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Supervisors reject proposed 15% Harding Park green-fee increase after debate on revenue and access
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted down proposed 15% fee increases for Harding Park golf course. Members disagreed about whether the increase would raise revenue or price residents and youth out of play; separate votes on residents and nonresidents failed.
The Board of Supervisors on June 12 rejected proposals to raise green fees at Harding Park Golf Course by 15%, after divided debate over revenue projections and access.
Supervisor Jake McGoldrick introduced the measure, describing a three-year plan intended to address a persistent deficit at Harding Park tied in part to capital spending and a contract the city views as underperforming. McGoldrick said the increase would be phased and paired with steps such as corporate sponsorships and improved performance at the contractor, and estimated a realistic additional revenue figure in the $350,000 to $390,000 range.
Opponents pointed to the city9s budget analyst, who warned that previous fee increases had reduced rounds and could, under plausible assumptions, produce lower revenue rather than higher revenue. Supervisor Chris Ellsberg argued that a 15% increase could make Harding Park the most expensive public course in the Bay Area and price out many regular users, including high school teams.
Votes and outcomes: The board divided the question to consider resident and nonresident fee increases separately. On the 15% increase for residents the roll call produced four ayes and seven noes; that portion of the ordinance failed. The subsequent vote on a 15% increase for nonresidents (including seniors and junior categories) received five ayes and six noes and also failed. The clerk announced, "The ordinance fails."
Why it matters: Supporters said the course needs time to turn around operating performance and argued a multi-year approach is preferable to a long-term lease that could transfer control to a private operator. Opponents said fee increases risk reducing rounds and will disproportionately affect lower-income players and youth programming.
Quotes: "If this proposal goes forward, a nonresident will be paying more to play Harding Park than the Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay," Supervisor Chris Ellsberg said. Supervisor McGoldrick said, "I'll say we are somewhere in the $350,000 to $390,000 range in terms of how much more we will get," while acknowledging that staff estimates included possible decreases under prior patterns.
Next steps: With the ordinance failing, no fee increase was adopted on June 12. Supervisors discussed pursuing sponsorships and operational changes as part of a multi-year approach, and supporters said they would continue working on performance and financial measures for the course.
