EVERETT – The Everett City Council placated golfers Wednesday night when it voted to wait until fall to make any changes to the rates and annual passes offered through the city’s two golf courses.
Dozens of golfers filled council chambers to speak out against a proposal that would have eliminated annual golf passes at Legion Park and Walter E. Hall golf courses.
Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
“You have taken the action that the majority of the golfers in this room wanted you to take,” Larry Vognild told the council. “I speak for all the golfers here when I say, thank you very much.”
The proposal to end annual passes was one change among many in recent years designed to revive the flagging golf program. Revenue has dropped sharply, and the courses haven’t been self-sustaining in years.
City officials have blamed the decline on national trends and poor management by the Billy Casper firm, which contracted to run the golf courses until 2008.
Billy Casper hasn’t provided the city with any reports that detail when the rounds played by annual pass holders occur. It’s impossible to determine whether the pass holders are displacing other golfers who would otherwise pay full price, Councilman Drew Nielsen said. Since current passes will remain valid until Dec. 31, this year should be used as a test year to collect that data, he said.
“We can revisit this issue in the fall to determine the effect,” he said.
Councilman Mark Olson, who has said discounted senior citizen passes should be eliminated in favor of an expanded pass program that would offer golfers more options, was quick to affirm the golfers in the room, most of whom were senior citizens.
“First of all, let me say that I love seniors,” he said to a burst of laughter. “My parents are seniors, and some of my best friends are seniors.”
Senior pass golfers pay between $6 and $9 per round, Olson said. The actual cost is around $30 per round.
“We can’t sustain that differential,” he said. “We want to work on a program that works for you and works for the city.”
Senior citizens currently pay $750 a year at Legion and $550 a year at Walter E. Hall. Regular rate passes are $1,300 at Legion and $900 at Walter E. Hall.
Several golfers said they wouldn’t play as often if they didn’t have a senior pass. Golfers in their golden years should be honored for a lifetime of work and community support, they said.
“Two exciting things happened when I turned 62,” golfer Nancy Campbell said. “I could collect Social Security, and I could play golf at a lower rate. We’re trying to populate the course. Let us be part of the solution, not the problem.”
Other golfers on fixed incomes said they wouldn’t be able to play at all without the discount. Others said they would move to other towns if they lose their pass.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
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