Columnist Victoria Sun: Sale could jeopardize D.I. course

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, April 26, 2000 | 9:47 a.m.

Victoria Sun is a Las Vegas Sun sports writer. Her golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at victoria@lasvegassun.com or 259-4078.

Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio once played there.

So have recently retired NBA star Charles Barkley and former NBA great Julius Erving.

Past presidents, foreign dignitaries, sports heroes and some of Hollywood's finest all have made the trek to play the Desert Inn's fabled par-72, 7,193-yard golf course situated right on the Las Vegas Strip.

For 48 years the course has been an institution, as Las Vegas as Wayne Newton.

Since it opened on Oct. 15, 1952, it has held 54 professional tournaments, playing host to the PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. And from 1991-93, the D.I. held the distinction of hosting all three tours during the same year.

It goes without saying, then, that it would be a shame if the course were leveled by a new owner.

"It's no secret the hotel is on the market," said Desert Inn director of golf Dave Johnson. "To our knowledge, there are no plans at this point in the way of an offer from an individual or corporation to buy it.

"I'd just like the golf course to continue to flourish in the future. It plays a big part in the overall resort environment here."

Johnson has held his current position at the D.I. for 24 years and has worked at the resort a total of 31 years.

While the D.I. is celebrating its 50th anniversary, its future is very uncertain.

The property has been on the market for three years. Sun International Ltd. agreed to buy it, then rescinded its offer earlier this year, leaving the classy property in limbo once again.

In conjunction with its 50th anniversary celebration, the D.I. this week held a celebrity golf tournament that drew LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw and UNLV men's basketball coach Bill Bayno, among others.

"Given the support the Desert Inn has given us over the years, I wanted to make sure the LPGA was represented here today," Votaw said. "The course has a lot of history.

"The tours have all played here, which makes this a special place. They have always treated us so well here."

Votaw, who says he is a "healthy 20 handicap," enjoys playing on the scenic course.

"It's an easy course to play," he said. "But it's not an easy course.

"It's tough on the professionals, but anyone can enjoy it, which makes it a perfect resort course."

This year, the LPGA also is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Votaw said he looks forward to returning in the fall when the ladies play the season-ending PageNet Championship at the D.I.

"It's definitely fun coming back here," Votaw said. "We will have a joint celebration of sorts."

That is, as long as no one buys the property and levels the course.

* SENIOR TOUR SECURES NEW HOME: Starting in 2001, CNBC will televise 33 PGA Senior Tour events a year for four years, part of an agreement that was reached on Tuesday.

CNBC reaches more than 72 million homes in the U.S. and will show nine more tournaments than ESPN does now. All events shown on CNBC will be broadcast live or tape-delayed from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekends to avoid overlapping with the PGA Tour. PAX-TV network will carry first-round coverage early Friday afternoons.

In 2001, CNBC will also take over ownership of the 30-minute weekly program "Inside the Senior PGA Tour."

* CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT: The 14th annual Glenn A. Hill Memorial Charity Golf Tournament will be held June 11 at the Palm Valley Golf Course. Registration for the 7:30 a.m. shotgun start will begin at 6 a.m. An entry fee of $100 will include green fees and cart, door prizes, trophies for the winners of six flights and dinner for two following the tournament in the Desert Vista Recreation Center at the Sun City Community Center.

All proceeds will be donated to the Helen J. Stewart School for mentally and physically challenged students. For more information call 456-3090.