<I>Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini</I><BR>Jack West, left, and Jim Morris work to eradicate knapweed near the fourth hole Saturday at China Creek Golf Course in Arlington.

Within the past two months, it appeared China Creek Golf Course was a mere approach shot away from being sold.

However, despite a cool breeze Saturday, nearly two dozen local citizens participated in an effort to clean up the course – but not in preparation to sell it.

On Feb. 6, the Arlington City Council voted to submit a referendum to the voters asking whether the city should sell the course.

Kay West, handicap chairperson of the course, said since Jeff Bufton was appointed mayor, the future of the golf course has changed directions.

“The petition had to be filed within five days and it wasn’t done and now with the new mayor, it’s not in the works at this point,” she said.

Bufton, the council president, was appointed mayor after former Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist was ousted during a recall campaign.

Jack West and Jim Morris have been working diligently to rid the course of knapweed and dry grass.

Armed with a propane tank, the duo torched away the weed.

Diane Wetherell, club secretary, said after they burn off dry grass, green grass will sprout in a month or two.

“They just like burning things,” Diane’s 11-year-old grandson Kyle said.

The youngster was excited to help with the cleanup effort, especially because he was able to drive a golf cart.

Although inmates from the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility did a lot of weeding in the sand traps, Kyle still had plenty of work.

Kyle graduated from a set of plastic clubs to a junior set five years ago and has been hooked on the sport since.

“I like how it’s different,” he said. “One day you’ll be the best and then the next day you’ll be terrible.”

Although often he doesn’t keep score, he was quick to point out he has gotten par on the fifth hole.

West also has attacked the gopher problem. Over the winter, he said 94 of the mound-making mammals have met their demise.

“When he gets to 100, are we having a party?” asked Leslie Walborn, club secretary.

Mike Wetherell, a private contractor who oversees managing and marketing, calls the sixth and third holes the “signature holes.”

The sixth is the course’s only Par 5 and the third poses a challenge with a blind dogleg to the right.

“We’re proud of this golf course,” he said.

Golf architect John Steidel designed the nine-hole course that has bent grass greens and Kentucky bluegrass fairways.

“There are unique aspects because of its terrain and there’s a lot of elevation drops,” he said. “The yardage appears short on the scorecard, but because of the terrain and weather, it can be challenging.

Steidel’s design resume also includes Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, Wash., and Apple Tree Golf Club in Yakima, Wash.

“John said the fourth and sixth holes are as good as any he’s built,” Wetherell said.

However, the fourth hole doesn’t always fare well with club member Alene Rucker.

“I can’t make it all the way across and it infuriates me,” she said with a laugh.

Wetherell said 55 acres were donated to the city to be used as a golf course.

Although it’s a nine-hole course, it offers four sets of tees – offering a challenge for golfers at every ability.

“People that play it like it,” Wetherell said. “It has a nice panoramic view.”

Wetherell said last year volunteers put in more than 500 hours to help save money at the course.

The retired Riverside High School teacher and coach said the clubhouse will be staffed during busy times and during slower times an “honor box” will be used.

Diane Wetherell said the system works well.

“Golfers are an honorable society,” she said. “We haven’t run into people taking advantage of it and not paying.”

She said the course offers local citizens a place to golf without having to drive a great distance.

“It’s a tourist attraction too,” she said. “We have a lot of people who come off the freeway – and a lot of them return because it’s fun.”

Rucker, who lives outside the city, said she wouldn’t have voted for the golf course before its inception. The course opened in July 2003.

“Little golf courses just don’t make it, but once it was voted in, we’re doing everything we can to keep it going,” she said.