Columnist Peter Benton: Locals deserve break on greens fees

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Las Vegas has the highest average greens fees in the country.

No surprise here, as for years I have been critical of the exorbitant prices the majority of our layouts charge.

It is fully understood that our city is a resort destination (along with being one of the world's top convention sites) and thus a large number of golf reservations are made in advance.

It is also understood that when making advance bookings at a premium layout you can expect to pay a premium price.

However, the criticism I have leveled over the years is that local golfers are not being given the break they deserve.

During the hot summer months most of our local courses have deals and discounts but they are not what they should be.

Not many weeks ago area courses, particularly the public ones, were crying for customers. Yet most were charging upwards of $75.

This is what I don't understand. If they want customers because things are slow, why not bring the price down to the $25-$35 range? Surely it would be more profitable to service 150 players at say, $30 each, than 40-odd at $75.

I think avid local golfers deserve a better break and rate than they are receiving.

The event has a 1:30 shotgun start and an entry fee of $50 per person which includes cart, greens fee, longest drive competition, closest-to-the-pin holes and an awards banquet.

Full entry information is available by calling Mark Hudcovic at 341-1275 or Bruce Tolley at 258-8624.

Conrad edged Monte Montgomery, 68, and Eddie Heinen, 69.

Fred Gallegos, who heads this tour, is very excited about the caliber of play that has been exhibited.

Anyone interested in participating in these scratch events can obtain full information by calling Gallegos at 641-8419 or 809-6143.