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Cabot council approves private-club license for Cypress Creek golf course over objections about dry-county rules
Summary
After public comment and discussion, the Cabot City Council approved an ordinance allowing Cypress Creek Golf Course to operate under a private-club alcohol license and invoked an emergency clause so the license could resume immediately; a resident urged scrutiny because Lonoke County is described in comment as a dry county and private-club rules limit sales to members and nonprofit activity.
The Cabot City Council on Jan. 6 approved Ordinance No. 5 of 2025, authorizing a private-club license for a business at 34 Cypress Creek Crossing and invoking the emergency clause so the applicant could resume operations immediately.
Representatives of the course — identified in public comment as Janet and Ricky Self — told the council they had held a private-club license in Cabot for 12 years and that an unpaid invoice had caused the license to lapse. They asked the council to waive the second and third readings so the license process could be completed quickly.
Council reopened new business, waived the readings for Ordinance No. 5 and then voted to adopt the ordinance. The council also unanimously approved the emergency clause to allow the license process to proceed without further delay.
During public comment, resident Phil Robinson urged caution and asked council members to ensure the private-club license would comply with county and state rules governing alcohol sales in dry jurisdictions. Robinson said private clubs are permitted “loopholes” in dry counties but must operate as nonprofit organizations and sell alcohol only to members. An applicant representative responded that their private-club alcohol sales have been conducted through a nonprofit entity and that proceeds support a PGA junior program, and that they have operated under the arrangement for 12 years.
Council members also asked staff and legal advisers about regulatory details such as food-to-beverage requirements and ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) packet submissions; staff replied that ABC reviews food-menu and percentage-of-sales rules and will provide the required packet.
The council’s adoption and emergency-clause votes were recorded by roll call; the ordinance passed and the emergency clause was invoked by unanimous vote.
