For 40 years, my husband, Dick, and I have poured our hearts, souls and every penny we had into Shalimar Golf Course. We didn’t just run it — we lived it.
Every Christmas our family opened the course so our employees could spend the day with their families. Every repair was paid out of our retirement savings. Every early morning and late night we made sure this place stayed alive for a community we deeply love.
But today, at 88 years old, I need to speak some hard truths.
The same neighbors who are now crying out to “Save Shalimar” are the ones who never supported us when it mattered most. Out of all the homes surrounding our course, only six or eight families actually play golf here regularly. I’ve watched people bring their own drinks in Yeti cups rather than buy a simple coffee or glass of wine from our clubhouse. Now these same individuals are fighting to “preserve” something they never truly valued.
Let me be clear: Dick and I didn’t just maintain Shalimar — we saved it. Back in 1984, the previous owners wanted to develop the course into residential housing, we joined the other neighbors to fight the development. When the owners wanted to sell the course, we couldn’t get anyone to invest with us. We bought Shalimar and we’ve been investing ever since.
Plumbing repairs, electrical repairs, a new pump, a new roof and repairs to our mowers and truck — all have depleted our retirement funds. We’ve cashed in our life insurance. We’ve sacrificed everything to keep this course running, often at a loss.
During the recession of the ’90s, we lost Shalimar to the RTC along with other holdings. Dick went to California and convinced the new owner to sell Shalimar back to us. Once again, we saved Shalimar.
The reality is that nine-hole golf courses aren’t viable anymore. Every expert will tell you the same thing. The East Valley’s explosion of golf courses and the rise of casinos hit us hard. We tried everything to keep Shalimar thriving — sending flyers, knocking on doors, bringing in live music. Nothing worked.
Now, at this stage of our lives, we’ve found partners in Cachet Homes and BB Living who understand Tempe’s needs. Their plan will bring 277 new families to our community, generating about $1.3 million annually in property taxes compared to our current $3,800. It will provide approximately $800,000 yearly for our schools which are facing declining enrollment. The development preserves 25% of the property as open space, which would be privately maintained by the developers but available to residents of Tempe.
This isn't about golf — it never was. When the city surveyed residents about Shalimar’s future, barely anyone mentioned golf. They talked about open space, but many also warned against adding more unused space that could become unsafe.
Tempe needs housing. It’s in the General Plan approved by Tempe voters. This plan shows Shalimar as residential. The plan also calls for no more than nine units per acre. This development is coming in at only six units per acre and checks every box for our city’s needs. We’re not just selling land — we’re creating opportunities for new families, supporting our schools and strengthening our tax base.
For those claiming to want to save Shalimar, I have one question: Where were you for the past 40 years? Where were you when we were repairing broken pipes, keeping the course green within the new water restrictions and sacrificing our financial security to keep this place running? I should mention that the new development, when fully occupied, will use less water than watering Shalimar Golf Course.
Dick and I love Tempe. We’ve given this city our best years, from helping start Tempe Sister Cities which now has 11 sister cities around the globe and has won national awards for “Best in America” eight times. It was Dick’s idea to start the annual Oktoberfest which supports the TSC Student Exchange Program. Well over 1,000 Tempe high school students and families have participated in this program over the years. In addition, Sister Cities International will hold its annual conference next October in Tempe, bringing more dollars to Tempe’s tax base and introducing our wonderful city to hundreds of new visitors.
Now, in our final years, Dick and I are trying to do what’s right one last time. This isn’t just about us anymore — it’s also about Tempe’s future. The city we love deserves better than empty promises from people protecting their backyard views. It deserves real solutions, new families, stronger schools and a sustainable future. That’s what this development offers, and that’s what Dick and I stand behind.
Editor’s note: Jane Neuheisel is owner of Shalimar Golf Course. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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