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Land-use planning consultant Mike Evans believes the University of Oregon’s athletics department does not quite have all of its ducks in a row.

Evans specifically cited the golf program, which must use a local course rather than its own 鈥� an uncommon arrangement for a Division I school, he said.

But a group of Duck alums, including golf course developer and former UO golfer Mick Humphreys, is proposing to build a $25 million to $30 million course for UO teams.

鈥淯O is behind the game when it comes to golf,鈥� said Evans, who was hired by the group to help lead the project through Lane County’s permitting system. 鈥淢ost of the other universities do in fact have their own courses or buy significant time from the better courses around.鈥�

The proposed course, planned for 800 acres of ranchland west of Creswell, would be 18 holes and around 7,200 yards long. It would be a 鈥渟emi-private鈥� course, with priority for the school’s teams but availability for alumni. It would not be open to the public.

The course would be owned by either a limited liability company managed by the developers or the nonprofit UO Foundation.

The project is still in the permitting stage, so not much is known about the design. However, according to a preliminary sketch, it would include a large clubhouse and multiple water features.

Humphreys is known for developing elaborate, high-end courses that blend dramatic water features with indigenous landscaping. This course may not be as luxurious, but it will need to meet a certain standard, Evans said.

鈥淚t needs to be similar to other courses that (the players) are going to want to play on,鈥� he said.

A $30 million cost is higher than average for a golf course, but the money would also be used to purchase 500 additional acres to protect the course and its surrounding environment, Evans said.

Paula Grisafi, a molecular biology research assistant at UO, believes the project will harm the environment. She has filed an appeal with Lane County, which has put the project on hold. She believes the amount of pesticides that will be used on the course will hurt surrounding wildlife and nearby residents.

鈥淭hey go not only for making a golf course playable, but basically they want it to look perfect 鈥� not a blade of grass turns yellow,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese pesticides (get) into the groundwater and get caught in the wind. A lot of this is not going to stay on the course.鈥�

A study published in 2004 by the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health stated that a link exists between the use of certain pesticides on golf courses and cancer in humans and wildlife. Other studies have stated that pesticides do not present risks for golfers and course employees.

The project’s developers have agreed to enroll in an Audubon International certification program that rewards golf courses that promote ecologically sound land management.

But Grisafi is suspicious because the program is ran in conjunction with the United States Golf Association.

鈥淵ou basically send (Audubon International) 200 bucks, and they send you a pamphlet and a self-reporting application,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here’s no real enforcement, and it’s basically a political cover for golf courses as far as I can tell.鈥�

Organic chemicals should be used instead, Grisafi said. But that can be more costly and greatly hinder the quality of a course, Evans said.

鈥淭here have been attempts for courses to go entirely pesticide free, but they tend to sacrifice playability,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he golf courses look pretty rough after a while, because they’re not able to treat for different diseases and different insects.鈥�

A Lane County hearings official has given the developers and Evans two weeks to submit additional project information and a week thereafter for Grisafi to respond. Then the official will make a decision; a ruling is expected in December.

The developers will not succumb to Grisafi’s requests, Evans said.

鈥淪he wants the golf course to be entirely pesticide free,鈥� he said. 鈥溾�� in order to maintain a high-end golf course, the common knowledge in the industry is that you have to use some pesticides in certain circumstances,鈥� he said.