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Litchfield adopts 6% golf-course rate increase; council acknowledges ongoing subsidy
Summary
The council approved a roughly 6% increase to 2026 golf-course rates and discussed that even with the change the course will operate with a budgeted deficit (about $150,000); staff will return with pro-shop staffing recommendations.
The Litchfield City Council voted to adopt posted 2026 golf-course rate changes — generally about a 6% increase — while acknowledging the course will still operate with a budgeted deficit.
Staff told the council the proposed rate sheet reflected modest increases intended to balance affordability and revenue; alternatives that would close the budget gap would require much larger increases that staff said would likely reduce rounds and season-pass purchases. The packet showed a budgeted golf-course deficit of about $150,000 for the year even with the 6% increase.
Council members discussed comparisons with nearby courses, weather-driven revenue variability, and whether to expand season-pass prices enough to eliminate the deficit. "If we raise the rates drastically, we'd likely lose a lot of players," one councilor said. The council adopted the rates by roll-call vote.
Separately, councilors debated pro-shop management models — a return to more full-time management versus part-time staff plus duty stipends — and directed staff to produce a duty matrix and a recommendation, including proposed hourly rates for additional responsibilities, within two weeks.
