Residents urge council to keep Ridge and Stonebridge golf courses, warn about effect on seniors

Dozens of residents used public comment at the Dec. 9 West Valley City Council meeting to press the council on the future of the city’s golf courses and the players pass program.

Speakers including longtime residents and veterans told the council they rely on the Ridge and Stonebridge golf courses for recreation, community fundraising and social connection. Tim Flink said preserving the players pass — even at a higher price — would be preferable to eliminating it, describing the pass as vital to the health and mobility of senior patrons. Multiple speakers asked for clarity on whether any sale would go to a public vote and questioned city communications about land surveys and public outreach.

One commenter — recorded in the transcript as "Dead Dangerfield" — said online petitions and public outreach have shown overwhelming opposition to selling Ridge and asked the council for the promised land‑survey results. Other speakers said the courses raise funds for veterans causes and community programs and asked council to consider those non‑monetary benefits before acting.

Commenters also expressed concerns about staff and course employees who face months of uncertainty over job status and pass programs; one speaker asked the council to provide a clear public timetable. A separate strand of public comment addressed immigration enforcement and city interactions with ICE, with Rich Bodwin urging the city to cooperate closely with federal authorities on removal of individuals he described as undocumented criminals; Crystal Fugle, another resident, urged the city to keep ICE enforcement out of the city and described a family experience with immigration enforcement.

Council did not make a decision on golf‑course disposition at the meeting and did not announce any binding timetable for next steps; several speakers urged the council to publicly release survey results and make a clear decision so employees and patrons have certainty.