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West Valley Golf Fees to Increase

Mar 10, 2016 11:51AM ● By Bryan Scott

By Rachel Molenda | [email protected]

West Valley - Rate increases are coming to West Valley City’s golf courses. The city council approved a $1 increase per nine holes during its Feb. 9 meeting.

West Valley City’s Parks and Recreation Department proposed the increase at a Feb. 2 study meeting. While council members spoke in favor of raising fees to help maintain city courses, there were questions of how much profit should be made.

Parks and Recreation director Kevin Astill said the new prices take into consideration what other area golf courses are charging, as well as operational and maintenance costs. Astill said the market has gone up.

“We want to raise our fees but we need to pick the right time, and all the staff feels like this is the right time to do it,” Astill told council members during the study meeting before the regularly scheduled council meeting on Feb. 2.

The proposed bill — which governs golfing costs at the Ridge Golf Club and Stonebridge Golf Course — would raise green fees for 9-hole golf from $15 to $16.  Green fees for 18 holes would increase from $30 to $32. Club rentals for 9- and 10-hole games would increase by $5, costing $15 and $25, respectively.

Senior games would increase by $2 and early bird golfing would cost $23 for nine holes and $46 for 18 if the bill is passed.

Councliman Steve Buhler questioned whether the increases would help the golf courses break even or create a profit.

“From a policy decision, I’d like to just be kind of right there. I don’t really want to be making profit. I don’t want to be running in red,” Buhler said.

The Ridge golf club brought in $1.4 million to the city last year, while Stonebridge brought in $1.9 million in revenue.

The greatest increase is the cost of a player’s pass, which allows golfers to play seven days a week, including holidays, anytime after 1 p.m. The proposal raises that fee from $199 to $249.

But Astill said the department only wants the option to charge that much but doesn’t plan to right now.

“What we want to do with that one is not go that high right now. We just want the ability to go that high,” Astill said.

Councilman Steve Vincent wondered if the one- or two-dollar increases would give the department the funds it needs to maintain the golf course.

“Does that really meet our needs? Should we be doing more to meet our needs?” Vincent asked.

Astill said he is “always asking the staff for more,” but raising course fees can be tricky, as golfers tend to shop around for the best prices.

“They’re pushing back, watching what’s going on in the market, watching the players jump around,” he said.

During the regular council meeting on Feb. 2, council members also honored West Valley police officer Megan Clark with its employee of the month award. Clark was recognized for her service to the city, particularly for organizing a fundraiser to provide a family with Christmas gifts after presents already bought were stolen out of the mother’s car.

The council also approved an amendment to the interlocal agreement between West Valley and Salt Lake County that increases the hours of two meals-program employees at the Harman Senior Resource Center. West Valley City will now be reimbursed for 20 hours of work for each staff member.

Also on Feb. 2, the council:

• approved the purchase of two CPR units ($31,320) and an image trend reporting system ($37,500) for the West Valley Fire Department.

• appointed Eunice Lane, Michele Anderson and Patricia Dark to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center Foundation Committee.