By a 4-3 vote Thursday evening, the Lubbock City Council voted to allow city staff to negotiate a proposed lease contract with a company that wishes to build a $9 million driving range within the confines of McAlister Park. Council members Victor Hernandez, Latrelle Joy and Jim Gerlt voted against the measure.

Golf Hub of Lubbock, LLC is the company seeking to build the new multi-level driving range, with restaurant, on 18 acres at McAlister Park.

Representatives from Golf Hub were present at Thursday's meeting and they answered some questions about the proposed facility before the vote was taken.

Some of the major points brought up by Golf Hub reps: their business plan for the proposed facility would not work without alcohol sales in the restaurant, a fence would be built to cordon off the driving range from the Little League fields and the rest of McAlister Park, and Golf Hub would need at least a 50 year lease to be able to amortize the cost of the project.

Councilman Gerlt said he hopes the driving range facility can be built in Lubbock, but he disagreed with it being located within a city park because there would be alcohol sales in the restaurant.

City staff will now work on a proposed lease contract with Golf Hub and if an agreement is reached, the city council would have to approve the contract before the driving range could be built.

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