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Sun City West golf committee backs $7 public fee bump, adds $2 peak member‑guest increase and raises card prices
Summary
The committee recommended to the governing board a budget package that raises public peak greens fees by $7 (to $85), adds a $2 peak‑season increase to member‑guest fees and increases unlimited and Twilight card prices; staff said March rounds fell short and will monitor April to close gaps.
The Sun City West Golf Committee on April 9 recommended that the governing board adopt a revised golf budget that raises the public peak greens fee by $7 and adds a $2 peak‑season increase for member‑guest rounds, while increasing unlimited and Twilight card prices.
Cliff Swan, presenting the February year‑to‑date financials, told the committee that "in March, we lost about 4,600 rounds compared to budget" and that February results were favorable but March’s heat created a shortfall staff expects to recover in April. Swan said greens‑fee revenue through February was ahead of prior year but cautioned that April will determine whether the early gains hold.
Committee members and several residents debated whether residents who host guests should bear part of the increase. Resident Dale Haynes said the proposed structure effectively asks "the biggest group of golfers on campus to subsidize guests with no increase," urging a modest increase to member‑guest fees. After discussion, the committee agreed to add a $2 increase for member‑guest play during peak times as a recommendation to the governing board.
Staff emphasized how card billing timing affects recognized revenue and explained the rationale for changes to card prices. Swan and staff described the unlimited card and Twilight card adjustments as steps to better align revenue recognition with usage; committee discussion clarified projected average rounds per card holder and the expected revenue impact.
The committee also discussed potential non‑greens‑fee levers — cart fees and range‑ball pricing — and residents urged exploring those options as alternatives or supplements to green‑fee changes. Staff said cart and range‑ball rates were largely in line with comparable courses and cautioned that changes could have broader operational implications.
The committee approved forwarding the adjusted budget and rate recommendations, including the $7 public increase and the $2 peak member‑guest increase, to the governing board for final approval. Staff will incorporate the change into the formal budget packet to be presented to the board.
