Letter: Where’s the low-cost golf?

Friday, Jan. 29, 1999 | 11:43 a.m.

Dean Juipe wrote a great article regarding the city "giving away" the Royal Links golf course land to Billy Walters. I am a fellow golfer and participate in the local amateur tournaments. The term "affordable golf" certainly does not apply to the Las Vegas area and I do not see anyone doing anything about it. I have a couple of questions that I would like to get a straight answer to from anyone within the city government.

1. The price tag of $894,000 for 160 acres comes out to $5,150 per acre. Where in Las Vegas can you get a deal like this on the open market?

2. Can anyone on the City Council explain how this deal was in the best interests of the city? We just lost an important income source for 43 years that was virtually maintenence-free.

3. The population for the Las Vegas area is projected to be 2 million by the year 2010. Where are these people going to play an affordable round of golf?

4. We currently have 30 million visitors per year. Many of these play golf also. So where are they going to play?

5. The areas around Phoenix, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Portland, Los Angeles, Tucson and many others around the West/Southwest seem to be able to run efficient and affordable municipal courses. Why can't Las Vegas?

I am trying not to sound bitter. But it seems obvious that golf is not a high priority to the city government. I have pretty much given up on playing and it's too bad. I used to play to a pretty low handicap. But if I play once every two months, I feel lucky.

I am all for public/private partnerships but only if everyone benefits.

The only way to fix this problem is by facing it, identifying the problems and implementing solutions.

STEVE SPENCER