Antelope Hills GC Study Back on Agenda for Prescott (Ariz.) City Council

The new proposal plans to focus on the economic impact of the course, rather than operations and how to improve its profitability.

A contract for a study that would focus on the economic impact of the Antelope Hills Golf Course was scheduled to be considered by the Prescott (Ariz.) City Council at its September 25 meeting, reports The (Prescott) Daily Courier.

The new contract proposal comes after the council previously balked at a study that would have focus on operations and improving profits at the golf course (http://www.clubandresortbusiness.com/2012/08/29/council-weighs-antelope-hills-gc-options/).

At its September 11 meeting, council members asked city staff members to renegotiate a contract with National Golf Foundation Consulting, Inc. to refine the scope of the study, The Daily Courier reports.

“This will be much less an operational review,” City Manager Craig McConnell said of the revised contract. “The question on many minds is ‘how much economic activity does Antelope Hills generate?’”

At $18,000, the proposed study would cost $7,000 less than the $25,000 study that the council considered on September 11, The Daily Courier reports.

While a major component of the study was removed, McConnell said “a substantial fixed cost” – for things such as travel – comes with doing a study.

Of the $18,000 total, $16,000 is the lump sum to complete the analysis, and $2,000 would be billed if the city asks the consultants to present results at a council meeting, The Daily Courier reports.

A city memo on the contract states: “The economic impact analysis includes estimation of the direct and indirect economic contribution of Antelope Hills to the City of Prescott.”

That analysis will include the financial benefit of golf tournaments and visiting golfers, as well as the effect of the course on real estate values.

Tags: antelope hills golf course Craig McConnell National Golf Foundation Consulting Prescott ariz.