LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Since 1928, the Las Cruces Country Club has provided many Las Crucens with a place to relax and play golf. Currently the 110-acre property is worth close to $9 million, so when an offer was made to the city to purchase it for less, at about $8 million, the mayor saw it as a chance to score a hole in one.

“To come up with $8 million, that going to be hard to do, that's why I say we've got to give it our best shot,” said Mayor Ken Miyagashima.

“I don't think we need to be dishing out $8 million to purchase that land,” said Christopher Belarde of central Las Cruces.

But Miyagashima said increasing taxes is not an option, rather the challenge will be to figure what the city could replace the golf course with.

“We want to see what we can do within the property to generate income that will be used to offset the purchase price,” said Miyagashima.

“If $8 million could be spent frugally and can be done so responsibly then I think it's something that could be worth the money and investment,” said Alexandro Paz of west Las Cruces.

Miyagashima said it could be anything from leasing or reselling the land or building some sort of attraction for everyone.

“Probably a zoo or something like that,” is what Belarde said he would like to see if the city purchased the land.

“Perhaps the city could utilize a recycling center or perhaps a water desalination center, something that would benefit the whole community,” said Paz.

Miyagashima said he plans to start meeting with residents in the coming weeks to further discuss the possibility of purchasing the land.