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It took 12 years of legal battles for White Horse Golf Course property owner Bill Screen to be able to begin development on the 456-acre golf course and housing development. Construction on the 18-hole course, which was designed by Cynthia Dye McCarey, a member of the well-known Dye family of golf architects and developers, finally began in September 2003. But weather and other setbacks in 2004 pushed the course’s opening date from May 2005 to June 2006 — and this year’s wet winter weather has forced the opening back even farther.
“We’re going to miss that date by a month or two,” said Screen, who is still hopeful that the course will be ready for play by the end of the summer.
There’s just one final element missing from White Horse: grass.
“We’re grassing now,” said Screen.
Once the property has been fully seeded, it’s just a matter of waiting until the grass is mature, and weather plays a big part in that. Screen expects to have a better idea of when the course will be ready by June.
Meanwhile, phase one of the course’s neighboring housing development is steaming ahead, with 60 of the 65 phase one lots sold. Screen reported that 25 houses are currently under construction and several of finished houses have been sold.
“We have people living there now,” he said.
Around 60 percent of the houses being built are custom homes for buyers and the rest of being built on spec by what Screen referred to as “preferred builders.” The development will also include a clubhouse, a 15-room executive inn, a restaurant and banquet facilities. A sales center is available on site at the development’s South Kingston Road location for individuals interested in more information.
Despite the long delays in the project, Screen is pleased with the positive reaction they’ve been getting from professional golfers who’ve visited White Horse and happy that the course’s completion is in sight.
“The exciting thing for us is we’re actually mowing grass on the golf course,” he said. | 
