BLOOMINGTON - Highland Park golf course may be getting a liquor license. At its meeting Tuesday, the Bloomington Liquor Commission unanimously recommended the city issue the golf course a restaurant-class license that will allow for the sale of beer and wine.

Also, the commission took action on a license for the Missouri-based restaurant chain Bandana's and transferred ownership of the license issued for the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The commission's recommendations will go before the Bloomington City Council at its Dec. 26 meeting.

The request by the city's Parks and Recreation Department for a license at Highland comes on the heels of discussions by the City Council about selling the course to help balance the budget that begins May 1, 2008. Highland, 1613 S. Main St., is the oldest of the three golf courses owned by the city.

Parks and recreation Director Dean Kohn said giving Highland a liquor license would improve its ability to attract group outings. He added Prairie Vista and the Den at Fox Creek sometimes have to turn away groups because they do not have the space, and adding liquor at Highland would make it a more attractive alternative.

"We try not to operate like a bar," said parks department Assistant Director John Kennedy about liquor sales at the other two courses. "We offer it as more of an amenity."

Kennedy said liquor sales and a related increase in traffic at the golf course could help generate $75,000 a year of the course. The site is expected to run a deficit of $239,000 this year.

In other business, the commission unanimously recommended a restaurant license for Bandana's Bar-B-Q, 503 IAA Drive, for the sale of beer and wine.

Rick White, chief executive officer of Bandana's, said the corporation is taking over the location and intends to reopen it. Originally, the restaurant opened in 2006 as a franchise of the chain, but it closed in July.

A change in ownership for the Coliseum's license also received unanimous approval from the commission. John Butler from Central Illinois Arena Management, the management team for the Coliseum, asked the license be moved from Game Time Food and Beverage Services to BMI Concessions.

Butler said that when the management group initially approached the liquor commission for a license in 2006, Game Time, of Buffalo Grove took on the responsibility of the license because it had more experience in liquor service. Game Time is ready for the license to be issued to BMI Concessions, a subsidiary of the management group, Butler added.

The commission also recommended lifting the restriction requiring Six Strings, 525 N. Center St., to close one hour earlier than allowed by ordinance. Six Strings co-owner Daniel Rolph said closing an hour earlier costs the business money.

Rolph told the commission the business would "go under" if it the city keeps the requirement to close at midnight through the week and 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.