Rexburg approves golf fee changes after debate over private carts and residency discounts

The Rexburg City Council approved changes to golf-course fees that increase nonlocal rates and remove a separate trail fee for private carts while providing a 20% discount for Madison County residents. The fee package was adopted as part of a broader city-and-county fee schedule, but it generated sustained discussion from council members, golf-board representatives and city staff about enforcement, proof of residency and unintended effects on course operations.

John, a representative of the golf board, told the council that the board recommends increasing green fees by about 20 percent for non-county play and offering a 20 percent discount for Madison County residents so local players’ prices would remain largely unchanged. "We've seen a lot of play come in from outside the county, and so... we recommend increasing the rates by about 20 percent and then offer a 20 percent discount for Madison County residents," John said during the presentation.

The board also proposed deleting the separate trail fee charged to people who bring their own carts, and instead charging the same per-round rate whether a player uses a city cart or a private cart. The stated rationale was operational simplicity for the front desk and to recover…