Newport Beach Mayor Diane Dixon and Orange County Board of Supervisors chair Michelle Steel were two of four women honored at Newport Beach Golf Course for their support in the course renovation and preservation for open space.
A plaque was presented and will be mounted at the course in recognition of Dixon, Steel, former co-owner Beth Lane and civic leader Colleen Johns, the inspiration behind the formulation of a group of investors to buy the facility and renovate it.
Golfers are coming to the facility and the course is thriving for the first time in years, but the new ownership group, which has been there for about 15 months, is interested in the long-term responsibility of keeping open space in the county owned back nine of the course, which is closest to John Wayne Airport.
“We are interested in economic development and open space rather than an airport (on the back nine),” said Dixon during a luncheon at the course that included organizer Buck Johns. “You have the full support of the city of Newport Beach here, and, Buck, I want to thank you for protecting our community in this unique project.”
In addition to advocating for the golf course and Newport Beach open space, Steel said that she “admired (golf course ownership) for bringing a lot of business to Orange County.”
Since the new ownership group took over, the 18-hole executive golf course has undergone a major overhaul that includes a new driving range with synthetic turf.
