Almaden Resident

News

Residents vote against selling their golf club to developer

By Monica Heger

Members of the Almaden Golf and Country Club have voted against selling the club to a private developer.

On Oct. 13, the club's 400 proprietary members voted against an unsolicited offer from Standard Pacific Homes to purchase the club for senior housing. Standard Pacific Homes offered residents $200,000 per membership. These memberships are currently valued at approximately $48,000.

"The club's members have voted to decline the offer from Standard Pacific Homes and have instructed the club's board of directors not to solicit any additional offers," said the club's general manager Michael Gardner. "As a result, the club will continue to operate as it has in the past. The club wishes to thank the residents of Almaden Valley for their patience and understanding over the past few months."

Standard Pacific Homes had planned to build an active adult community on the club's 135-acre complex, which includes an 18-hole golf course, driving range and practice facilities, swimming pool, tennis courts and a dining room.

Steve Delva, South Bay division president for Standard Pacific Homes, had said he planned to build the community on just a small portion of the golf course, leaving much of it as open space.

Members first received letters asking them if they would like the board to pursue the offer back in August.

The Almaden Golf and Country Club was developed in the 1950s by Del Webb and the Henry Crown Corporation of Chicago. Almaden Valley pretty much grew up around the club. Del Webb Corporation purchased the public club in 1968 and privatized it with the sale of 400 memberships in 1968.