Rec & Park proposes golf rate increases, flexible pricing and higher pro tennis fees; items continued for public comment

Recreation and Park Department Director Phil Ginsberg and staff told the Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee on June 25 that proposed changes to municipal golf fees and rates for professional tennis instruction aim to shore up earned revenue and modernize pricing.

Katie Petruccione, speaking for the department, said the golf ordinance would update fees for Fleming, Golden Gate Park and Lincoln courses to reflect Consumer Price Index increases and raise resident and nonresident rates at Sharp Park and Harding — Sharp Park resident rounds would rise by $2 and nonresident by $4, and Harding resident and nonresident rates by $5 each. The measure would also expand flexible market pricing, currently used at Harding, to all municipal courses; under the proposal the department could offer discounts up to 25% and increase fees up to 25% for residents (and up to 50% for nonresidents) during peak demand periods. "Flexible pricing has been very successful at Harding," Petruccione said, noting it allowed the city to increase rates during the US Open and discount them during slow periods.

Ginsberg framed the changes as part of a broader revenue strategy: "Approximately a third of Rec and Park's budget is earned revenue," he said, citing income from concessions, permits and facility rentals. The department said the adjustments are intended to keep municipal golf competitive with private courses and to capture peak market demand while preserving resident access.

On tennis, Petruccione said the department is proposing to raise the fees charged to contracted professional tennis instructors by $5–$20 per category to better match comparable organizations in the Bay Area, which are typically charging $30–$50 more per hour than current Rec & Park rates. She added the change would apply to private, contracted professionals, not to Rec & Park’s own staff‑run programming.

Supervisors pressed staff on equity, public‑access concerns and the subsidy status of individual courses. Supervisor Avalos asked whether Sharp Park’s finances would still require a general‑fund subsidy; staff said Sharp Park was expected to be near break‑even in the budget year but that the Golf Fund overall requires general‑fund support, mostly related to Harding Park operations. Several supervisors also pressed for clearer accounting of the Golf Fund and choices that keep public access affordable while capturing revenue from out‑of‑region players.

Committee action: the committee agreed to continue both items to the next day for public comment; no vote was taken on the ordinances at this hearing.

What’s next: the two ordinances will be heard Friday for public testimony. If approved after public comment, the flexible pricing framework and rate changes would be implemented under the park code changes described by staff.