Dallesport golf course proposal remains alive
By Kathy Ursprung
The Chronicle
Oct. 16, 2009
Almost 30 years
after the concept first cropped up in local discussion, a world-class golf
course at the Columbia
Gorge Regional
Airport is still alive
and kicking.
The idea of a
five-star, fly-in, links-style golf course on the windy, ruggedly beautiful,
Dallesport peninsula is enough to spark the imagination of anyone who has
ever picked up a golf club. Michael Canon, director of Klickitat County
Economic Development, was one of the inspired when he addressed The Dalles
Area Chamber of Commerce economic development committee Oct. 9, describing a
“fly-in golf resort with one of the five-star courses around the region.”
At present, the
Sundoon Resort, as the prospective course is called, is still tied up with an
environmental challenge from Columbia Riverkeepers. But Canon is looking
beyond that to a development that could substantially change the character of
Dallesport.
“It would be a
tremendous asset for the gorge — a remarkable asset for the gorge,” Canon
said.
He described the
proposed course as “similar to some of the best golf courses in Scotland.”
Around the course,
developers envision an upscale housing development, as well as two condo resorts.
“Long-range, it
would mean a very substantial upgrade for the airport,” Canon noted,
“including an executive terminal and a conference center.”
While Sundoon
continues to work its way through the long, drawn out processes of
governmental approval, Riverkeepers’ environmental challenge remains a very
real unknown, Canon said.
Riverkeepers lost
its challenge against the airport business park, but that use had at least
some historical foundation in Dallesport. A golf course is a brand new use
for the area, he said.
Canon offered no
timeline for the golf course, which has been the topic of debate, speculation
and planning in one form or another since at least 1981.