. That’s especially true, he said, as Garcia has announced she will run for the U.S. Congress in a newly drawn 42nd Congressional district.
“Golf is not comfortable being in the crosshairs of a political campaign. We are not going to get in the 42nd Congressional race,” Kessler said. “That’s not going to happen. So we are going to have to defend the societal value proposition of golf, particular parkland golf, while steering totally clear of a political campaign."
Larry Bohannan is The Desert Sun golf writer. He can be reached at larry.bohannan@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4633. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at @larry_bohannan. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Desert Sun.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California bill AB 672 to convert municipal golf courses to affordable housing could be re-filed
