Cedar Hill Golf Course may increase fees, end relationship with golf club

It may soon cost more to golf at the Cedar Hill Golf Course, one of Greater Victoria’s oldest and most popular public golf courses.

A consultant’s report will be presented to Saanich council on Thursday night recommending an increase in fees and dissolving the municipality’s 70-year relationship with the Cedar Hill Golf Club.

During peak hours, the consultant, Global Golf Advisors (GGA), suggests a green fee of $54, up from $51. Its recommendations would also see the annual pass phased out and replaced with a flex pass.

The Cedar Hill Golf Club pays fees and gets access to preferred tee times and free boardroom rentals valued at over $10,000 per year, according to the report.

Cedar Hill Golf Course is owned by Saanich and with its exploding popularity, the municipality believes the changes would provide a more fair playing field.

“[In] the consultant’s report, they articulated that preferential club associated relationships at municipal golf courses are exceedingly rare because in municipalities, we’re not a private golf course and we do attempt to bring fair value to all residents of Saanich,” said Tiana Solares, senior manager of the municipality’s recreation services.

READ MORE: Greater Victoria golfers scramble to find tee times as courses fill up

The report states the current relationship grants exclusive and high value benefits to the club at no charge and “does not reflect that commitment to fairness and equity and is no longer sustainable.”

Instead, the consultant recommends dissolving the formal relationship with the club and says the municipality should encourage them to stay intact and continue offering to host events for the club along with other organizations.

GGA is also advising Saanich to adopt an operating model that would have a golf management contractor run the course.

As of right now, there are about 300 tee times available every day at the century-old golf course.

Saanich parks staff say with these changes, the course would be a more welcoming place for everyone, not just club members.

READ MORE: History and traditions of Cedar Hill Golf Course

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