GOLF isn't only a four-letter word. It's a sin, in the eyes of the city administration, especially Mayor Jeremy Harris. Golf ‘tax’ could
hurt in long runThat's the only way I can figure the mayor's proposed 50 percent increase in golf fees for the six municipal courses that could go into effect by this summer. It's a sin tax, much like a tax on smoking. Smokers and golfers are cravers anyway.
Why tennis players, who burn up Honolulu's city lights playing at night, don't pay a user fee, I don't know.
To defray a projected $130 million shortfall in the $1.02 billion city budget, Harris has proposed raising the golf fees. It's really a regressive tax when you think about it because those who can afford to pay for golf aren't sweating it. No country club members give a hoot.
Just the everyday folks, that is, if you're among the lucky ones who can get a tee time at Ala Wai or any of the other five municipal courses.
The rate increase is subject to the approval by the City Council and the hearing on it will be held on May 10 at Honolulu Hale. It's expected to pass without much opposition, even among golfers.
They know they've enjoyed a good thing for a long time.
THE golf fees at the city's courses -- Ala Wai, Pali, Makalena, West Loch, Ewa Villages and Kahuku -- are, or at least once were, the best bargain in Hawaii.
The weekday rate for residents with a city identification card is $17 with shared cart. Under the proposed rate increase, the weekday rate with shared cart will be $25. On weekends it'll be raised from $21 to $31. The nonresident rate will be raised from $40 to $50, not counting the $20 cart fee for two riders.
Shrewdly, though, there will be no increase for senior golfers, those 65 and older.
"They're the biggest grumblers, so the mayor wouldn't dare raise their fees," one Ala Wai regular told me.
Junior golfers, those 17 years of age in school or under, still will only pay a $10 green fee.
But, as I said, there won't be much of a squawk from the golfers.
"It's still not bad," said one West Loch golfer yesterday. "But I'm going to raise hell anyway. That way they won't raise the rate again so soon."
Realistically, though, isn't the city taking a chance that the rate increase will turn golfers off, forcing them to play less and possibly see a drop in golf revenue?
Based on figures from the last fiscal year, the Ala Wai Course generated $2.3 million in revenue, West Loch $1.8 million, Ewa Villages $1.7 million and the Pali and Makalena courses $1.5 million each. Kahuku, a nine-hole course, grossed around $200,000.
The use of carts, which the city leases, is a big money-maker, accounting for $3.1 million of the $9.2-million golf revenue.
One city golf observer expects the golf revenue will increase by some $2 million overall with the proposed rate hike. That's taking into account an anticipated 50 percent drop in play at Makalena, and 30 percent drop at the Pali, West Loch and Ewa Villages courses because of the rate increase.
"Ala Wai," he said, "will not have any drop in play because it's so popular. The play there will continue to be heavy, no matter what the green fee is."
Happiest about the city's proposed rate increase are a number of Oahu courses open to public play.
Their week-day prices will become more competitive: Waikele ($40, $45 Thursday and Friday), Mililani ($39), Kapolei ($50), Olomana ($35, $25 after 12:30 p.m.), Hawaii Kai ($42) and Pearl Country Club ($39, $42 Wednesday through Friday).