Goat Hill has new life and bracelets play a small part!

Now flash forward 30 years to Goat Hill, the 76-acre Center City Golf Course is just east of Interstate 5 and north of Oceanside Boulevard. One of the county’s oldest courses, Goat Hill has been losing money for years and the city had been looking for alternate uses for the property.

Goat Hill Partners, headed by John Ashworth presented a detailed proposal to restore the golf course with renowned golf architect Tom Doak (Pacific Dunes), rebuild the club house, create a botanical garden and start a community farm. Ashworth had been working with the city for more than a year and thought a deal was near until the city switched directions. Days before the lease signing the Oceanside City Council decides to put the deal with John on hold for 90 days without explanation. For months the Goat Hill Gang was left in the dark until they find out that a developer from Utah has presented a last minute proposal to build a soccer academy, soccer fields, and a hotel…turning the course into a nine hole “kid’s course”.

This is when Ashworth rallied the troops and our paths crossed once again when IonLoop contributed hundreds of an exclusive Goat Hill logo Jet Black negative ion + magnet silicone bracelets to remind fellow golfers what was at stake. Hundreds of people showed up for a 5 hour public hearing that tabled the soccer development and gave Ashworth the green light to proceed to the next phase. “Over 40 people spoke in favor of The Goat, all from the heart, it blew the council away” said Ashworth.

Golf has been good to IonLoop over the years and this was an opportunity for IonLoop to give something back. When you travel up I-5 near Oceanside keep an eye out on the right and you may spot Goat Hill. I might suggest that once John finishes up with his latest dream pull off the Interstate and play a few holes at The Goat, I am sure it will be well worth it.

Bob Gotfredson
Co-Founder
IonLoop