The rate hike recommended by the Golf Commission was ratified by the Common Council at a special meeting on Friday.
“We thought this was fair,” said 5th Ward Alderman James Martuscello, who serves as a liaison to the Golf Commission.
The rates for the 2025 golf season were recommended based on an analysis of the fees charged by other courses in the areas. Golf Commission member Daniel Quatrini previously said it will still cost less under the 5% increase to play at Muni versus at other courses.
It’s part of an effort to grow revenues at the course.
“We’re doing it slowly, without really hurting the golfers,” Martuscello said. “We just don’t want to whack the golfers all at once, so we just had a minimum increase.”
Under the new rates, greens fees for non-members will rise by as little as $1 for some weekday tee times for nine-hole rounds and at most $4 on weekend mornings for full 18-hole rounds.
Preferred customers will pay annual fees of $525 next season, up from $500 this year. Legacy members will pay annual fees of $1,575 and $2,836 for couples, up respectively from $1,500 and $2,700 this year.
Greens fees for preferred customers will remain at $10 for nine holes and $20 for 18 holes. Legacy members will only pay greens fees on peak weekend mornings at $20 for a full round.
Fourth Ward Alderman Christopher Carpenter, also a liaison to the Golf Commission, noted the rates have been discussed by commission members at several recent meetings without eliciting objections from golfers.
“They were well thought out and I think they’re going to be helpful to the overall financial picture of the golf course without putting too much stress on the golfers,” Mayor Michael Cinquanti said.
Course expenses and debt service typically outpace revenues by an average of $250,000 each fiscal year. Fees and memberships were restructured at the course this season to boost profits while providing players a more equitable and affordable experience by lowering the barrier to entry for new golfers and creating a more balanced pay-for-play model among regulars.
“The golf course is still operating at a deficit, so we need to raise rates. This will go towards closing that deficit,” Cinquanti said.
A preferred-customer program was created and the unlimited program for legacy members was modified this year. Both programs involve an upfront fee to receive discounted rates on regular greens fees.
“We have to raise rates, but we can’t raise them by leaps and bounds, because it’ll have a negative impact on overall sales,” Cinquanti said. “The test is how many people come to play golf at those rates and the numbers are going up.”
The change has seemingly been effective with the course taking in $621,942 from the various fees to play and memberships this season, an increase of 4.51% from the $595,131 in revenue the previous year. The full impact will become clear when the city’s non-calendar fiscal year ends next June.
These decisions along with improvements and the addition of amenities at the course are part of a broader strategy to improve finances at the course aimed at ensuring it at least breaks even each year.
Officials describe the course as an asset that can help attract and retain residents and businesses in the city. They say the planned construction of a new clubhouse next year will provide a venue that can be enjoyed by golfers and non-golfers alike grabbing a bite or a drink. It will also be capable of hosting activities, events, special occasions and banquets.
It’s expected that revenue generated by the clubhouse will offset debt service to pay for the new construction finally bringing an operational facility back to the course after the former clubhouse suffered significant water damage from burst pipes in February 2019.
Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course rates for 2025
Greens fees/membership
Rate in 2024
Rate in 2025
Weekday prime time nine holes
$28
$29
Weekday prime time 18 holes
$45
$48
Weekday non-prime time nine holes
$25
$27
Weekday non-prime time 18 holes
$40
$43
Weekday twilight
$28
$29
Weekend prime time nine holes
$30
$32
Weekend prime time 18 holes
$55
$59
Weekend non-prime time nine holes
$25
$26
Weekend non-prime time 18 holes
$40
$43
Weekday senior 18 holes
$38
$38
Preferred customer
$500
$525
Legacy member
$1,500
$1,575
Legacy couple
$2,700
$2,835
