Odessa council approves first golf-rate increase at Ratliff Ranch since 2017

The City Council of Odessa unanimously approved an ordinance to raise rates at Ratliff Ranch Golf Course, the first change the presenter said since 2017. Council voted to adopt the rate changes after staff described market alignment and inflation-driven cost increases.

City staff presented the proposed rate changes: small adjustments to green and cart fees, an increase in individual and family annual passes (staff said the single pass would rise from $1,200 to $1,600 and the family pass from $1,500 to $2,000), elimination of an underused weekday-only pass, and increases to driving-range buckets and range-card pricing. Staff also introduced a new junior weekend rate of $20 (replacing full-price weekend green fees for juniors) and modest increases to senior and junior seasonal rates.

Council asked whether any of the revenue would be used to increase staffing or marshals for pace-of-play enforcement; staff said the marshal program is volunteer-based and the course continues to recruit volunteers, and acknowledged pace-of-play as an operational concern. The council-approved motion to adopt the rate adjustments passed unanimously.

Staff characterized the change as a revenue alignment with neighboring courses and an update to address inflationary pressures since 2017. No staffing changes or specific revenue uses were adopted on the record.