I'm not a golfer, so I didn't realize the Rock Creek Golf Course was not open to the public. I was surpised to read the headline in today's Argus that Rock Creek neighbors are upset over possible plans to close it.

The course is owned by U.S. Golf Courses of Oregon LLC. The company has asked the Washington County commissioners to remove "open space" designation from the course.  If this designation is removed, the property can be built upon. However, under the county's code, "open space" can only be changed if it mistakenly labeled.

The owners say the golf course is losing money and isn't open to the public. Therefore, the designatin should be removed. Local homeowners suspect the course's ownership is driving business down on purpose by increasing rates and pushing members out.

Four hundred residents attended a meeting held at Lenox Creek Elementary to voice their concerns, one of which is diminished property values for homes between 185th and Cornelius Pass Rd. The golf course property also contains Bethany Lake and  and a creek.

There are more details. Check the OregonLive link tomorrow, 9/20, when the 9/19 feed will (presumably) come in (I say presumably because the Argus is not really fast at updating its RSS feeds).