Renovation of the Vail Golf and Nordic Clubhouse subject of July 20 open house

An update on plans for renovation of the Vail Golf and Nordic Clubhouse will be presented during a second community open house on Monday, July 20.

The gathering follows an earlier session held in June and begins at 5 p.m. at the clubhouse with a short presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m. Neighbors, golfers, Nordic skiers and other current and future users of the clubhouse are encouraged to attend. Light appetizers will be provided by the Grill on the Gore.

Hosted by representatives from the Town of Vail and the Vail Recreation District, the open house will include the latest information on the upcoming construction schedule. Continuity of current golf and Nordic operations is a top priority for the project. Construction is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 and will take from 10 to 12 months to complete. The driving range will remain open until the week of Sept. 28. During construction, the clubhouse functions will be relocated to temporary facilities. Food and beverage service will be available through the starter shack and beverage cart for the 2016 season.

Also during the open house, an update on questions and design suggestions collected from those attending the June 29 session will be addressed by members of the project team. Suggestions included improving the view and layout of the outdoor patio that will serve the public grill, plus more details on the public parking plan.

Designed by Zehren and Associates, building upgrades include: an enhanced sense of arrival with dedicated golf/Nordic and community space entrances designed to showcase Gore Range views; expanded pro shop retail space; public grill; and a new 160-person community/banquet space separate from the grill. The plans have met all town development review approvals.

A lawsuit challenging uses on the property has been appealed by eight neighborhood plaintiffs after a district court judge ruled in favor of the Town of Vail and Vail Recreation District. If the lower court ruling is overturned, it is unlikely any design changes would be required as the facility has been appropriately scaled for clubhouse uses.

The renovation is being funded with a portion of the conference center fund ballot initiative which was approved by voters in 2011.

The contractor is Evans Chaffee Construction Group. The town will be facilitating weekly construction update meetings for interested community members and others impacted by the project beginning the first week in September. Leonard Sandoval, the town’s construction coordinator, will serve as the point of contact. Updates on golf and Nordic operations and related progress reports will be provided regularly by the Town of Vail and Vail Recreation District.