Cedar Hills » City has already spent nearly $10 million but continues to accrue debt.

By Cimaron Neugebauer   | The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 17 2013 01:01 am • Last Updated Mar 17 2013 04:46 pm

Cedar Hills » Rolling green hills, sand traps and pristine views once meant dollar signs for municipalities.

But now, with scores of golf courses crowding the state, some critics are saying the once-lucrative notion of a municipal course has become a financial sand trap even Mike Weir with his best pitching wedge couldn’t escape.

With millions of taxpayer dollars being bagged faster than grass in an industrial mower, many question whether cities today can afford to create and run their own golf courses.

—

Money pit » In 2001, Cedar Hills, a city of 10,000, narrowly voted for a taxpayer-owned golf course. Since then, the golf course has not made a profit. Financial data show it has lost nearly a half-million dollars each year since 2004 or about $4.3 million in operational costs and general bond obligation. In trying to make the project successful, city leaders have spent nearly $10 million.

For complete article see…

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56006019-78/golf-course-courses-hills.html.csp?page=1