MIDLAND, Texas — Midland County has recently lost Nueva Vista Golf Course to The Preserve at Midland project while another golf course, Ranchland Golf Course, is set to be the new location for one new high school with Midland ISD.
This only leaves Hogan Park Golf Course as the only public golf course available if Midlanders want to hit the links. Two other golf courses are in the county, but are private courses owned by the Midland Country Club and Green Tree Country Club.
With fewer places to play golf at, some Midland County commissioners are hoping to bring a new golf course to Midland.
Precinct One Commissioner Scott Ramsey and Precinct Two Commissioner Jeff Somers are in favor of a new golf course. However, county commissioners will need to discuss and take action on a request for proposal for a feasibility study.
“We're going to discuss and take action on the feasibility [plan]," Ramsey said. "We’re going out for a request for proposal from companies to conduct this feasibility study.”
Any new golf course that would come out of this feasibility plan would be a municipal golf course that would be operated by Midland County.
Ramsey and Somers have already been speaking to a few companies who would conduct the feasibility study. Those companies would then be looking at how many Midlanders enjoy hitting the greens for a round of golf.
“It's a professional organization coming out here and studying the demographics out here to find out, do people play golf?" Ramsey said. "Obviously the answer to that is yes....we play a lot more golf than we have facilities.”
The court first needs to approve of bringing in a company to conduct a feasibility plan. Then, that company would have to determine whether or not there is an absolute need for a new golf course in the county.
While they would be studying Midland’s demographics, they would also factor in what would need to get built alongside the new golf course.
“If it is decided there is a need, then what is that need? What do we need to build? How many holes do you want?" Ramsey said. "Do you want a big clubhouse? Do you want a kind of banquet center there at that clubhouse? What kind of practice facilities do you need?”
Other factors would also answer whether or not a new youth program should be brought in.
Other details like where the new golf course would be built and how it would get paid for will be discussed during Tuesday's county commissioners meeting. The court will also determine whether or not they will request the feasibility plan.