County makes deal with golf developer

Finding a golf course in the Las Vegas valley isn't a difficult task. Finding one with reasonable green fees is.

That soon may change if the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approves a contract agreed upon Wednesday by Clark County commissioners and the Walters Group, which is planning Desert Breeze Public Golf Course in the southwest.

The commission approved the county's agreement with the golf course developers and commended them for keeping fees low for Clark County residents.

"This will help a lot of individuals who can't afford the very expensive green fees," Commissioner Lance Malone. "I'm pleased we're keeping fees below $50 for residents."

Earl Hawkes, director of general services, told the board that the course will make 60 percent of its daily tee times available to county residents. Locals also will get 20 percent of available tee times before noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Resident green fees will be $35 year-around. Las Vegas ranks second to Hawaii in expensive green fees with an average of $84 a round.

Because the property at Flamingo Road and Durango Drive is leased by the county from the BLM, the federal agency must approve the deal. Once the Walters Group is granted permission to go forward, it will begin construction. The 18-hole course is expected to take 390 days to build.

Because the outright cost to construct the course is $17 million, the developers, who also will maintain and operate the facility, will not begin paying the county rent until the third year that it's open.

During the third year, the Walters Group will pay the county $25,000 or 1 percent of the gross revenue, whichever figure is greater. Rent gradually increases throughout the 50-year lease and tops out at $250,000 or 2 percent of the course's revenue.

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