EDITORIAL: Golf course views not guaranteed

Golf is a business. And no business is guaranteed survival in the face of economic pressure. Two groups of Las Vegas homeowners are learning this the hard way.

As reported by the Review-Journal, a pair of Las Vegas golf courses have been sold to companies that clearly aren't interested in the game and aren't terribly concerned about the property owners whose homes line the courses.

Silverstone Golf Club homeowners have gone to court to fight the closure of the course, purchased by Beverly Hills attorney Ronald Richards. Meanwhile, the sale of Badlands Golf Club to EHB Companies, the developers of Tivoli Village, came up at a Las Vegas Planning Commission meeting this month. Residential development appears to be in the future for both courses. Silverstone homeowners have a covenant that prohibits changes to their course without their approval, but if no one can run the course and make payroll, something will have to give.

Golf courses everywhere are suffering losses. Fewer people are playing the game because they don't have the time or money, and in Southern Nevada, water is ever more costly. It makes sense that reduced demand for golf results in a reduced supply of courses.

We understand homeowners' anger over the possibility of the loss of their views. But at some point they might have to ask themselves whether they'd rather look out at other homes or dead grass.