Rescue Reston To Battle Developers Over Hidden Creek Golf Course

RESTON, VA -- Rescue Reston's ferocious defense of Reston National Golf Course a few years ago kept developers at bay from taking a local green space and turning it into another housing complex. Now, however, they fear developers are eyeing Hidden Creek Country Club for the same fate.

Ownership of the golf course, which is located on the north side of Reston, changed on Oct. 23. In response, Rescue Reston has amended its mission statement to include defending Hidden Creek Country Club, said Connie Hartke, the president of the organization.

"Due to overwhelming requests that Rescue Reston received from citizens for advice and support, the Rescue Reston board of directors voted to extend its mission to include Reston's sister golf course, Hidden Creek, which has the identical land use designation as Reston National," according to a Dec. 5 statement. "Rescue Reston’s revised mission statement reads: Rescue Reston works to defend Reston’s recreational green space at the 159-acre North Course, Hidden Creek Country Club, and at the South Course, Reston National Golf Course, a 166-acre Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Golf Course on the Chesapeake Bay watershed."

Wheelock Communities, which owns properties across the East Coast in in Texas, purchased the club and will invest $300,000 in upgrades, with Fore Golf remaining as manager of the property. However, Wheelock reserves the right to redesignate the property for "new housing choices" at some point in the future, according to a statement released in October.

"Over the next few years, Wheelock will be working in partnership with the club members and the Reston community to explore potential changes to the property that could provide the Reston community with additional public amenities, environmental benefits and new housing choices," the statement notes.

Developers are keen on snatching up golf courses in Reston. Local activists beat back an attempt to redevelop Reston National Golf Course in an expensive legal battle a couple years ago, and the golf course is once again being eyed for development despite protests from Restonians.

Image via Hidden Creek Country Club