Fore.

And residents - looking to maintain a viable course while settling the $7 million debt - are desperately trying to dodge recent city proposals that seem destined to hit somebody where it hurts.

On one side: homeowners who fear the holes they paid a premium to be next to on the east bench will be replaced with developments.

On the other: those who cringe at the prospect of paying an additional $15 a month - on a $230,000 home - in city property taxes come November if the city retains the course.

After witnessing some spiteful comments between the groups at a public hearing Wednesday night, Mayor Mike McGee said he was tired.

"I've done what I thought was my level best to deflect any divisions," he said. "It doesn't serve any purpose."

Currently, the city owns the 3-year-old course and uses its water hazards as reservoirs. But the debt service averages $384,000 a year and annual operating losses have hit five figures.

Prospective buyers have offered to buy the course. In fact, McGee said the city could sell it any day and pay off the debt.

But the bidders all want to develop the area, he said, and the already-booming bedroom community is determined to keep the open space.

Some offers have been too low, not even coming close to paying off the debt, said Councilman Jim Perry.

A reprieve may come from H.R. Brown, a Cedar Hills resident who owns a drug-and-alcohol treatment program. He also represents the Cedars West Homeowners Association Golf Course Committee and is an alternate on the city's Planning Commission.

In dramatic fashion, Brown offered at the end the hearing to buy the course and promised to keep the holes on the east bench intact.

"I don't want to buy the course so I can go make 20 million bucks on the east bench," Brown said. "I want to buy the course because I think it's a good course, I think it's a great property, and I think there's a lot of good people in this tri-city area that will support it with a restaurant."

McGee said the two have talked before about a possible deal.

"Sure, we can talk. The ball's really in his wagon," he said. "He's made a public offer; we'll see if he really is going to [follow through]."

tpeterson@sltrib.com