ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The warmer weather is opening up the greens earlier than usual, and with that comes some higher prices.
Rochester municipal golf courses are once again increasing fee prices. In 2023, the price of all fees was increased by 20%. This year, it will increase an additional 14%.
The golf courses that are affected by this are, Soldiers Field, Northern Hills, Eastwood and Hadley Creek. Rochester Parks and Recreation director Paul Widman says the purposes of the increased prices to fees is to invest further into the courses.
“The way the program went forward was to increase the fees and take the revenue from that, invest it right back in the course and also council approved funding to match that, revenue as well,” Widman said.
Despite the intentions of improving the quality of the courses, for some golfers the increased cost could be playing a role in their plans for the season.
“When I worked out the math last year, it was hard for me to kind of make use of buying a season pass,” golfer Nick Glandon said. “So, this year I’m actually considering probably not buying a pass, just because it won’t really break out, or make sense for me for as much as a I do golf.”
Although there are some concerns from golfers, Rochester Parks and Rec said the fee increases have helped greatly so far.
“That was the plan from the very beginning is to look for ways to invest in the courses and make it a better-quality experience for golfers, and so these fee increases, we’re investing right back in the course,” Widman said. “We had a great year last year; we doubled the revenue goals that we anticipated from the fees and we’re on track this year with the great weather to do even better this year.”
Rochester Parks and Rec said it expected last year’s fee increases to net $50,000. It ended up earning double that amount, which has been used to help with several projects on each of the golf courses.
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