County OKs converting Bali Hai Golf Club into commercial property

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 | 8:39 p.m.

Clark County commissioners approved converting a golf course on county-owned land near McCarran International Airport into retail and industrial real estate.

The commissioners, however, had concerns at their Tuesday meeting about the proposed contract with a developer and asked that the agreement be renegotiated.

The Bali Hai Golf Club was built on county land on Las Vegas Boulevard, across from McCarran and south of Russell Road, in 2000. But the course has never generated the revenue anticipated.

The airport, which is responsible for the facility, asked the developer of the course, the Walters Group, for suggestions about how to increase revenue. The company suggested turning the course into commercial real estate.

Representatives from the Walters Group, which operates as Nevada Links, said the company has invested $49 million in the property, which it has not been able to recover.

Commissioner Chris Giunchuliani opposed the move, saying the change needed more review and could possibly require the county to put out a new request for proposals for other developers.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak said he didn’t think the change required a new request for proposals and could be approved under an amendment to the current agreement with the developer.

The other commissioners supported the change but wanted the airport to review the agreement to make sure the specific terms were in county’s best interest.

“There has to be a very public statement made that this is in the benefit of Clark County,” Commissioner Larry Brown said.