A new bill in the Nevada legislature has Nevada golf course owners and operators shaking their heads as yet another attempt to make operating a profitable golf course more difficult. The “lock the clock” bill AB81 has been introduced to end daylight savings. This could alter start times for courses and cut into revenue.
An example of the impact on sunset and sunrise without daylight savings is that the sun would rise around 4:32 am on the summer solstice and set around 7:30 PM each year. This would cut into key operational times for golf courses.
“This would affect golf courses negatively because we would then start tee times in the summer at 4:30am,” said Thom Blinkinsop, general manager, Red Rock Country Club. “If you’re limited by the HOA on the time you can start maintenance, you could lose the hour on the other side. We would start mowing at 3:30AM, which would violate many, if not all, HOA and City noise ordinance laws.
“Passing this proposed bill would have a negative impact on a golf course’s revenue, which in turn impacts associated taxes, jobs, tourism dollars, charitable events and their impact on communities. plus junior golf and high school golfers and events that play in the afternoons. Golf courses would have to raise rates, which would negatively impact those senior golfers on fixed budgets.”
The Nevada Golf Industry is a $1.9B direct and indirect economic impact on the Nevada economy based on the 2019 Economic Impact Study conducted by the Nevada Golf Alliance, including $743M in tourism generated dollars, 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, $143M in taxes generated by the Nevada golf industry. The post Covid impact is much higher.
If you have been paying attention, golf courses in Las Vegas have been under attack in several ways over the last few years. Whether it be water authority organizations enacting water limits that make operating with quality conditions difficult, or real estate investors buying courses and shuttering them, these are challenging times for courses. And all of this even when, in general, golf is booming with participation and is more popular than ever.
This new bill could be another dagger for a golf community already struggling with course closures, rising water costs, and other challenges. The bill sponsor is Assembly member Selena La Rue Hatch.
The golf course industry suggests contacting your local officials if you are opposed to this and how it could impact the golf course industry.
Assembly Leadership
Assemblymember Yeager (Speaker) – Toby.Yurek@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Monroe-Moreno (Speaker Pro Tempore) – Daniele.MonroeMoreno@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Jauregui (Majority Floor Leader) – Sandra.Jauregui@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Mosca (Assistant Majority Floor Leader) – Erica.Mosca@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Watts (Majority Whip) – Howard.Watts@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Anderson (Assistant Majority Whip) – Natha.Anderson@asm.state.nv.us
Government Affairs Committee
Assemblymember Considine – Venicia.Considine@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Nguyen – Duy.Nguyen@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Carter – Max.Carter@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember DeLong – Rich.Delong@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember D’Silva – Reuben.DSilva@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Edgeworth – rebecca.edgeworth@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Flanagan – tanya.flanagan@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Gallant – Danielle.Gallant@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Goulding – heather.goulding@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Gurr – Bert.Gurr@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Hunt – linda.hunt@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Jackson – jovan.jackson@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Karris – venise.karris@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblymember Kasama – Heidi.Kasama@asm.state.nv.us
Bill Sponsor
Assemblymember La Rue Hatch – Selena.La.Rue.Hatch@asm.state.nv.us