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Santa Ana Council approves Riverview Golf Course management deal amid neighborhood debate
Summary
After robust public support, the Santa Ana City Council voted 6–1 to contract CourseCo’s subsidiary to manage Riverview Golf Course, citing expected capital investments and youth programming; one council member warned the site should remain accessible to non‑golfing neighbors and proposed exploring park options.
The Santa Ana City Council voted 6–1 on March 3 to approve a management agreement with Santa Ana Golf LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CourseCo, Inc., to operate Riverview Golf Course.
The vote followed extended public comment from neighborhood residents and regional golf‑industry representatives who urged the council to preserve and improve the course. "Riverview means a lot to our family and our community," said Claudia Pinedo, who described taking her children to the course since 2020 and urged the council to approve item 16. Craig Kesler of the California Alliance for Golf said the course is “the heart” of local play and offered organizational support.
City Manager and Parks staff told council the new operator has municipal golf experience and has flagged opportunities for capital improvements, expanded youth programming and enterprise fund protections designed to keep revenue local. The city manager said CourseCo’s involvement would “allow us to make some level of investment and hopefully generate some benefits for this community.”
Council discussion acknowledged long‑running neighborhood concerns, including golf balls striking homes and site maintenance. Council Member Lopez said improved oversight and enhanced netting would be priorities under the new agreement. Council Member Hernandez cast the lone dissenting vote, urging continued exploration of park‑oriented uses and regional partnerships; Hernandez also placed a submotion to continue the item, but it received no second.
The final roll call was: Bera (yes), Hernandez (no), Lopez (yes), Fan (yes), Vasquez (yes), Mayor Prompenosa (yes), Mayor Meza (yes). The council approved two appropriation adjustments related to the agreement and authorized the city manager to finalize terms with Santa Ana Golf LLC.
What happens next: The agreement takes effect per the contract timeline included in the staff report, and staff said they will work with the operator on capital investments, expanded youth outreach and perimeter improvements such as netting and debris removal. The city also preserved an enterprise fund mechanism in the contract to channel revenues into course improvements and programming.
