San Mateo Parks commissioners review 6-month pilot to change Poplar Creek VIP booking windows

The San Mateo City Parks and Recreation Commission on May 7 heard a presentation on a proposed six-month pilot to change the Poplar Creek Golf Course VIP membership booking windows and sought public feedback before any decision.

Commissioners and staff said the pilot is intended to balance resident access with the golf course’s recent profitability and year-round demand. Kevin Kobayashi, golf services manager at Poplar Creek, told the commission the pilot would keep a 14-day booking window for VIP members but reduce the number of “prime” tee times VIPs could reserve; residents’ advance booking would move from eight to 10 days with a small number of prime tee times reserved for residents. Kobayashi said the trial would begin when the facility (food and beverage/restaurant) reopens to avoid further disruption and run for six months to capture seasonal data.

The proposal arose after staff fielded resident complaints that the current 14-day VIP window gives nonresidents disproportionate access to municipal tee times. Kobayashi said the VIP program, introduced in July 2021, is a monthly subscription that costs $29.99 and currently averages about 250 members. He said the program increased the golf course’s four‑year average tee-time utilization from about 61 percent before the program to about 77 percent since its start, and brings in roughly $90,000 a year in membership revenue. Annual play has averaged 80,000 rounds since the program’s inception, with one recent weather-impacted year dipping to about 75,000.

Kobayashi described survey results staff collected from invited VIP members: the invitation went to 50 members, 20 responded, and 12 provided detailed feedback. Among those respondents, 100 percent said they were satisfied with a 14-day booking window and with available inventory; 83 percent said they were willing to allow specific times to be blocked for residents; and 58 percent said they would remain VIP members if the proposed pilot became permanent. Based on those responses and membership composition, staff estimated the pilot could reduce annual membership dues revenue by roughly $30,000 to $40,000 if some members cancel or if residents stop paying for VIP access.

Public commenters urged staff and commissioners to prioritize on-course maintenance and basic facilities. Diane McLean, a long-time Poplar Creek golfer, asked whether course wells had been repaired and said restroom and food-service closures have made the course harder to use, especially for older players. Michael Sevilla presented a petition with 113 signatures calling for ending or limiting the 14-day VIP reservation window; he also raised concerns about compliance with the city charter and municipal code. Other commenters supported testing the pilot to find a compromise.

Joanne (Facilities Division, Public Works) told the commission the Public Works facilities division is managing restaurant and restroom repairs but could not give a firm timeline; she said the work will likely take several more months and that staff will post updates when available. She added that a new golf-course well project is expected to be presented to the City Council for approval for construction in June or July.

Commissioners asked for more granular data and cautioned about the golf course’s thin operating margin. Vice Chair Witcher noted the course’s net contribution to the city was modest in recent years and warned a small revenue drop could push the operation toward a loss; Kobayashi said the course has returned money to the general fund each recent year and that the golf operation’s return has covered an existing renovation bond payment that runs through 2029. Commissioners and staff agreed to collect more feedback during the pilot, use the course’s point-of-sale and tee-sheet reports to track effects, and return to the commission with recommendations.

Kobayashi said staff intends to solicit feedback from VIP members and residents during the six-month pilot and report back to the commission with any recommended adjustments. No action or vote was taken; the item was presented for input only.