The El Paso, Texas club, which is owned by the El Paso International Airport, has received ratings accolades, but has never made money. The airport has subsidized golf course operations since 2008 to the tune of about $1 million annually.
Butterfield Trail Golf Club in El Paso, Texas will not reopen after the coronavirus pandemic eventually ends, officials confirmed to ABC-7 on April 15.
In a statement released after inquiries were made by ABC-7, it was announced that the financially troubled club will permanently cease operations on May 31.
The El Paso International Airport, which owns the course, said the move will save it about $1 million annually, ABC-7 reported. An insider told the station that the 18-hole course has never made money and given the current economic situation, the time seemed right to close it. Airport officials confirmed the airport has subsidized golf course operations since 2008.
Monica Lombraña, El Paso International’s chief operations officer, said shutting down the course was being done “in response to the health and economic crisis … in order to reduce expenses and focus on essential airport operations.”
Butterfield Trail Golf Club, which opened in 2007, was designed by golf course architect Tom Fazio, ABC-7 reported.
“It is with a heavy heart that the fiscally responsible decision to permanently close the course was made,” Lombraña said.
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo said April 15 that while he personally would’ve preferred not to have had to close the course, there was no choice financially, ABC-7 reported.
“Our airport traffic is down so low right now,” he explained, “we don’t know where we’re going to be financially with our airport funding.”
ABC-7’s insider indicated the water service to the course was shut off in the past couple of days. The source said the club’s golf pro and a small staff are staying around for the next 30 days or so to get the operation shut down.
Officials said deposits made on tournaments and special events at the golf course will be refunded, ABC-7 reported.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.