Chula Vista’s Golf Course Contract Operator Has Been Busy
- Guest
- Apr 7
- 5 min read
The Chula Vista Golf Course is smack dab in the middle of Bonita. This manicured “green space” has been there for well over half a century. On opening day in 1961, this championship golf course was the Bonita Valley Country Club. Today, this course is one of the municipal golf courses in San Diego County experiencing decline and struggling to survive.
Last year, residents found the "public notice of application for ownership change" concerning. Yet, that ownership change notice was not anything to be alarmed about. It was simply the result of a merger between two golf management services companies.
This community has a vested interest in the City’s golf course operations. The long-time residents in this valley do not want this 129-acre property and the surrounding area to be redeveloped into a village of 2,700 dwelling units.
Is it just me or have you too noticed improvement at the Chula Vista Golf Course?
Last summer, the golf course looked a bit run down. “Shabby” was the word that I’d used. Yet, it remained playable. A large number of Chula Vista residents and young golfers continued to play there. The course operators faced challenges that appear to be mostly behind them now. Multiple irrigation leaks and repairs were apparently an unwelcome distraction from their normal activities. Leaks, irrigation of sod, and filling their (water supply) pond also led to an unusually large water bill from the Sweetwater Authority. The golf course normally irrigates with well water.
Well Water in Use signs appear in many locations | Photo credit: Karen Henry | Click on images to enlarge
Today, the greens and fairways look different. I’d use the word “inviting.” The improvement speaks well of the people in charge of the day to day operations. The manager Jason and his staff from KemperSports have “gotten after it.” Their loyal golfers must be pleased. The improvement is also a perk for the approximately 900 daily walkers (along the golf course/ Rohr Park trail.) Hopefully, this improvement will help boost City revenues from this valuable asset too. Yet, last fall, the City staff’s recommended Rohr Park Draft Master Plan revealed a long list of [presumably unfunded] golf course improvements that are needed.
Keep an eye out for merging vehicles when driving westbound on Bonita Road toward Otay Lakes Road. A new dirt parking area was created for the crews. This lot is adjacent to their existing maintenance building next to the trail. The driveway access to the lot is not that visible.
Maintenance building driveway & parking lot | Photo credit: Karen Henry | Click on images to enlarge
Slice Society, the clubhouse restaurant and bar, looks “inviting” as well. It is open daily. However, it closes at 5:00PM so it is not a dinner option for locals. The only thing I found “off putting” was the smell in the women’s restroom, I reported it to the golf course manager. The odor is now masked somewhat by a strong industrial-strength deodorizer strapped to each toilet bowl. “Please flush Twice” signs were placed in the stalls.
Clubhouse women's restroom | Photo credit: Karen Henry | Click on images to enlarge
About fill dirt in the floodplain.
When fill dirt by the truck load arrived at Rohr Park, I requested information from the City of Chula Vista to understand what was going on.
"On December 22, 2025 and December 23, 2025, truck loads of fill material were dumped (in piles) within Rohr Park near the eastern ball fields.
Documents that explain:
1. purpose of said fill material
2. quantify and amount paid for said fill material
3. who accepted this dirt on behalf of the City that originated from 2361 Westwood Street, San Diego.
4. grading plan, if applicable
5. storm water plan for area of dirt piles"
The City’s response (received 28 days later) was,
“there are no records responsive to your request.”
Apparently, a grading plan for the placement of 1200 cubic yards (the estimated export quantity at its point of origin site provided by the contractor) did not exist.
Over time, the number of dirt piles (temporary stockpiles) in Rohr Park diminished. Presumably, golf course crews transported this dirt away in small loads. I witnessed this “low key and unobtrusive” activity on occasion during my walks. An existing gate between the park and the golf course was left open to facilitate these trips.
Then, a few days before Easter, the last of the temporary stockpiles departed. Large dump trucks took away approximately a third of the stockpiled dirt in half a day. Those truck loads were dumped in the northwest corner of the golf course. A new gate had been put in to provide easy access from the trail near Willow Street bridge. As in December, it was an efficient operation.
To be clear, the City of Chula Vista has the land use authority for this area of Sweetwater Valley. The City also is the property owner of the golf course and Rohr Park. They wear two hats. The City (land use authority) may allow elevation changes in “watercourses.” Yet, grading plans are reviewed first and a grading permit issued as outlined in their Municipal Code. How the decision was made to elevate or fill in low lying areas in this instance is unknown. Typically, this is not back of the napkin stuff given the potential liability involved.
Golf course grading looking east from Willow Street bridge | Photo credit: Karen Henry | Click on images to enlarge
I understand a municipal golf course manager’s perspective. Ponding water for any extended period within the area of play gets in the way of their mission. Fill dirt to correct a low spot is a simple solution to that problem. Their priority is to maximize play on the course and revenues for (their company and) the City.
If a private citizen did similar work with 50 cubic yards of fill on their property, that work would be considered “illegal grading” because a permit had not been issued. Yet, the City does not need to issue permits for their own work.
I am done making City inquiries. The property owners within the adjacent Bonita Verde Estates are City of Chula Vista taxpayers. They have elected representation on the City Council should the responses they get not make sense to them. They would also remember the storm water level in their neighborhood on January 22, 2024, when heavy rain locally made national news.
The City needs to tell their story. What was done and why should not be a mystery.
Footnote: The idea to use an unimproved area of Rohr Park for temporary dirt stockpiles was genius. Those dirt piles were “Adventureland” to the many small children who explored them. It was a beautiful thing to watch as their adults supervised.
Kiddos playing on the dirt piles | Photo credit: Karen Henry | Click on images to enlarge
By Karen Henry, P.E. | April 7, 2028
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