Pending approval by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the alcohol license at the municipal golf course in Chico, Calif., includes restrictions that require alcohol to be linked to food service, continuance of the park’s glass restriction, and no sales off-site or after 10 p.m. Club officials argued that alcohol is needed to attract and retain players, host tournaments, fund long-deferred maintenance, and support a social atmosphere.
The Chico (Calif.) City Council voted January 7 to loosen alcohol restrictions at Bidwell Park Golf Course, the Chico Enterprise Record reported.
Councilors voted 5-2 to allow the sale of alcohol with the recommendation of the Bidwell Park & Playground Commission. The city leases the park to Bidwell Park Golf Course Inc., which is managed by Empire Golf, a company that operates six other courses in Northern California, the Record reported.
In asking for the council’s support Tuesday, club officials and several golfers told the council alcohol is needed to attract and retain players, host tournaments, fund long-deferred maintenance and support a social atmosphere element long associated with the sport, the Record reported.
Empire Golf Chief Executive Officer Rod Metzler estimated alcohol-related revenue would average $438,000 a year, and he noted that since his company started in 1986, it has not had one problem related to alcohol at its courses, where golfers average one drink per round of golf, the Record reported.
Critics of the proposal urged the council to respect Chico founder Annie Bidwell’s wishes to keep the park alcohol-free and address community alcohol abuse by saying no, the Record reported.
The alcohol license, which still needs approval by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, must be linked to food service, the park’s glass restriction must continue, and there will be no sales after 10 p.m. or off-site sales, the Record reported.
“We have an opportunity there to attract another level of business,” said Mayor Scott Gruendl. “We would be remiss in not taking advantage of increasing our standing in attracting more folks to spend in our local economy.”
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