Sierra Club, Climate Action Campaign, and Hotel Workers’ Union Call on Escondido City Council to replace JC Resorts as Golf Course Operator and Consider Alternative Uses for the Site

PRESS ADVISORY: 1/25/2022
PRESS CONTACT: Jordan Fein
[email protected]
312-576-5048

Reidy Creek Golf Course in Escondido has presented challenges for taxpayers, and presents opportunity for housing and open space in order to save water and natural resources used to maintain the course.

Escondido, CA – On Wednesday, January 26, the City of Escondido will consider a request for proposals for the management of Reidy Creek Golf Course and Concessions. The City’s ten-year contract with JC Resorts expires on June 30, 2022.

A coalition of hotel workers’ union locals and environmental groups are calling on the City to replace current Reidy Creek operator, JC Resorts, and reconsider the use of the site as a golf course altogether. 

The course has presented challenges for Escondido taxpayers. The San Diego Union-Tribune called the course a “municipal money pit” in October 2018. Since 2018, Escondido taxpayers have continued to subsidize the Reidy Creek course.  

The coalition is urging the City to consider alternative uses for the site, such as housing and open space. The average 18-hole golf course reportedly uses almost 90 million gallons of water per year. As referenced in the San Diego Climate Action Campaign’s “Solving Sprawl” report, repurposing municipal golf courses like Reidy Creek into open space and other uses would save water and natural resources used to maintain the course.  

The organizations will deliver public comment during Wednesday night’s council meeting and continue to push for an alternative vision for Reidy Creek as the contract expiration date nears.