Oxnard Council Ends Members’ Free Golf Play

City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to end a controversial policy that allows them to play for free at the city-owned River Ridge Golf Course.

With little discussion, Councilmen Tom Holden, Bedford Pinkard, John Zaragoza and Mayor Manuel Lopez voted to abolish the policy. Councilman Dean Maulhardt was away on vacation. A handful of residents urged the council to end the policy. “I always thought elected officials weren’t supposed to get any gratuities,” said Bernard Dunhom, a frequent council critic. “I don’t care if it’s golf, badminton or what.” The policy of free play was reported by The Times in January. It had been instituted by the city’s now-defunct golf commission about 10 years ago and was extended to include some former council members.

“This is long overdue,” Lopez, who does not golf, said before the meeting. “There’s no reason for it.”

Zaragoza, one of four council members who play the game, criticized the perk after playing a round at River Ridge soon after being elected. He said at the time he was surprised to learn he would not be charged a greens fee and insisted on paying.

The Ventura County Grand Jury investigated the policy and concluded the practice was not illegal, but recommended Oxnard officials reconsider the free-play privilege.

Meanwhile, numerous residents assailed the free play as unethical during the golf course’s annual review last month.

Defenders of the policy said the free rounds have allowed them to monitor fairway conditions and management practices at the golf course. In recent years, Holden, Maulhardt and former Councilman Andres Herrera have played for free about once every two months, course officials said.

The weekday charge for Oxnard residents is $16 and rises to $20 on weekends.

Course managers, who say the furor over free golf has overshadowed numerous improvements to River Ridge, said council members stopped taking advantage of the perk after The Times disclosed the practice. This past summer, Holden, Maulhardt and Pinkard have played at River Ridge, and all have paid, officials said.