Denver Golf is teeing up a fee hike — and weekday golfers would feel it more.
The entity, which runs the city’s eight public golf courses and driving ranges, wants to raise the cost to play an 18-hole round by an average of $2 on weekends and $7 on weekdays.
While playing on the weekend will remain more expensive, the hike would shrink the gap. Denver Golf Director Scott Rethlake told a Denver City Council committee Tuesday that more golfers have been playing during the week because of the flexibility of remote work.
He said other courses across the state also have increased weekday rates.
Rethlake said the increase is meant to keep up with rising operating expenses, which doubled from $9 million in 2018 to about $18 million in 2024.
The increase would generate an additional $2.5 million in annual revenue for the program, Rethlake said. Denver Golf would continue to provide discounts to seniors and youths.
Denver’s golf program is expected to pay for itself and not take funding from elsewhere in the city.
“We are not subsidized by tax dollars, so we rely on revenue to pay our bills,” Rethlake said.
Rethlake said $10 million in upgrades to turf equipment and golf carts is needed in the next three to five years. He also mentioned a new clubhouse for southeast Denver’s Kennedy Golf Course and minor greens renovations as future projects.
City Council will vote on the proposed increase later this month. The increases would take effect April 1.
Story via BusinessDen
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