Newport Beach Wave Pool Unanimously Approved by City Council

During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 28th, Newport Beach officials gave the greenlight for Snug Harbor Surf Park to move forward.

The wave pool project, which has received criticism specifically from the local golfing community as the development will replace three holes and a driving range at the Newport Beach Golf Course, was approved in a 6-0 decision.

And that means, Snug Harbor is sanctioned to begin construction.

For specifics on the pool, founder of Snug Harbor Adam Cleary had previously detailed:

“It’s going to be the biggest one [Wavegarden Cove] in the world. I was on a call with the Wavegarden guys. [The standard] is a 62-module. The more modules you have, the longer the wave. And the biggest is 62. They’re like, ‘how many do you want?’ I’m like, ‘66.’ And they go, ‘why do you want 66? Why not 62?’”

To which, Cleary responded:

“Because we’re American, and we want the biggest and best. They started laughing. We wanna say we are the ‘largest Wavegarden in the world.’”

In the leadup to the City Council’s decision, as mentioned, there was backlash from local golfers. However, the lease has run out for the course, and new options are being explored. Per the plans, then Snug Harbor construction “would remove all existing improvements on the Project site including the driving range, pro shop, restaurant and bar, and three holes of golf, and redevelop the site with a 5.06-acre surf lagoon that would provide four distinct surf areas for both experienced and beginner surfers.”

But it appears that golfers and surfers will have to learn to co-exist. During the City Council hearing, Mayor Joe Stapleton said: “I also think we can protect the charm, scale and coastal characteristics that make us Newport Beach and why we are such a unique city. I’m very proud of the fact we will continue to have golf on this course… I think this project strikes a balance.”

Details on when the pool will begin construction, and when it will open, have yet to be disclosed. However, the project is expected to take 18 months to complete.