Cabinet View back nine evolving

Development of the back nine at Cabinet View Country Club is continuing with seven of the nine greens distinguishable, said Wayne Haines of the CVCC board of directors on Wednesday at the monthly luncheon of the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce.

Work on phase one of the development has been completed and phase two is ongoing, which includes installation of the irrigation system, Haines said. The greens have been roughed in and shaped and two ponds dug out, which will provide water to the irrigation system.

"We're fortunate to have Tim Furness constructing the back nine," Haines said. "He did everything possible to get this bid to work on the course because he dad lived in the Yaak."

Haines said Furness has been recognized one of the top golf course contractors in the country and has won national awards.

There is an outside chance of grass being planted on the fairways and greens this fall with the back nine opening for play in fall 2006. It is more likely that the 18 holes would be available for play in spring 2007, he said.

The back nine greens are a "little bigger than the greens on the present course," Haines continued. He said eventually the nine greens on the original golf course will be reconstructed to match the back nine.

"The land for the back nine is so much better than the present course and lots of golf courses in this area because of the contours," said Haines, explaining that on one fairway the green will sit 35 feet higher. "It will be very unique and we're going to find an awful lot of people coming to Libby to play this nine."

He said a recent study of out-of-town golfers coming through Whitefish shows they are are coming from idaho and Washington, Haines said. "They will come through Libby."

The overall back-nine construction is a $1.5 million project to be constructed in five phases, including a subdivision of 115 lots.

"The project is going very well, at least the physical part of it," Haines said. "We're within $50,000 of of the original estimate thus far with some unexpected costs such as the need for a three-phase power, which will cost about $27,000."

Final plat approval for the subdivision is nearing approval and three corporations have expressed interest in developing the subdivision portion of the plan, he said. The lots will be 8,000 to 10,000 square feet.

"Nobody has put money of the table yet," Haines said.

Cost of the lots is unknow at this time but a building lot across the street fromthe golf course recently sold for $80,000.

The subdivision development is contingent on extending city sewer lines up Bowen Hill from the Johnson acres.

The CVCC board of directors, all volunteers, borrowed the $1.5 million from the Libby Area Development Company's $8 million fund as a no-interest loan to be paid back when the golf course begins selling lots.