ARLINGTON – Arlington has made an aggressive step toward drawing the region’s golfers to the small community, recently opening the nine-hole China Creek Golf Course to the public.

With an eye on the future, and reverence to the history of Arlington, the city offers a challenging links-style course that Mayor Ruben Wetherell hopes will revitalize the town.

Five years ago, a golf committee set out to study the prospect of building a course. Thanks to a large volunteer effort, including a donation of more than 50 acres of land, in-kind donation of large amounts of leveling and excavating work and the passage of a bond measure, China Creek is a reality.

Tom Proctor, Nancy Proctor and Jim Wright, executive officers of Emprise Inc., donated 52 acres of what had been farm land. That land sits adjacent to property that once was a golf course, closed in the early 1960s, according to Mike Wetherell, who is serving on a temporary basis as assistant project manager.

After much work, the city proposed a funding bond measure for the project. China Creek was designed by architect Jim Steidel, who worked on Northwest courses such as Canyon Lakes in Kennewick, Wildhorse Resort Golf Course in Mission and Apple Tree in Wenatchee, Wash.

Course superintendent Casey Crieghton has worked tirelessly in recent months, Mike Wetherell said, to grow in the course and make the $2.3-million project shine.

Mayor Wetherell said the project is the biggest thing to come to Arlington since Waste Management expanded landfill operations in the late 1990s.

In the past 30 years, much has been altered on the economic landscape of Gillam County. Mayor Wetherell said the county has approximately 57 active farms. In 1970, he said, there were 280.

“This is a huge deal,” Mayor Wetherell said. “It hasn’t been peaches and cream. The last thing we have on our (council meeting agenda) is the golf course and they would run until midnight. They weren’t very pretty meetings, but we got it built. It’s there and we are proud of it.”

City officials worked hard to hash out issues that came up, and volunteers On Cecil and Diane Wetherell were give much credit for there efforts on the golf course committee.

“We didn’t take it lightly. We watched the golf course committee for two and a half years,” Ruben Wetherell said.

Feasibility studies were performed, and town hall meetings were held before the funding vote took place.

“We got good support at the meetings,” Mayor Wetherell said. “Not everybody’s a golfer, but one of the things we found is that we felt like it was good for the community.”

The fact that the course should employ five people was also hailed.

“When this all started, we were looking at four or five people working out there between the clubhouse, the grounds and the supervisor,” Mayor Wetherell said. “In a town of 400 or 500 people, that’s pretty tremendous.

“One of the things, that we, at the city, contemplated long and hard was that we knew that it probably wouldn’t pay for itself totally. We were willing to help subsidize that. But is it a good thing that we create jobs? We think so. We are stimulating the economy.”

Mike Wetherell said he expects to gain around $3 per golfer in revenue in the clubhouse. The course opened for play July 18 and the clubhouse should be ready in less than a week. A merchandising agreement is expected to come together with Wildhorse and a beer and wine license is expected soon as well.

Prices are intended to remain as low as possible at the course, because, Mike Wetherell says, “We want to keep it appealing for the consumer. If you want to come in, get a good deal and play a nice course.”

The hope is to draw players from the entire Columbia River corridor, including The Dalles, Hermiston and Pendleton.

All types of golfers should be able to find a challenge and enjoyment on China Creek.

The fairways are mostly wide and greens are not small, yet the natural terrain rough can be difficult.

“This course can be set up to challenge the best golfers,” Mike Wetherell said. “On paper, some of the holes look short, but then you factor in things like elevation changes and pin placement.”

Budgeting for China Creek projects 12,000 rounds annually.

“That seems like a lot, but if word gets out that it’s a quality course, then we think we can get people in here,” Ruben Wetherell said.

A downtown development study said 10,000 vehicles a day pass by on Interstate 84.

“If we can pull one percent of them off, then that’s 100 people,” the mayor said.

“Then if we can get 10 percent of those to play golf … 10 or 15 rounds a day, that would be great,” Mike Wetherell added.

While some in the community fail to see the need for a municipal golf course, most are excited.

“I think people who play golf or understand golf, know that golfers like to play new courses. You’ll go 100 miles to play,” Mike Wetherell said.

“I think with time (even the skeptics) are going to understand that it’s going to really enhance the community,” he said.

Added Ruben Wetherell: “We’re moving forward. As a mayor, that’s what I’d like to do is go after these things. We’re going to bring some people in here. It’s going to be an oasis in the desert.”

The course name harkens back to a creek or ditch that ran through the old town prior to the construction of the John Day Dam.

A junior golf program is just beginning. Later, in the fall, Mike Wetherell will offer beginning golf instruction for adults. All is an effort to foster a golfing community in Arlington after some 40 years without one.

A grand opening celebration is planned for some time in September with a barbecue. A week from today an Aluminum Man Triathlon tournament, with golf, trap shooting and horseshoe pitching, will be held as a fund-raiser for Arlington school sports programs.

Tee-times are not needed. New power carts are available to rent. The clubhouse is open from 8 a.m. to dark. Membership fees are $100 (students to age of 22), $200 (single), $300 (husband and wife) and $380 (family). Information about tournaments and other activities are available by calling 454-2000 or on the web at www.arlingtonor.com/Arlington/ChinaCreekGolf.

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Sports editor Christopher Halsey can be reached at 1-800-522-0255 (ext. 1-223) or by e-mail at chalsey@eastoregonian.com.

China Creek Golf Course details

Opened to the public July 18. The clubhouse is expected to open next week.

Architect: Jim Steidel, who also also developed Wildhorse Resort Golf Course in Mission and Canyon Lakes in Kennewick.

Cost: $2.3 million.

Land: Situated on 52 acres of what donated by Tom and Nancy Proctor and Jim Wright, executive officers of Emprise Inc.

Daily Fees: $12 for nine holes; $18 for 18 holes

Membership fees (annually): $100 students (up to age 22); $200 single; $300 husband and wife; $380 family