Wailua Golf Course fee hike proposed

LIHU‘E — The county quietly sought input last week on a proposal to significantly increase the rates at Wailua Golf Course over the next seven years.

More than 60 people attended an “informal meeting,” Jan. 29, at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e, county spokeswoman Mary Daubert said. Attendees included Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo, Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Kylan Dela Cruz, Finance Director Wally Rezentes Jr., Cost Control Commissioner Sandi Sterker, Wailua Golf Course staff and golf club members.

Some of the golfers asked for the meeting but the Parks and Recreation Department wanted to open it up to all of the golf clubs so they were all invited to attend, Daubert said.

The general public apparently was not invited.

Daubert said the Parks and Recreation Department will use the information gathered last Thursday to make a recommendation at the next Cost Control Commission meeting scheduled for 1 p.m., Monday, at the Mo‘ikeha Building, Liquor Conference Room 3.

“I want to thank those who took the time to attend the meeting and provide us with valuable input as we formulate a recommendation,” the mayor said in a statement. “We also appreciate the work of the Cost Control Commission in helping the county become more fiscally sound in these challenging times.”

Various issues were discussed including rates, course conditions and golf course management, Daubert said.

Regarding fees, the proposal was discussed and input was received, but no decisions have been made, she said. The proposal is the result of the golf course administration’s discussions with representatives from four golf clubs representing the Kaua‘i Golf Association.

“There was general agreement with the CCC recommendation that fees should be adjusted to increase revenues into the golf special fund, but there were many different opinions as to the level of adjustment to be made,” Daubert said.

The proposed increases, which impact non-residents significantly more than residents, are projected to generate $2.14 million in total revenue in the first year and $2.77 million annually by year seven. These figures include an estimated $400,000 annually in concession revenues and nearly $150,000 annually from the driving range, county documents show.

The seven-year fee increase schedule varies by category and is based on the number of rounds in fiscal year 2008. It does not factor in possible diminished play due to the fee increases.

Under the proposal, monthly cards for seniors would jump 35 percent in the first year from $26 to $40; residents would pay 23 percent more with an increase from $46 to $60.

The projected revenue from monthly cards in the first year — based on the 2008 numbers for cards sold (3,060 for seniors, 3,937 for residents) and rounds played (17,942 for seniors, 27,989 for residents) — is $122,400 for seniors and $236,220 for residents. Thereafter, the increase schedule for monthly cards is $5 every other year.

Daily rates for seniors would jump 25 percent to $12 a round in the first year; 33 percent for residents to $15 a round; 47 percent for non-residents to $60 a round; and 67 percent for juniors to $3 a round.

The proposed increases to the daily rates would generate a combined $789,711 in the first year. Again, the county bases this projected revenue on the number of rounds played in 2008 when non-residents played 10,797 rounds; residents, 8,462 rounds; juniors, 2,531 rounds; and seniors, 614 rounds.

Further down the line, the fee increase schedule for daily rates proposes a $3 increase for seniors in year three, another $3 in year five and a $2 bump in year seven. For residents, the daily rates would go up $3 in years three and five, and $4 in year seven. Non-residents would face three $5 bumps per round every other year.

The seven-year rate schedule proposes similar increases for weekends, holidays and twilight rounds.

• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com