Source: Stamford Advocate
Greens fees at Oak Hills Park in Norwalk, Conn. may be rising.
Oak Hills Park Authority plans to schedule a February hearing at which it will propose a $2 fee increase across the board.
The authority last voted on a greens fee increase two years ago, when rounds for nonresidents rose to $40 on weekdays and $45 on weekends, a $5 increase.
Residents' fees for 18 holes went up $1 to $16 on weekdays and $17 on weekends.
Additional fees are needed to keep up with rising fuel, insurance and fertilizer costs, golf course manager Vinnie Grillo said. The money also will be used to buy equipment, such as two greens mowers, for the public course where 50,000 to 55,000 rounds of golf are played each year.
If fees go up $2, the park still is a bargain, Grillo said.
"Even with the increase, the fees will be at or below what other greens fees are in the area," he said.
The fees were increased two years ago because of the rising costs of salaries, park maintenance and administrative expenses, officials said at the time. They estimated that hike would bring in an additional $122,000 annually.
Oak Hills Park Authority Chairman Joe Tamburri was unavailable for comment.
Fees historically increase every other year, authority treasurer Thomas Aikenhead said.
Before the authority can impose a hike, it must hold a public hearing. Authority members, at their Thursday meeting, tried to schedule a hearing for late February.
"We are a nonprofit organization," Aikenhead said. "We try to maintain a golf course for the benefit of the Norwalk residents in particular, and residents in the area beyond Norwalk. We are not trying to make money. We are trying to raise money to maintain the course."
Oak Hills Men's Golf Association President Nick Pisano said he agrees with Grillo's contention that, even with a hike, the fees will be at or below what other public courses charge.
"Over the past seven years, the course has gotten tremendous. The fees are still reasonable. Where can you go somewhere for four hours and have an enjoyable day?" Pisano said.
Men's Golf Association Tournament Committee member Don Andersen said the course is so good that he wouldn't mind seeing the nonresident fees go up more than $2.
But that is too much of a hike for senior citizens, who now pay $9 on weekdays and $17 on weekends, he said.
"It shouldn't increase for seniors $2," Andersen said.