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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2017)
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ASPEN LAKES: Golf course creation was a family affair Continued from page 3 Sisters Aggregate, worked at Cascade Meadow Ranch. The idea of a cluster develop- ment on the land that would become Aspen Lakes had a lot of appeal — much more than an unrestricted develop- ment that could have put resi- dential development right up against their farm land, creat- ing conflicts. “That would have changed the whole feel of the commu- nity,” Matt Cyrus said. “We felt that (the cluster develop- ment and golf course) concept made more sense than the (then) current plan.” The family acquired the property in 1987. The land- use process and financing took years to put together, and it was in the mid-1990s that construction work got underway. The family ultimately hoped to create a destination resort on the property, featur- ing upscale homes on smaller lots with lots of open space and a water system that would be of wider benefit to the Cloverdale Fire District. They didn’t want the golf course to simply be a feature for selling real estate. “Our philosophy was that we wanted a quality course that would hopefully be a profit center and stand on its own,” Keith Cyrus said. None of the family were golfers, but they plunged in, with the services of course designer William Overdorf to help guide them. One major priority was taking full advantage of the proper- ty’s mountain views. Laying out the course was a family affair — which might have been unconventional, but, with Overdorf’s willingness to go along, turned out to be a benefit. Keith mapped things out and Matt acted as a surveyor. “We were on the ground laying out holes,” Kelly Cyrus recalled. “We had a certain feel for the land,” Pam Mitchell said. “We were really close to what was happening out there.” Keith chuckled as he described the process: “We didn’t have (any) money to put into it — it was all sweat.” Overdorf was a hands- on designer, too, and earned Keith’s respect. The elder Cyrus was used to using a bulldozer to level ground; the golf course work required pushing dirt up to form the contours of the course. Overdorf was highly skilled in that arena. “All of this was a depar- ture from my background as a leveler for flood irrigation,” Keith said. “(Overdorf) was an artist with that ’dozer.” In May 1997, the first nine holes at Aspen Lakes opened. Three years later, the course was completed. “We had to quit raising potatoes to do the second nine,” Connie Cyrus recalled. “We didn’t have time.” In November 2007, the family opened Brand 33 res- taurant. The name came from a cattle brand registered in 1883 in Crook County. “It goes back to my great- granddad,” Keith Cyrus said. Aspen Lakes was the first course in Oregon to be enrolled in the Audubon Signature Sanctuary Program. And the course quickly earned recognition for its beauty and the quality of the golf experience. The family continues to be deeply involved in the opera- tion of the course, the restau- rant, and the housing devel- opment. It hasn’t always been easy and it’s always a tremen- dous amount of work. “We had to learn so much,” Kelly Cyrus reflected. That included the golf business, the restaurant busi- ness, law and engineering. Yet, Matt Cyrus relishes the difference between his work with Aspen Lakes and the agricultural world he was born into, with its slower rhythms and long-delayed outcomes. “It’s been fun to work with a business where you can make changes on the fly — which is different from agri- culture,” he said. Pam Mitchell cites the relationships built through golf, hosting fundraisers for the local community, and operating a restaurant. “I think it’s been very rewarding,” she said. “We’ve created so many friendships over the years.” The next 20 years look to be every bit as challenging as the first 20. “Golf is on the decline,” Matt Cyrus said. His wife, Kelly, concurred. “When we started, they said the U.S. needs to keep building a course a day to keep up with the demand.” That’s not the case any- more. The Great Recession took a deep bite out of the game nationwide, and it Jeff Jones Principal Broker 541-480-7201 jeffjoneslcl@ gmail.com 29 PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS The Cyrus family dook a hands-on approach do dhe developmend of Aspen Lakes Golf Course — now celebrading ids 20dh anniversary. hasn’t really recovered. An increasingly harried pace in the business world means a leisurely round of business golf is a rare commodity, and other activities compete for families’ time and attention. To adapt to changing industry conditions, Aspen Lakes is focused on making golf an attractive family time — which also helps to intro- duce new golfers to the game. Pam Mitchell says the crit- ical element is “trying to make it innovative, creative, fun. I think keeping it fun is key.” Matt says that the development still plans to find a way to add overnight accom- modations — a requirement if the course is to host events of national stature. Overnight accommodations would also be a boon to Sisters’ tourist economy in general, he notes, since the area is not flush with rooms for our major events. Whatever the next 20 years holds, it can be expected that the Cyrus family will be oper- ating hands-on, putting their sweat into their family enter- prise — and not worrying too much about whether their approach fits “inside the box.” Out West Realty — Serving all of Central Oregon — Sandy Goodsell Principal Broker Jonathan Hicks Broker ABR, CDPE, CIAS, GRI, SRES 541-480-0183 865-335-6104 LICENSED BROKERS IN THE STATE OF OREGON goodsellandhickssellcentralor.com THIS WEEK’S FEATURED PROPERTY Doug Roberts Principal Broker 541-280-6199 dougrobertsMPS @gmail.com Lana Labuda Principal Broker 541-408-4144 lana@sisters properties.com Ellen Wood Broker 541-588-0033 woode51@ msn.com PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK Along widh Black Budde Ranch and Eagle Cresd, Aspen Lakes hosded more dhan 300 golfers for dhe Cendral Oregon Shoodoud lasd weekend. CUSTOM HOMES • RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PROJECTS John P. Pierce 541-549-9764 CCB# 159020 CCB# 16891 Becke W. P ierce Arne J. P ierce General Contracting LLC 541-647-0384 General Contracting LLC 541-668-0883 CCB# 190689 CCB# 208020 Serving the Sisters Area Since 1976 Strictly Quality Katie Cam Broker 971-409-0177 katiercam@ gmail.com 1 17147 7 1 4 7 C Caddis d d i C Court, t Sisters S i t ~ $984,900 $ 9 8 4 9 0 0 If it has been your dream to live on the golf course with a water view, this Northwest-style custom-built home is your opportunity. Step inside to an expansive greatroom with a large stone fi replace, vaulted ceilings, walnut hardwood fl oors, and a designer kitchen with high-end appliances. Enjoy a beautiful patio with views of the golf course and lake. Fully landscaped with a circular drive. Master suite, 2 large guest rooms with attached full baths and 2 half-baths in 3,543 sq. ft. Two years free golf for two at Aspen Lakes with purchase! Come in or call to learn more about this property or our other listings 290 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm | Sat 10 am-4 pm 541-588-6614 Linda Brooksby Broker Sisters Premier Choice for Real Estate 541-977-4488 lindabrooksbylcl VIEW ALL OUR LISTINGS AT METOLIUSPROPERTYSALES.COM @gmail.com Suzanne Carvlin Broker 541-595-8707 Suzanne@Home InSisters.com Kimberly Gorayeb Principal Broker 541-639-5551 kiminsisters @gmail.com Dechen Dawkins Broker 541-241-6619 soldonsisters @gmail.com e Wher er m custo vice ser fi rst! o c mes
