County Nixes Greens Fees Hike Mccaslin, Harris Oppose Raising Price By 50 Cents
Golfers who play on Spokane County courses will be spared a couple of quarters for greens fees, but may need the money for pancake batter and spaghetti.
Saying they don’t think the courses are being adequately marketed, county Commissioners Kate McCaslin and Phil Harris on Tuesday voted down a proposed rate increase.
The increase, from $14.50 to $15 for 18 holes, would have paid for needed improvements at the three courses.
At Hangman Valley Golf Course, for instance, staff say the clubhouse roof can’t last much longer, and this month’s floods caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to bridges and greens.
The county’s golf advisory committee supported the increase, as did all but one of the handful of golfers who spoke Tuesday.
But Harris and McCaslin opposed the move, saying the top priority for the courses should be drawing more players.
“I will not vote for this increase until I see a (marketing) plan in place,” said McCaslin.
“You’re right on, Kate,” said Harris, who proposed golfers hold spaghetti and pancake feeds to help pay for improvements.
“I’m willing to come out and flip pancakes and help you put that feed on,” Harris said. “Even people who do not play golf will probably come out to help. Everybody eats.”
Commissioner John Roskelley voted in favor of the increase, saying the courses should support themselves and not rely on tax money to fix flood damage.
“The only way to … keep (the courses) in tip-top condition is for them to make money,” Roskelley said.
A similar hearing last year packed the commissioners’ hearing room with golfers. They were angry that Roskelley proposed raising greens fees $2, with half the money going to parks and playgrounds.
Golfers who spoke Tuesday said this year’s proposed increase was less objectionable because it was smaller and would have benefited only the courses.
There was no mention Tuesday about shutting down the Hangman Valley course. Last week, commissioners said that’s an option - though an unlikely one - for preventing costly flood damage.
, DataTimes