Report sees success for new golf course

Greg Harman

Monday, Sept. 25, 2000 | 11:42 a.m.

A second 18-hole municipal golf course in Boulder City could bring the town of 15,000 more than $800,000 a year in revenue and have only a "negligible" impact on the current city course, an independent market analysis found.

The report prepared by Los Angeles' Economics Research Associates, to be presented to the Boulder City Council on Tuesday, states that a second city course "appears to be optimally positioned as a quality daily fee facility." The course would be built across Buchanan Boulevard to the east of the current municipal links.

However, the report said, the new course must be of high enough quality and low enough cost to lure golfers from Las Vegas and Henderson to be successful.

Boulder City has been a one-course town since the Boulder City Golf Course opened with nine holes in 1971. Nine more holes were added in 1985.

But with a second city course under consideration and two private ones on the horizon -- MGM Grand is poised to open an exclusive course for its Las Vegas patrons in late October, and the 27-hole Red Ridge course is set to break ground the same month -- Boulder City is positioning itself for a renaissance in the sport.

The focus on duffers is an attempt to draw more tourist dollars to the mountain community.

"I feel golf courses in Boulder City are a great source of revenue. We've proven that at our municipal course," Mayor Bob Ferraro said Friday.

Following the report's presentation, the Boulder City Council will consider a resolution to raise rates for non-Clark County residents at its current course -- listed by Research Associates as the least expensive in the county.

Under the resolution, the cost for 18 holes with a golf cart would increase from $36 to $45 for non-Clark County residents.

Summer rates for Clark County residents who don't live in Boulder City would rise from $21 and to $25 with a cart.

Ferraro said had "no problem" with the proposed increases.

"It still puts us in a significantly pleasing package," he said.

The council is also expected to approve a contract agreement with BGT Productions, Inc., to host a motorcycle festival and charity concert on the dry lake bed of Eldorado Valley in the second week of November.

According to the pending contract, BGT would pay Boulder City a flat fee of $10,000 as well as $1 from each ticket sold.