A Brief History of the Shalimar Association

 

The Shalimar Association began in 1978. At that time the owners of the golf course sold Shalimar Golf course to a Canadian Developer. This developer immediately sold the furniture and equipment of the course, and stopped watering it. This was especially bad because it was in the summer, one of the hottest summers on record. They made known their intention to go to the City of Tempe and get the zoning changed for residential development.

We held our first meetings on the course, standing out in the heat of the summer. The Shalimar Association organization was formed around one issue: to enforce the covenant that came with owning property in this neighborhood. This covenant says that the golf course must remain a golf course.

Those of us who lived on the course during that summer of ‘79 began watering the areas behind our homes. The board members of the Shalimar Association began a campaign to restore the watering and care of the property. But, more importantly they began their legal battle to challenge the intentions of the Canadian developers, and to enforce the deed restrictions on Shalimar Golf Course.

At this time, remember, that this neighborhood was only 18 years old. The original deed was recorded in 1960. The real estate agents selling home sites used the golf course to obtain very lucrative prices for the home sites here. This selling feature has been used in the resale of these existing homes. The people that lived here from the beginning enjoyed a pool up at the clubhouse, which had been filled in many years ago. They also had the opportunity to drive their golf carts from their back yards, right on to the course. Frequent walks on the golf course were encouraged, and the residents here did so often. The residents on the golf course had responsibilities as well. Some of these responsibilities had to do with the type of fences on the golf course, keeping the yards landscaped and not hanging laundry out to dry.

Original owners of property on Shalimar Golf Course paid yearly memberships, and contributed to the building of the restaurant and clubhouse. The Friday night fish fry, holiday brunches, and other community events were highlights for the community.

The activities of the Shalimar Association were centered on insuring that Shalimar Golf course remain a golf course.
This required a legal challenge, which would take them all the way to a court of appeals. The first ruling occurred in early 1980 and supported the claims of the Shalimar Association. The Canadian developers challenged this ruling, and appealed the decision. We also had a showdown in the chambers of the City of Tempe.

The Shalimar Association was victorious in its legal activities, and political strategies. The court of appeals upheld the decision that the court provided in the earlier case. Shalimar Golf Course will remain a golf course until 2025. In the mean time, the years between 1980 and 1984, the golf course was restored, watered, and enjoyed a lot of play. The Shalimar Association then contemplated buying the golf course. Their workload, including raising $80,000 was exhausting, but they pushed on.
One of the members of the board of directors acting on behalf of the Shalimar Association traveled to go to Canada to make an offer to the Canadian developer to by the course. However, something very different happened. The volunteer from the board of directors bought the course for himself.

There was a very mixed reaction to this event. Some felt betrayed, and some were relieved. The new owner of the golf course promised the members of the Shalimar Association and various neighbors who still live here that they would uphold the values of the Association, and the court decision.

Remember too, that during the years of the appeal activities, the Shalimar Association bought property on Shalimar Golf course. This property is a 200 X 10 feet strip of land off River and Balboa where the Oleander hedge and fence are located. We know that the Shalimar Association paid the taxes on that property, and held meetings until 1996. This was the last year an Annual report was filed.

When the Shalimar Association was reactivated and reconstituted in 2006, we picked up right where the association left off. We retain original members, and we have grown in size to 277 dues paying members. Today we have regular meeting board of directors and standing action committees. Our Web site remains the best way to get up to date information. As of this date July 16, 2007, we rely on our court decision to assure us that our community will retain its central asset to the values of our homes: Shalimar Golf Course.

Nadine Campbell, 7/30/07