Council backs higher tournament fees at McCall golf course; asks staff for analysis of smaller across‑the‑board increases

The McCall City Council directed staff to schedule a public hearing on a proposed increase to golf tournament entry fees and asked staff for further analysis of small, across‑the‑board fee increases for other golf products to build capital reserves for course improvements.

Phil (last name not listed), the city’s golf superintendent/manager, reviewed season activity and a proposal to raise tournament fees while leaving regular green fees, carts and season passes unchanged for now. He told council tournaments generate a disproportionate share of retail revenue and carry participant credit that often is spent back at the course; raising tournament fees would capture more revenue from high‑demand events. Phil said a modest 3% across‑the‑board increase on green fees, carts, season passes and similar items would yield roughly $47,000 to $50,000 using 2024 revenue as a baseline, while a larger targeted tournament fee increase could produce additional revenue (staff estimated up to about $90,000 in a modeled scenario).

Council members expressed support for raising tournament fees but asked for more detail before increasing standard green fees. Mayor Bob Giles and other council members underscored the golf course’s capital needs — primarily irrigation repairs and ongoing maintenance — and asked staff to prepare a short five‑year capital‑needs picture and a projection showing how a 3% increase would affect reserves and the ability to fund irrigation and other improvements.

Council also discussed season pass pricing and the after‑hours pass structure; staff said season pass sales have increased while after‑4 pass demand has fallen. Phil said the course captured more than half the regional rounds in the prior year and highlighted high tournament demand and wait lists.

Council did not adopt an across‑the‑board increase at the meeting but directed staff to prepare a financial analysis for the next budget meeting and to schedule and publish a public hearing for the tournament fee changes that staff recommended moving forward. The city noted that hearings are required if fee changes exceed a statutory threshold; staff will manage publication and notice requirements for any hearings.