"We built this house 19 years ago. The lot was selected because it was virtually impossible to hit a ball in our yard from the tee box," said Abel in an email to the Star Courier on Thursday. "If the city was really concerned about homeowner safety on this dangerous hole, they would convert it into a par 3. This would resolve safety issues for about 90 percent of the families that live along this hole."
"We had a very nice and back-and-forth. They had their views and I had mine," Chamberlain said about the April 25 Titleist 910 D2 Driver meeting. "The only thing they could tell me is that they needed the new tees because they are trying to make more money on the golf course via the new tees. One of the magic terms in running a golf course is, 'make it as long as possible.'"
The firm handling the renovations is Plano-based Wiebring-Wolford Golf Design, Inc., the same group responsible for last year's renovation of Pecan Hollow Golf Course in Plano.
"We have focused on communicating this in every way we can during planning and now during construction," Wolford said in an email to the Star Courier on Thursday. "The implementation of the design has not varied from the original master plan in regards to Hole No. 8. We have just recently received and are addressing concerns from six homeowners regarding their belief that more golf shots will enter their property than before the redesign. Of course, this is not the intent and we will explore every option to resolve to the satisfaction of all."
Staff members with the Allen parks Taylormade Burner 2.0 irons department have been working with the design firm to see what their options are in terms of the HOA's request, said Allen Parks and Recreation Director Tim Dentler. He added that while certain changes have already been made to address various concerns from neighboring residents, the city also has to make sure this once-in-a-lifetime renovation is built to last.
The firm, along with the City of Allen representatives, has met with focus groups, both golf and non-golf related, numerous times during the planning phase of this project, Steve Wolford said. Wolford said he and his design team have discussed specifics of the redesign with golf-bordering homeowners in person during visits to the site in order to uphold both the aesthetics and safety of the new golf course.
On Thursday, Chamberlain said the Chase Oaks HOA was scheduled to meet today, during which time members would draft a petition to the city of Allen stating it no longer supports the removal of discount golf clubs the tee boxes and now wants the par 4 hole shortened from 485 yards to a par 3 hole at 220 yards. The association also plans on reaching out to Plano Mayor Phil Dyer in order to seek his support and council.
Chamberlain said while trees may provide a buffer zone in the 70-80 yards that stands between the tee boxes and the homes, they won't be beneficial until they are fully grown several years down the road.
"Obviously they prefer to eliminate certain tee boxes, but this is part of a master plan that has been in place for over two years," he said. "We want to be good neighbors, but we also have to maintain and make sure that the final product is going to be beneficial for the player, the community and the viability of the course. All along, we have made safety a high priority in everything we do. Everything we look at, everything we have changed on the course to date we have done to address the concerns that residents have had. Unfortunately, it's a golf course, and it is what it is."
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