(SNN Austin) A Kansas energy company has admitted that it had to pay $25,000 for a golf outing with U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The company was trying to influence pending energy legislation.

Westar gave $25,000 for a golf outing with Tom DeLay.

The provision Westar Energy sought was included in a House bill with DeLay's support, but it was later withdrawn after a grand jury began investigating corporate fund-raising during the state's 2002 legislative races.

Some say that high greens fees are immaterial as long it is obvious that the owner/operator is concerned about the quality of their course. But others say that greens fees are basically supply and demand and that if golfers would make even a token protest against outrageous fees, some headway could be made.

The company was trying to influence pending energy legislation.

We asked golfer Monty Standon-Rich his opinion. Standon-Rich believes that it is more a real estate problem. “ In any area where people will pay half a million dollars for an average house on a 1/4 acre lot, golf courses are in trouble. A $20/round course can't take in enough money to be competitive with developers willing to offer a premium for the land to turn it into houses.”

Update 1:
It was not in fact the greens fees that cost Westar Energy $25,000. The $25,000 was in fact the price of a meeting with Tom DeLay.

posted by NewsBlog 5000  # Friday, July 08, 2005