Southeast : Golfers Trade Higher Fees for Prime Starting Times

The Montebello City Council on Tuesday raised golf course fees and locked up prime starting times on weekends.

“While not liking the fee increase or policy change, the Men’s Golf Players Club decided it was something they could support in exchange for the benefit of having permanent starting times,” said assistant city administrator Steve Blancarte.

As of May 1, only members of the Men’s Golf Players Club will be able to play weekends between dawn and 11 a.m., in exchange for guaranteeing the city five greens fees and two cart rentals for each permanent start time.

Fees for a round of 18 holes will be $19 on weekdays and $23 on weekends. Cart rentals will rise to $22.

“We’re just keeping pace with everybody else,” said Parks and Recreation manager Ted Spaseff, who conducted a survey of 13 courses in Los Angeles County.

“We’re not at the upper end, just average,” he said. Downey, for example, raised weekend golf fees to $40 for 18 holes.

The City Council also reorganized the system that offers up to 35% discounts to Montebello residents and senior citizens. They must buy an $18 yearly pass at City Hall to qualify. The cost of the card will be recouped by fee savings after three rounds of golf, Spaseff said.

The course averages 80,000 rounds of golf a year, with residents accounting for about a quarter of the use. Revenues are enough to operate the course with a little left over for such improvements as rebuilding tee areas and the driving range. The increase is the first in almost three years.