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The Springfield News-Sun provides complete coverage of the National Trail Parks and Recreation District, including recent stories on renovations to the pumpkin carriage in Veteran’s Park and shortfalls at both the golf and pool operations this year.
The National Trail Parks and Recreation District will lower some golf fees in an attempt to increase rounds and stay competitive with other local courses.
The 18-hole weekday rates were reduced by $4 to $25 with a cart and $15 for walking, effective next year. The National Trail board members approved the changes Monday.
“Our mission is to give quality, safe, economical choices for our residents,” district Executive Director Leann Castillo said.
No changes were made to weekend or nine-hole greens fees, memberships, cart, driving range or miscellaneous fees.
The board also agreed to a standard rate for golfers in leagues who play Monday through Friday. The 18-hole league fee is also $25 for a cart and $15 to walk. Less than 30 percent of league members are pass holders, Castillo said.
Last year, from open until 11 a.m., an 18-hole greens fee was $29 with a cart and $19 to walk. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the fee was then reduced by $4.
Members of the Snyder Park Ladies League spoke out about the possibility of changing the fees for league members.
The group had 44 members two years ago when it played at the former Snyder Park Golf Course. After that course was closed in January, the league moved to Reid Park Golf Course, but many of the women opted to play at other courses due to cheaper fees, members said.
The league had 26 members last summer, golfer Bev Kitchen said. Many of the women only play once a week, so she said it doesn’t make sense to purchase a season pass.
“We’d like to get some of the gals back playing again and I’m sure they would if there was an incentive to play,” Kitchen said.
Reid Park struggled with conditions this season, including the tee boxes and ponds, golfer Cheryl Miller said, and the rough was also very long at the end of the season.
It was hard to encourage out-of-town golfers to play at Reid due to the conditions, Miller said, and the $29 price point.
“Our greens were great, but we lacked as far as maintenance with the crews cutting,” she said.
The district had a tough time maintaining parts of the course this summer due to issues with seasonal employees, Castillo said.
The board increased fees by $1 for the 2014 season last March.
Through Sept. 30, more than 33,100 rounds of golf were played at the two 18-hole Reid Park courses this year. Of those rounds, about 5 percent were played on weekdays between open and 11 a.m. But nearly 21 percent were played when the fees dropped between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The district could lose about $7,000 with the price cut, but it hopes to gain those rounds back and more with the cost reduction, Board Member Jim Kincaid said.
It will also help the district promote its golf courses against the competition, he said.
“It’s worth a shot,” Kincaid said.
If the rounds of play or the district’s bottom line doesn’t improve, board member Jack Simonton said National Trail might be faced with another tough decision in a year or two.
The district also needs the support of both the city and county commissions, he said.
“Our salvation will be increased rounds of golf,” Simonton said.
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