Tools

County plans for future golf course

By Ray Gomez

Story Created: Nov 19, 2009

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009

Webb county officials spent the day shopping for property.
The space won't be used for a new county building; instead it will be the location for the new golf course officials have been talking about for some time.
One of 5 sites may soon be the ultimate destination for Laredo families looking to spend quality time together.
But county officials say their plan has to be solid and has to be about much more than just a golf course.
“The idea is to visit the sites so when they come to make presentations we'll have an idea of what they're talking about,” says Webb County Judge Danny Valdez.
Move over the county's coming in.
Webb county officials spending the day visiting Emerald River, one of five proposed site to be donated for the county's golf course project.
The county is seeking 200 acres ready to be transformed into a golfers paradise.
“I would like for them to pick a real good place where the golfers would really enjoy themselves.”
So it may take some imagination but soon people could be golfing on this property and county officials say the possibilities are endless.
“We’re mot just looking at a golf course site,” stated Ana Cavazos Ramirez, Webb County Attorney.
“We are looking at the possibilities of picnic sites soccer fields baseball fields areas where families can go.”
Ramirez says county officials also envision pavilions, maybe celebration halls on the property, because after all, the county will have to compete with the city's golf course already in the works.
Property owner’s say there's no doubt people will come.
“Tennis is tennis basketball is the same court golf courses are different and word gets around what golf course you have,” added Buddy Bruni, part owner of Emerald River.
Now they're just hoping the county is ready to invest.
“That’s something that quite frankly we're had just this week several meetings about the cost of what a new course would be for the county and taxpayers.”
Of the five sites, three are off mines road, one is on loop twenty near international and a fifth is already owned by the county, formerly the site of the detention center.
County officials say though it may take one or two years to get the project complete, it could cost somewhere between 6 and eight million dollars.