Columnist Victoria Sun: Local golf courses lose revenue after attacks

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday in the Sun. Reach her at 259-4078 or by e-mail at victoria@lasvegassun.com.

As occupancy rates at local hotels continue to plummet, so too does business at many area golf courses.

In the wake of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks on our country, people have become more fearful of flying and reluctant to travel anywhere.

For a destination city such as Las Vegas, that has meant a sharp decline in visitors, and business at golf courses has never been worse.

"I've never seen anything like this," Angel Park Golf Club general manager Carl von Hake said. "Back in 1991 when the Persian Gulf War started, it was a different situation.

"It wasn't a terrorist attack so the airline industry wasn't taking such a beating as it is now. We're struggling like all the other courses. We had a very big cancellation rate on a lot of our resort business and groups. A lot of companies said not only could they not fly, but even if they could, they didn't want to have a big fun golf event."

Angel Park has lost an estimated 30 to 50 percent in revenue for this month and things could get worse.

At the Las Vegas National Golf Club, head professional Jeff Levin is bracing for a 60 percent drop in advanced tee time bookings compared to previous years once the club re-opens toward the end of the month after overseeding is complete.

"We're concerned," Levin said. "I think there are a lot of unknowns as far as how people are going to react.

"We're not sure how quickly people will start to fly again. It has definitely affected all of us."

Things have been equally grave at the Badlands Golf Club.

Badlands golf shop manager Steve Peebles estimates the club lost in excess of 150 rounds played as a direct result of the attacks.

To make up some lost business, Peebles said the club will offer discounted rates to residents in the next couple of days.

"We're all in the same boat," von Hake said. "I'm hoping that once we get past the initial shock of all this, I think everybody would like to get back to their normal lives as soon as possible.

"I think it's good for everybody's spirit. We just hope there's no more of this terrorist stuff."

"We're waiting to see if he can get academically eligible," UNLV head coach Dwaine Knight said. "It's up to him and his teachers."

The Rebels begin their season this weekend at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in New Mexico and are ranked a preseason No. 13 in the Golf World men's college coaches poll and 24th by Golfweek.