Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: Land mineral rights.

If you obtain the mineral rights by way of a deed, you can retain the rights when you sell the property by not including the mineral rights in the deed and specifically reserving them.

Re: Land mineral rights.

As to the first part of your question, the existence of a separately-owned mineral estate may have little or no effect or importance, or a great deal of importance, depending upon whether this is an area where mineral (or oil and gas) development is likely or unlikely (i.e. are minerals likely to be present) and the type of development planned. 99% of the time it's no problem, however the owner of the mineral rights has an implied right to use the surface of the land for access for extraction purposes. So, there is a very remote possibility you might end up with an ore haul road through the middle of your golf course!

As to removal of dormant mineral rights, see sections 883.110 through 883.260 of the Civil Code (on line or at a library) for provisions of law covering actions to terminate dormant mineral rights, esp. 883.210.