THOUSAND OAKS : Council Adopts New Fees for Golf Course

Golfers can expect to pay more to tee off at Los Robles Golf Course in Thousand Oaks this summer.

The Thousand Oaks City Council voted unanimously this week to adopt a new two-tiered fee system to play at the municipal course.

For city residents, the $9 fee to play a round of golf will increase to $12 during the week and $15 on weekends. Non-residents will pay $15 during the week and $20 for weekends.

Golf cart rental fees would also increase, from $13 to $16 for both city residents and non-residents.

The new fees, which become effective June 1, are expected to generate an additional $580,000 a year for the city.

The council decided to raise fees because of increasing costs of operating the course and a rise in the number of golfers who play there. Only about 35% of Los Robles golfers are city residents, officials said.

Fees have not been increased since March, 1988, and last year, about 113,000 rounds of golf were played at the course, making it one of the busiest in the county.

Even with the increase, the fee to play 18 holes at the course will be among the lowest in the county, officials said.

Under a new policy, city residents will also be given preference in reserving a spot on the golf course.

Non-residents must give officials at least seven days notice to play, while residents can reserve a spot eight days in advance.

However, the council delayed a decision on whether the Los Robles men’s and women’s clubs should have priority in reserving tee-off times. Several golfers complained to the council that club members should not be given special privileges because the course is so busy.