The City Council of Missouri City awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the El Dorado Golf Course to Heritage Links of Houston, a division of Lexicon, Inc., at the Council’s annual retreat on Jan. 23.

The formal groundbreaking ceremony for the El Dorado Course will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30 at the Quail Valley Golf Course, 2880 La Quinta Dr.

El Dorado is one of two 18-hole golf courses that comprise the Quail Valley Golf Course, which the City acquired in June 2008. The property’s other golf course, the La Quinta, reopened on July 4, 2008.

With the awarding of this construction contract, El Dorado will be rebuilt and is planned to reopen in late 2009.

“We are privileged to be working with Heritage Links, a premiere golf course construction firm, to make El Dorado a world-class course,” said Dave Elmendorf, General Manager for the Quail Valley Golf Course. “With this renovation and a design by renowned course architect Jeffrey D. Blume, Missouri City is furthering its mission to make this course a featured destination not only for our residents, but for the region and beyond.”

With a project construction budget of $5.5 million, the endeavor will include the renovation of the El Dorado course, as well as the replacement of the irrigation systems for both the La Quinta and the El Dorado courses.

The project is set to include: the demolition and replacement of 5.1 miles of cart path; re-sculpting of the El Dorado course; and electrical power supply and drainage improvements to the property.

Heritage Links is recognized as a certified builder by the Golf Course Builders Association of America. The construction firm has built projects in Mexico, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the United States, including Chambers Bay, a Washington golf course that was named the No. 1 Best New Public Golf Course by Golf Magazine in January 2009 and is the destination for the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2015 U.S. Open. The firm’s recent projects are: The Farm in Lafayette, La., and Grand Pines Golf Club at Bentwater and Golfcrest in Pearland.

The Quail Valley Golf Course, established in 1970, is located in the geographic center of Missouri City and is best known for hosting the 1973 and 1974 Shell Houston Open.

On Nov. 4, 2008, 72 percent of Missouri City voters approved a $17.5 million bond referendum for the Quail Valley parks project. The City envisions creating a new community center, green space improvements and other fitness opportunities on the 400-acre property, renovation of the El Dorado course and the replacement of the irrigation system on all 36 holes.

For more information on the Quail Valley Golf Course, visit www.golfquailvalley.com or www.missouricitytx.gov.