Another golf layout proposed

Lisa Snedeker

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 | 11:19 a.m.

It soon may be easier to get a tee time in Boulder City.

Three local businessmen want to build a community-based golf course west of Yucca Street and north of U.S. 93, near where ground is expected to be broken by the MGM Grand hotel-casino Nov. 30 for two upscale golf courses.

City Manager John Sullard said MGM Grand Inc.'s purchase of Primadonna Resorts Inc., which includes two premiere golf courses on the California-Nevada border, this week will not affect MGM's plans to build courses in Boulder City.

"Despite speculation ... they are still proceeding at full speed," he said, adding the lack of a water line has been holding up construction.

The community of 14,000 is now home to one municipal golf course.

But an ordinance introduced to the City Council on Tuesday night for a proposed lease agreement between the city and the Red Ridge Golf Co. (LLC) could change that number to four. The ordinance will be voted on Nov. 24.

The Red Ridge company was formed by Boulder City residents Dr. Doug Lee, Hugh Jefferies and Mike Giroux to build the proposed 27-hole golf course. The trio decided to build a course when the city solicited golf course proposals last spring.

If approved, the course will feature a clubhouse and driving range on approximately 240 acres, Giroux said.

Giroux said it is nearly impossible to get a tee time on the busy municipal course and speculated it would be just as difficult to get on the MGM courses once they are completed.

"We would like to have another golf course," he said.

Lee added they do not expect MGM's courses to be competitive price-wise, and they are hoping the hotel-casino's courses -- all of which tourists must drive past when heading from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam -- will lure golfers to the Red Ridge fairways.

"The MGM courses will draw interest," he said. "And we are closer to town (Boulder City)."

Zoning for the proposed Red Ridge course has been approved by the Planning Commission.

While no one spoke out Tuesday concerning the newest proposed golf course, some residents remained opposed to the MGM's lease agreement with the city for 800 acres.

Resident Tom Whelan said 750 signatures have been gathered supporting a referendum petition which would allow residents to vote on the lease agreement.

"We know we have more than enough signatures," he said.

The City Council in August unanimously approved a 40-year lease agreement for the MGM golf courses on city property northeast of the U.S. 95 and U.S. 93 intersection. The agreement states MGM will pay the city $750,000 annually for the courses, which will be designed by world-renowned Rees Jones.

"We will be handing in the referendum (petition) this week, prior to the MGM ground breaking," Whelan said.

Whelan added he and others are not opposed to the Red Ridge proposal because it is community based.

The Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains an 18-hole municipal golf course.