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Morrisville Golf Commission approves rate increases for Old Fort course, effective June 1
Summary
The Morrisville Golf Commission voted unanimously April 30 to raise greens and cart fees at Old Fort Golf Course, a move staff says would generate about $400,000 in additional annual revenue to help balance the course budget and cover shortfalls at Bloomfield.
The Morrisville Golf Commission voted unanimously April 30 to raise greens and cart fees at Old Fort Golf Course, setting the new rates to take effect June 1, 2025.
The increases are intended to close operating shortfalls and help cover losses at Bloomfield, staff said. Staff member Troy said, "if we were to increase our rates by this much, that would generate about 400,000 in additional revenue," and that the projection uses the last full open budget year of paid rounds (47,677) with a 5% allowance for decreased play.
Troy outlined the proposed changes as a package focused on the rates that drive the largest share of revenue: a $1 increase for nine-hole greens fees and nine-hole cart rentals across resident and nonresident categories, a $5 increase for 18-hole greens fees, and a $2 increase for 18-hole cart rentals. He noted municipal courses in Morrisville tax only the cart rate; sales tax is not applied to greens fees, so the published examples exclude sales tax. Under the proposal, Troy said the resident weekday 18-hole-with-cart senior rate would be $43.49 (sales tax excluded) compared with the market average he cited at $49.75.
Commission discussion covered how the projection was calculated, possible shifts of play to other local courses, and customer options such as twilight play. Commissioners and staff noted there is strong demand for tee times this year and that the commission expects the course to remain below or close to local market averages even after the increase. Troy said the proposal would provide enough runway to consider typical cost-of-living adjustments for staff and to avoid cutting personnel.
Commissioners asked whether the proposal would be forwarded to city council. Staff explained the commission had adopted a changed practice — mirroring the Parks and Recreation Commission — that fee adjustments approved by the commission do not go to city council for separate approval; staff said there is no ordinance that requires council approval for these adjustments. The commission chose June 1, 2025, as the effective date, noting a 30-day notice period and the financial impact of delaying until July, when the course is closed for renovation and two typically busy months would be lost.
The meeting also included policy and operations clarifications: staff said cart drivers must present a valid driver's license (the rule is enforced at check-in), and commissioners discussed but did not adopt changes to senior-age definitions or a separate twilight pricing structure.
A motion to approve the rate package as presented, effective June 1, 2025, was made, seconded, and carried unanimously by voice/hand vote.
The commission did not adopt other amendments at the meeting; staff said they would provide the underlying calculations and the rounds-based revenue model to commissioners on request.
