Michigan City Parks board removes 10% early‑purchase discount for 2026 golf season passes

The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board on Sept. 17 voted to remove the 10% early‑purchase discount from the 2026 golf season pass rules, following a staff recommendation and brief public comment.

Board members heard from Parks Superintendent Mrs. Easton, who said the change was a staff recommendation and that the report would be submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for other matters. "The recommendation was to remove the 10% discount," Easton told the board, explaining the department typically sells passes at a year‑end sale and needs finalized language and passes ordered before a November sale.

The change drew mixed reaction. One board member said they would vote against the removal and noted the projected revenue from eliminating the discount was $6,342 but did not favor removing the long‑standing reward for loyal players. Resident Scott Melanchor of Kenner Place urged the board to instead raise greens fees by $2 and keep the 10% discount as a reward for repeat users. "I recommend you raise the greens fees by $2 and keep the 10% as reward for the people who are our most loyal users," Melanchor said.

Staff clarified that recommended fee increases of up to $2 would apply to daily greens fees, not to season pass prices; the golf pro recommended not increasing season pass prices. Board discussion noted that the course’s season pass is already a value — one speaker gave examples that a single season pass can be about $700 and a season pass plus cart about $1,400 — and some board members emphasized keeping the course competitively priced relative to other regional courses.

Formal action: a motion to approve the removal of the 10% discount carried. The meeting transcript records the motion, a second and the chair calling for ayes and nays; the chair announced the motion carried and at least one board member said they would vote no. The transcript does not record a roll‑call vote with individual board member names tied to yes/no tallies.

Why it matters: The change affects season‑pass buyers who historically received an early‑purchase incentive; staff and the golf pro framed the recommendation around sales timing and pass printing logistics, while some board members and residents framed the discount as a customer loyalty reward.

Details and next steps: Staff indicated greens‑fee increases of up to $2 were under consideration for daily rounds, but the recommendation presented to the board did not raise season pass fees and instead removed the end‑of‑year 10% sale discount. The board did not specify additional implementation dates in the public discussion that night; staff will finalize pass language and ordering for the 2026 season.