Residents hear pitch for new golf course team

Heather Rawlyk

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

Residents got an opportunity to hear proposed plans and speak out about the fate of the Boulder Creek Golf Club Wednesday night, during a Boulder City Council workshop.

The workshop was requested by members of BCCMR, a private investment group looking to take over the course, which has experienced financial struggles over the past year.

At the workshop, BCMMR members presented their proposal and answered questions that the City Council and residents had regarding any future agreement with them.

BCCMR is headed by local developers Michael Giroux and Randy Schams, and Michael Schollian, former vice president of golf development for MGM Grand, which built the private Casacata Golf Course in Boulder City.

Schollian began the presentation with the proposal for BCMMR to assume the management contract between the current management company, Triad Golf Management and the city.

BCMMR members also proposed the idea of charging membership fees to generate income during the off-seasons of summer and winter, when temperatures keep many golfers away from the course.

"With memberships, the golf course would have a constant revenue stream regardless of weather and other factors," Schollian said. "Money will be coming in during the off-times."

The investment group stated that initial income brought in from membership fees would go toward fixing up Boulder Creek Golf Club.

"The golf course needs to be finished first of all," Schollian said. "There are also no bathrooms for golfers. We propose that the initial money go right back into the golf course to bring it up to highest standards."

Membership prices would vary depending on the level of membership, Schollian said. The specifics on price and different levels of membership were still in the works, he said.

BCCMR also presented an idea to arrange packages for visitors of the Las Vegas Strip and group events.

After the proposal, the City Council opened the floor for public comment.

Boulder City residents had mixed opinions. While some were in favor of allowing BCMMR to take over, others were hesitant to welcome in another management company or to accept the idea of memberships.

Michael Hawkes, of A SkyDive Las Vegas Inc., said he did not think charging for memberships would bring in more income.

"You are saying the city won't make profit without memberships, but it's unconventional thinking," he said. "How are you going to gain a bigger profit by raising the price of the product? Why would people buy these expensive memberships for something they don't even use now?"

A Boulder City man who called himself Doug S., said the council shouldn't rush into finding new management.

"The first thing they need to resolve is the Triad golf agreement, and then you can worry about memberships and other revenue," he said. "It is a big mistake to enter a new management agreement right after the last one that failed. You basically need to raise a big sign that reads, Proceed With Caution."

But Pat Grace, a Boulder City resident and friend of Schollian and Giroux, said he was confident BCMMR could turn Boulder Creek Golf Club around.

"We're in huge trouble with the marketing end of Boulder Creek," he said. "I know these two men and what they bring to Boulder City. They have been a proven entity to Boulder City. This is heavy duty marketing sitting right over here and I'm impressed with what they've put together."