Teeing Off at Balboa, Torrey Pines Will Cost More for Non-Residents

Beginning Jan. 15, golfers from outside San Diego will be paying more to play 18 holes at the Balboa Park and Torrey Pines municipal courses.

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a new schedule of fees to raise nearly $6.5 million for capital improvements needed at the courses over the next several years.

The new schedule includes modest fee increases for San Diego residents:

At Torrey Pines, the fees were raised to $10 from $9.25 for 18 holes during the day; to $5 from $4.75 for the 9-hole twilight rate, and to $11 from $9.25 for 18 holes on the weekend.

At Balboa Park, the increases for San Diego residents went to $10 from $9.25 for 18 holes on a weekday; to $11 from $9.25 for the weekend, and to $5 from $4.25 for a 9-hole twilight round.

Monthly tickets, which allow 20 rounds during any 30 days, were kept the same for students ($8.25) and senior citizens ($34) but raised for those from 19 to 61, to $50 from $34.

The biggest increases, however, were reserved for those from outside the city limits.

Council members created a new class of fees and put increases in effect for people living outside the city but within San Diego County.

At Torrey Pines’ two courses, the new county rates were increased to $15 from $12.25 for a weekday round of 18 holes, and to $18 from $14.25 for 18 holes on the weekend. The 9-hole twilight round price was actually reduced, to $7.50 from $7.75.

At Balboa Park, which has an 18-hole and a 9-hole course, the non-resident rates were raised to $13 from $12.25 for 18 holes during a weekday, and to $15 from $12.25 for 18 holes on the weekend. County residents will pay a reduced rate--$6 from $6.75--for a 9-hole round at twilight.

Even stiffer increases are in store for golfers from outside San Diego County.

Torrey Pines: to $20 from $12.25 for 18 holes on weekdays, to $25 from $14.25 for 18 holes on the weekend, and to $10 from $7.75 for a 9-hole twilight round.

Balboa Park: to $15 from $12.25 for a weekday round, to $20 from $12.25 for the weekend and to $7.50 from $6.75 for a 9-hole twilight round.

George Loveland, director of the city’s Park and Recreation Department, said the higher fees will bring in an additional $666,000 to Torrey Pines and $186,000 to Balboa Park for needed maintenance and construction projects.

Total cost of projects at Torrey Pines is about $3.3 million. At Balboa Park, the city has about $3.2 million worth of work.