| Irvine Golf Courses |
 Irvine is Southern California's largest and best-known planned community. Now a city of over 150,000 people, its housing "villages" and business developments were sculpted from portions of the huge Irvine Ranch, purchased by James Irvine in 1864. Cattle and sheep once grazed the flat valley, but James Irvine began switching from ranching to farming in the late 1800s.The ranch became a leading producer of barley and lima beans, but other crops, such as asparagus, avocados, strawberries and orange trees, also flourished. Irvine's growth as a residential and employment area was spurred by the decision to build a local University of California campus. In 1960, The Irvine Co. donated 1,000 acres and sold 500 acres to the university system for the new campus. In 1970, the company announced an ambitious plan to turn 43 square miles of undeveloped land into a master-planned community. Rows of houses rapidly began replacing rows of crops. From 1970 to 1980, Irvine was California's fastest growing city.Threatened with possible annexations by other cities, Irvine incorporated in 1971. Irvine officials tout it as a progressive, trend setting city that delivers a high level of services to its residents. It is famed for its highly regulated residential neighborhoods.
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In the heart of Irvine is