REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

Boulder Creek off
to rocky financial start

By Murray Anderson,
Contributor

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 16, 2003) -- Although it's less than a year old, Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City recently had its $4 million operating budget cut by $1 million by the Boulder City Council.

Boulder Creek is the much-acclaimed new municipal course in Boulder City, the town that lies almost next door to Hoover Dam, about a half hour from the Las Vegas Strip. The course was designed by architect Mark Rathert, who has an international reputation and has laid out courses in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and France as well as in the United States.

Despite having all those positives going for it, at a recent city council meeting, it was announced that the course had lost $2.5 million during its first eight months of operation. Triad Golf is the management company that runs the $22-million golf course.

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Triad had projected that about 24,000 rounds of golf would be played on the course during its first six months of operation, but only 15,500 rounds were played. Staff at the course has claimed that hot weather had come early this year to Vegas and had slowed down the rate of play.

Members of the Triad management team also say that Wadsworth Golf Construction, the firm that built the course, left Triad with leaky lakes that cost the company water fees of about $6,000 a month. In turn, Wadsworth has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $800,000 from the city for work it did on the course for which it claims it was never paid.

The financial brouhaha at the course became an issue in the Boulder City mayor's election held in June. Candidate Bill Smith, a former councilman, had alleged that the course was headed toward becoming a huge financial mess for the city. Smith lost to the incumbent by fewer than 20 votes.

Members of the Boulder City Council wanted to reduce Triad's $650,000 management fee that is guaranteed through a contract, but the city attorney advised the board not to make the cut.

The original plans for the course called for 27 championship holes, a double-ended, lighted practice range with an instruction facility, two chipping greens, five practice putting greens and a lighted par-3 course. The first two nines - the Coyote and Desert Hawk - opened in January. The third nine - the Eldorado Valley - opened just recently so that overseeding could begin on the other courses. But there is no lighting on the driving range yet, and the lighted par-3 course has yet to be built.

Staff at the course says recent budget cuts will not affect the golfer's experience out on the three desert-themed nines.

In-season green fees, which begin Oct. 3 when overseeding ends, will range from $120 to $130 for out-of-towners. Clark County residents will pay only $60-$70. For information, call 1-866-457-0062 (702-577-2220).

Red Rock Country Club to open first public course

Red Rock Country Club is finally going public.

The Arroyo Course at this club on the northwest side of Las Vegas is near completion and scheduled to open to the public on Oct. 15.

The Arroyo Course will be the sister course for Red Rock's private Mountain Course which opened in 1999. Both courses are Arnold Palmer Signature Designs.

In addition to the new Arroyo Course, a new clubhouse will also open on Oct. 15 to serve the daily fee guests. The new clubhouse will feature a bar and grill, terrace dining, a fully stocked golf shop and men's and women's locker rooms.

Sunrise Colony Co. will operate the new Arroyo Course. Sunrise also owns and operates Siena Golf Club in Summerlin.

Green fees at Red Rock's Arroyo will be $145 Monday through Thursday and $175 Friday through Sunday for visitors to Clark County. Residents can play the course for $69 Monday through Thursday and $89 Friday through Sunday. Call 1-866-457-0062 (702-577-2220) for information.

Aliante planning Dec. 1 opening

Aliante, a master-planned community located in North Las Vegas, is planning a Dec. 1 grand opening for the new Aliante Golf Club.

The 18-hole, par 72, municipal golf course was designed by Gary Panks Associates of Scottsdale. The course is supposed to measure more than 6,900 yards from the back tees and feature a meandering wash that comes into play on 14 of the holes.

The course, located in Sun City Aliante, will be highlighted by numerous water features, generous landing areas, wide corridors of turf and a strategic use of park-like trees. The total landscaping plan calls for more than 3,000 installed trees and 33,000 shrubs to provide interesting color contrast, ample shade and more interesting play.

The practice facility will feature a full-size driving range with a double-tier tee area. There will be a 14,000-square-foot practice putting green along with a practice chipping area and green-side bunker.

The clubhouse will be approximately 3,700 square feet, with a fully stocked golf shop, grill, bar and an event area that features views of the golf course and surrounding mountains.

OB Sports Golf Management of Scottsdale is handling management and operations for all aspects of the Aliante Golf Club. In Clark County, OB Sports also operates The Legacy Golf Club, Angel Park Golf Club, and Tuscany Golf Club.

New greens at Badlands, Angel Park

Badlands Golf Club has reopened its Desperado track with new greens and bunkers.

The Badlands is a 27-hole facility on the northwest side of town. The course opened in 1995 and was a collaborative effort between Johnny Miller and Chi Chi Rodriguez.

The Diablo and Outlaw 9-hole courses round out the true target-golf facility.

Angel Park Golf Club has resurfaced its greens on the club's Palms Course and its Cloud Nine par-3 course. The two courses went to Tiff-Dwarf Bermuda grass on both courses. The club's Mountain Course had its greens resurfaced about a year ago.

Angel Park has also named a new general manager in David Bogue. OB Sports Golf Management brought Bogue to Las Vegas from the Ocotillo Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz.

Angel Park, built in 1989 and redesigned in 1992, has 36 holes of championship golf, the Cloud Nine par-3 course and a putting course with holes ranging between 50 and 180 feet.

The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions, and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.