EVERETT – Don Berkey isn’t happy with the city’s decision to stop selling annual resident golf passes next year.
The City Council voted this week to phase out passes at its two financially struggling courses, replacing them with less-flexible frequent-player coupons.
For now, current pass holders can renew their accounts, which allow unlimited off-season rounds and unlimited play Monday through Thursday during the peak season.
The council also voted to increase green fees during traditionally busy times and to reduce them during off-peak hours. The senior discount age will also increase from 62 to 65.
Changes take effect Jan. 1.
Most of the changes are incremental, totaling less than a few dollars. A new category, called “super twilight,” was created, offering deeper discounts.
Tightening rules on play times and changing fees is part of a push to make Walter E. Hall Golf Course and Legion Memorial Park self-sustaining by 2009.
The city’s golf operation is expected to lose about $500,000 this year.
Berkey, a retired PUD commissioner, told the council that eliminating the annual pass program will penalize senior golfers, who enjoy short games.
“I often do not play 18 holes, and I know lots of seniors who cannot play 18 holes,” he said.
City officials say they have to balance the desires of people such as Berkey with the need to make the courses break even.
“People often say governments should act more like businesses,” said City Councilman Drew Nielsen before casting a vote in favor of the changes Wednesday. “Ironically, they don’t say that when government is going to charge them.”
The new fees are expected to add an additional $100,000 to the city’s $3.8 million golf operation annually. That’s an increase of about 5 percent over current revenue projections.
The fee changes come a month after a city report slammed the current golf management contract with Billy Casper Golf Management for frequent customer service problems.
The Virginia-based company conducts lessons, runs the pro shops and restaurants, and collects green fees, while city employees maintain the golf course grounds.
“The courses have become convoluted in operations and management,” said City Councilman Mark Olson. “We are a long way from a solution.”
Olson and City Councilman Ron Gipson voted to table the fee changes but were out-voted by the balance of the council, which voted to pass the changes.
In late September, the director of the courses resigned, saying the Billy Casper Golf was cutting costs too much and was placing an unreasonable workload on employees.
Everett’s new parks director Paul Kaftanski is working to restructure the city’s golf operation, including reigning in maintenance expenses, restructuring debt plans, bringing in a new fleet of golf carts and changing fees.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
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