Friday — February 20, 2004

Elkhorn Club
owners consider
increased access

Golf could be made available to visitors

---

By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

The owners of the Elkhorn Golf Club are considering a plan to increase public access to their proposed private club.

David Hennessy, a local partner in the CG-Elkhorn development group, which owns the club, said Tuesday, Feb. 17 that the ownership group is assessing a plan that would allow limited use of the 18-hole golf course by visitors to the Sun Valley area.

"To be a good neighbor, we’re actually talking to the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce to arrange for some outside play," Hennessy said.

Hennessy noted that a decision in the matter could be made by March 9, when CG-Elkhorn’s proposal to build a new clubhouse facility on the edge of Elkhorn Village goes before the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission for the second time.

The proposal to build an approximately 15,000-square-foot clubhouse southeast of the Elkhorn Village swimming pool was first presented to the P&Z on Feb. 10. The proposal is linked to a master plan to construct 128 market-rate condominiums, 12 community-housing units, two commercial buildings and a sales office on approximately 11 acres in the Elkhorn Village core.

CG-Elkhorn, which is conducting a large-scale improvement project at the golf course, has initiated a plan to convert the once semi-private club into a private facility.

Hennessy told the P&Z on Feb. 10 that CG-Elkhorn is "willing to offer some limited public play on the course" through a deal that could be worked out "with the administration" of the city.

On Feb. 17, Hennessy elaborated on the statement in an interview, stating that CG-Elkhorn officials have met with Mayor Jon Thorson and representatives of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau to discuss options to allow the visiting public to use the facility.

A limited number of Sun Valley residents will also have access to the club. As part of the development group’s management plan, some non-member access will be guaranteed to residents of properties belonging to the Sun Valley-Elkhorn Association homeowners’ group.

CG-Elkhorn representatives have said people residing in SVEA properties will have an opportunity to reserve up to six tee times—for four players each—per day.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.