Golfers now have a 9-hole annual membership option at Deer Park Golf Course following a unanimous decision by Yorkton Council at its regular meeting Monday.
Darcy McLeod, Director of Community Development, Parks and Recreation said the idea of providing a 9-hole membership is a simple one, to help boost course usage.
A report circulated to Council from McLeod detailed that an October 2009 survey conducted by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), which represents 1,250 golf courses across Canada, noted that the top three barriers to growing the game of golf were:
total time needed to play a round
the cost of the game
negative weather forecast
"Administration is trying to address these barriers by offering a 9-hole season pass to those people that only consider golfing nine holes. Since nine holes of golf are quicker to play it may also result in completing rounds before negative weather sets in. This pass would be established on a one-season trial basis and be re-evaluated following the season," explained the report.
The cost of the 9-hole membership would be based on the same formula as a regular 18-hole one.
"The cost of this pass is based on the Adult season pass as all the passes are at Deer Park. The adult season pass is based on 25 rounds of 18-hole golf therefore the 9-hole season pass would be based on 25 rounds as well; establishing a cost of $631.50. An incentive would be offered to attract people so a rate of $598.00 is being recommended," stated the report.
The 9-hole pass will have limitations, said McLeod.
"This pass is not intended to be an unlimited golf pass like the Adult season pass and so some restrictions will apply. One restriction is that the 9-hole pass is valid for only one use per day. If this restriction was not in place, people could purchase the less expensive pass to receive unlimited golf and revenue would be lost. If a person wants to play 18 holes then they would need to pay for the back half of the 18-hole round. The second restriction is that the pass is valid Mondays through Fridays, and only after 1:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. The golf course is very busy on weekend mornings and relatively slow during weekend afternoons. Administration is hopeful that this restriction will increase weekend afternoon use," detailed the report.
Councillor Les Arnelien questioned whether other courses were offering the 9-hole membership option?
"I don't know anywhere else in Saskatchewan," offered McLeod, adding it has been offered at other courses across Canada.
