San Mateo resident urges end to 14‑day VIP reservation window at municipal golf course, cites no‑show losses

A resident and long‑time San Mateo business owner urged the Parks and Recreation Commission to end a 14‑day advance reservation window for VIP members at the San Mateo Municipal Golf Course, saying VIP no‑shows and extended exclusive reservations restrict access for other players and reduce city revenues.

"The VIP who made the reservation could do the same thing all month long with no penalty," the commenter said, asking the commission to deduct no‑shows from VIP dues when reporting revenue and to consider the hardship on residents. The commenter said they arrived for an 8:40 a.m. tee time and teed off alone because the VIP who reserved the slot did not show, calling the situation a loss of roughly $180 in green fees and associated revenue.

The commenter also raised safety concerns, saying they "avoided a confrontation with a VIP member with a reputation for bar fights" and that such interactions could threaten residents. The commenter presented a petition with more than 100 signatures and asked the commission to treat the municipal golf course more like a standard municipal facility and to reconsider the 14‑day VIP privilege.

During the discussion staff said the city follows current policies for the VIP program. A public question about whether treated water from the Poplar Creek water treatment plant could irrigate the golf course prompted a response from Steph, a city staff member: "I believe that it's not a possibility based on the design of the treatment plant," Steph said, adding staff will continue to look for improvements but that the treatment plant design did not include that irrigation supply.

The comment was made during the meeting's public comment period; there was no formal motion or vote tied to the request. Commission members did not take action during the meeting and referred the comment to staff for follow up.