EL SEGUNDO HERALD November 21, 2019 Page 3
THE LAKES
GOLF COURSE & DRIVING RANGE
Dear Friends and Neighbors of El Segundo,
I am writing to you about the planned multimillion-dollar investment on city owned land by TopGolf/CenterCal that has been approved by the City Council
for The Lakes Golf Course and Driving Range renovation. I have lived here for 30 years, raised a family, own a business and I am a golfer.
There continues to be a misinformation campaign on this renovation perpetrated by a few disgruntled independent contractors who have mobilized some
people in our city and a lawyer and her followers from Manhattan Beach who are now walking around our city and gathering signatures for a referendum
to overturn the renovation decision made by our past and current City Council.
I have been involved and aware of the process since its start and I have had help in the contents of this letter from people involved since day one. My purpose
here is to layout the facts and not inuendo, half-truths and out right misinformation that has mislead you.
Misinformation 1: The Lakes golf course and/or driving range is going away – Wrong.
The Truth: The renovation keeps the driving range and golf course and improves it. For the right to lease the property, TopGolf/CenterCal will put 40
million dollars into the renovation of our city owned land to improve both the golf course and the driving range. If they default on the lease they can be
removed, just like any lease, and the city keeps the $40+ million in renovations. That’s right. It’s a lease. We own the property and everything there.
Misinformation 2: Zoning is being converted to “commercial” and will reduce property values – Wrong.
The Truth: The driving range is being converted from “open space” to “commercial recreation” space to better describe the use. The golf course remains
“open space”. Now, with the influx of 40+ million dollars to renovate the golf course and driving range to a world class venue, what do you think will
happen to your property values? Yes, they will go up. Just ask your real estate agent – any of them.
Misinformation 3: The area can be turned into a hotel, disco, strip club. So Wrong.
The Truth: The city owns the land. It’s under city control and will be designated as “commercial recreation”. Why? Chevron gifted the land to El Segundo
with restrictions because of its proximity to the plant. Due to those restrictions, it can only be a recreation facility with services surrounding that use. It
cannot be a hotel or set to a commercial business district because of those land restrictions.
Misinformation 4: The driving range is being turned into a bar and arcade – Wrong.
The Truth: It will not be an arcade or bar, strip club or disco. There will be a chef-driven menu with breakfast, lunch and dinner with kids’ items and
service directly to the hitting bay. Whether with family, friends, colleagues you can eat and compete. The balls are tracked and scored into the range where
you can see how you are doing against others. Yes, dad and mom can compete with daughter and son all while having a burger and fries or your choice from
a great menu.
Misinformation 5: We are losing 1 or 2 holes on the golf course – Wrong.
The Truth: The golf course will be improved and will remain a 9-hole course with one par 4 hole. The overall distance of the course may lose just under
100 yards.
Misinformation 6: The golf practice at the range will go away. Wrong.
The Truth: The driving range, day-to-day, is for practice. There will be more instruction and more space for instruction. Also, there will be more exposure
to golf for kids, first timers, and families.
Here’s what The Lakes golf course and driving range renovation will do:
• Increase in student golf groups all supported by TopGolf
• Members of local golf teams play and practice on the range for free during the week. You can join a team and hit for free? Now that’s an incentive.
• Discounts designed for Seniors and El Segundo residents. Also, at the range, $15 unlimited play 9a.m. to noon on weekdays and $10 “bucket of balls”
dispensed at hitting bay from 6a.m. to noon weekdays.
• Night Golf. Yes, you can play golf at night. Lights are added to the golf course as part of its multi-million-dollar renovation. It will be a phenomenal
golf course with more time to play golf.
• Major expansion of practice putting greens and short game chipping areas.
• The hitting bays will increase from 57 to 102 with a third level added.
• With the expanded size and third level there will be separated areas for serious practice.
• The driving range, in addition to a practice facility, becomes a family, friend, and colleague-oriented venue. When you hit a ball, it’s tracked and scored
in the range. For the first time at the driving range, families, friends, colleagues and teams can compete in an atmosphere of great sportsmanship and fun.
• 6000 square feet event space to benefit our non-profits like the Ed Foundation, Kiwanis, Rotary and corporate event for our great companies like Chevron,
Raytheon, Boeing, Mattel, Beyond Meat, etc.
• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. The renovation will add 475 jobs – this is huge. That’s a lot of jobs.
• Reverse The Lakes loss of revenue every year since the bond was taken out to build it.
• The $40 million renovation ensures The Lakes viability and longevity.
• El Segundo will reap the benefits of a long-term lease bringing millions into the general fund.
This renovation is good for our entire community: our families, our kids, our golfers, our non-profits and our companies. The land will finally be utilized
by our entire community (not just a practice venue but so much more, especially for our youth and families) and the city will finally profit from it.
Don’t let outsiders from Manhattan Beach, a few disgruntled contractors and their misinformed followers hijack a process that has gone on for years
through multiple Councils vetting this great project. They will end up destroying our chance to have a wonderful venue that so many more of us, rather
than the few, will now finally be able to use and enjoy. Don’t let them hurt our city. Our integrity is at stake. That city owned land is for all of us.
If you signed the referendum, contact them and tell them “take my name off ” and whatever else you might want to say to them. If you are unable to do that
see the information below.
To all of us here in El Segundo.
Sincerely,
Ron Swanson
*Remove your name - Elections Code 9602
A voter who has signed a referendum, and who subsequently wishes to have their name withdrawn, may do so by filing a written request with the election official.
This request shall be filed in the election official’s office prior to the date the petition is filed. Contact the clerk’s office at 310-524-2305.