Tiger Woods isn’t the only one swinging an impact at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
If the city’s five-year plan for its three municipal golf courses is approved, fees for all users will increase, county golfers will pay the non-resident price and the cost of using the South Course at Torrey Pines will skyrocket following the 2008 U.S. Open.
In addition, Torrey Pines has a $14 million project on the table to build a new clubhouse and tournament support building, add bunkers to two holes on the South Course and create more parking.
The City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department issued the proposals in its draft five-year plan. The final plan was released after the Village News went to press. To view the final version, visit www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation and click on Golf Complexes.
For the North Course, residents would pay $6 more in 2007 to play 18 holes on the weekend, and the fee would rise incrementally by $2 until 2011. Non-residents would pay $15 more, increasing by $6 annually. The tournament charge would go up $35, increasing $8 annually.
Resident ID cards would cost $13 more in 2007, and Junior Tickets (good for one month) would increase by $21.50 in 2007. County players would no longer be considered “residents” and would have to pay the non-resident rate.
Contingent upon an agreement, the city will not increase its rates for the South Course until one year after the 2008 U.S. Open. In 2010, the resident fee for 18 holes on the weekend would increase by $30.
Non-residents sustain the South Course, according to the report. A round of golf costs the city $56.50, whereas residents pay $40. Non-resident fees also generate revenue for capital projects.
“All in all, the South Course is a more popular non-resident golf course than the North and staff needs to recognize this difference and manage it accordingly,” the draft report said. “South has the potential to generate substantial revenue to assist with capital projects for Torrey Pines and the entire golf enterprise system and help support the other golf courses.”
Under the draft plan, golfers can also rent the South Course for the day at a higher cost than the standard fee. The report cited Bethpage, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2002, as having sold the course fives times for $100,000 each.
Players would also be able to schedule a tee time 90 days in advance for the non-resident fee, plus a surcharge.
The plan maintains the tee allocation ratio of 70 percent for residents and 30 percent for non-residents. Five rounds of golf are reserved daily for the Torrey Pines Lodge, Hilton hotel and Pro Shop Operation, according to Mark Woodward, director of golf operations for the city.
The city will bring the final five-year plan before the Golf Advisory Council (GAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Metro Operations Center II, 9192 Topaz Way in Kearny Mesa. The meeting is open to the public for input.
GAC will recommend approval for the plan, deny the plan or suggest modifications. The plan will come before the San Diego City Council in March at the earliest. GAC last reviewed the draft in January.
GAC is made up of approximately 12 to 15 members who are players, at-large members or stakeholders, including members from the men and women’s golf clubs, representatives from the facilities, Torrey Pines Lodge, Hilton hotel and Pro Shop Operation.
The proposed new 27,000-square-foot clubhouse will cost $6 million and include a golf shop, offices for city employees, a new snack bar and expanded storage area. The old clubhouse would be demolished. The parking expansion would add approximately 333 more spaces.
Bunkers would be added to holes 6 and 8 on the South Course and additional tee areas would be added to five holes.
The city’s Golf Enterprise Fund would pay for the clubhouse, parking lot, new bunkers and tee boxes. Player fees provide revenue for the enterprise fund.
The 11,000-square-foot tournament support building would include a new locker room for tournaments, a board room for the men and women’s golf clubs, a pavilion to host tournament events, offices for the Century Club and Junior Golf Association, a learning center for children, a teaching facility for professionals and a storage area.
The Century Club will pay the $3.2 million for the building. The Century Club was founded to bring a PGA tour to San Diego, improve the tournament each year and to generate revenue for charity in the process.
Construction is projected to begin in July 2006. Golf operations will continue while construction is underway.
City Council will certify, modify or deny the mitigated negative declaration (the environmental report) on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. at council chambers, 202 C St.
The public can give input at the meeting, by mail to: City Clerk, City Administration Building, 202 C St. San Diego, CA 92101-3862; by email: [email protected]; or by fax: (619) 533 4045.