The average price for a round of golf in Las Vegas is $159. The average number of dollars in a typical teen golfer’s pocket is close to zero.
So how is a potential young star supposed to get started in the game?
There is a solution to every problem, and many Southern Nevada golf courses have done their part to solve this conundrum.
Numerous local courses have invited organized youth groups to practice and compete on their courses over the years for no or minimal fees, an arrangement that makes high school golf possible.
“Every team has a course or a collection of courses they have access to,” said Bishop Gorman boys and girls golf coach Dusty Allen. “We use Red Rock Country Club and TPC Summerlin. They are extremely accommodating to us. And they’re also accommodating their future clientele.”
The arrangement isn’t as simple as it may sound. The girls play in the fall, and the boys play in the spring, so every group that goes out is taking the place of paying customers or club members during the seasons most in demand.
“They’re giving up times when they could be making good revenue,” Allen said, noting that his teams usually play at non-peak times. “Most of these teams get access for free.”
Mike Messner, head golf pro at TPC Summerlin, works directly with junior golfers. He said he is happy to do whatever is necessary to promote the game to young players.
“I wouldn’t consider it an inconvenience at all,” he said. “There’s been a significant boom in golf, and it’s an exciting time. We just have to be very strategic between our membership and support for our community.”
Though members could view young golfers as an inconvenience, Messner said the opposite is generally true.
“Our members take pride in seeing young golfers out there,” he said. “They know many of these kids will play at the collegiate level. Every professional started as a junior golfer somewhere. These kids are the future ambassadors to the game.”
Karl Larcom, director of golf for Boulder Creek and Boulder City Municipal, echoed Messner’s thoughts.
“I grew up as a junior golfer, so this is near and dear to my heart,” he said. “When you were once that kid, you get it.”
He said there is a symbiotic relationship between management and youth golfers that pays off in the long run.
“They are out there learning tradition, etiquette and rules of the game,” Larcom said. “To keep things going, you’ve got to support junior golf. That’s what keeps the game alive.”
Among other local courses participating are Paiute, Reflection Bay, Angel Park, Painted Desert, Canyon Gate, Aliante, Wild Horse, Desert Pines, LV National, Durango Hills, Coyote Springs (Moapa Valley), Mountain Falls (Pahrump), and Casablanca (Mesquite). And that’s just tournaments. Teams also practice on any course that will have them.
Though the tradition has endured years, Larcom warned that it might not last forever, as increasing costs in land, maintenance and water are beginning to present problems.
“It’s still a business,” Larcom said. “I don’t see it ever getting crazy expensive, but in the next 10 years, I can see more fees. But we’ll try our hardest to keep it as affordable as possible.”
Allen said he’ll take whatever he can get.
“If these players had to pay full price, it would change (high school) golf radically, or it could even die,” the coach said. “These courses have been very good to us.”
Girls golf season is currently underway. Gorman is second to Faith Lutheran in 5A Mountain League play, while five-time defending state champion Coronado leads the Desert league.
In 4A action, Tech leads the Mountain League, 2025 state champion Desert Oasis sits atop the Desert League standings, and Sky League action begins Tuesday. Perennial powerhouse and defending state champion Boulder City has dominated 3A action through two league matches.
Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
