Time for tee

Parks director Steve Patton is a happy man.

Odessa's municipal golf course reopened Friday morning with a ribbon cutting, a cool breeze and not a cloud in the sky.

"It's fantastic," Patton said. "The course is pristine."

Around 100 people gathered on Ratliff Ranch Golf Links' new outdoor pavilion to hear city notables speak before a gigantic pair of scissors made it official.

"We hope Odessa will take great pride in this new addition to our quality of life," Mayor Larry Melton said.

Odessa Chamber of Commerce chairman David Boutin said the reshaped course, reopened Friday to commemorate its 20th anniversary, is a milestone for the community.

"The renovation of the clubhouse was terrific," David Boutin said. "We're going to see a wonderful revitalization. We, as citizens, have an obligation to support it."

Boutin's father, Francois, got the first shot.

"It was great," Francois Boutin said after finishing Friday's first game. "I felt like I was President Bush. Really, it was amazing."

PGA pro and course manager Chris McQuatters said he's relieved.

"We can finally get back to golf," he said.

McQuatters said the pressure of readying a $4.2 million course the last two years was more intense than maintenance will be. He said there are no firm cost estimates yet on upkeep for Ratliff, but city numbers crunchers estimate 47,528 rounds will have to be played to cover next year's upkeep expense.

"Until we get a full year under our belt, it's hard to calculate," McQuatters said.

Ratliff is expected to generate $1.32 million in revenue during the 2008-'09 fiscal year - the same amount is budgeted to be spent on the course.

Patton said all construction is completed, but the grass still has room to mature. There'll be a cart-path-only rule through the winter months.

Friday's opening commemorated Ratliff's 20th anniversary. The course was closed for renovations in November 2006.

There's a revamped clubhouse and grill, complete with a full-service bar, an 1,800-square-foot open-air pavilion that overlooks the 18th hole and a green course full of rolling hills and redesigned bunkers.

The driving range is now angled farther away from Grandview Avenue and soft, rolling mounds have been added. 

But Francois Boutin, who's been playing the course since it opened in 1988, said the best thing about the new Ratliff is obvious.

"They put grass on it," he said with a big grin.

FORK OVER SOME GREEN

If you want to play, it'll cost you. Here's a list of green fees:

>> Weekdays: $15.25.

>> Twilight weekdays: $12.50.

>> Weekends: $20.25.

>> Twilight weekends: $15.25.

>> Seniors (60 and older): $12.25.

>> Juniors: $6.50 all day weekdays and after 1 p.m. weekends and holidays.

THE EXTRAS

>> Cart fees: $11.

>> Rental sets: $20.

>> Range fees: $2.50 medium and $5 large.