SOUTH HADLEY – The Selectboard approved fee increases at The Ledges Golf Club.
Mike Fontaine, the club’s superintendent, said the course was coming off a successful season. “We’ve been able to change the culture. We’re excited about the upcoming year.”
Fontaine proposed modest fee increases for the upcoming season at Tuesday meeting of the Selectboard, mostly tied to gas prices, the state’s new minimum wage, and ensuring the club stays financially sound.
“We have to have the courage to push the envelope to figure out how far we can go before people say that’s too far, and we would have to come back,” he said.
On average, the fees for weekday and weekend rounds would increase by $2 to $3 for resident, nonresident, senior and military players. Junior under 18 and Junior under 13 would pay slightly higher.
Town Administrator Michael Sullivan said that management payments paid to IGN, the company that manages the course, would stay the same. “I wouldn’t want anyone to get the idea that IGN is promoting these increases to make it more profitable for IGN,” Sullivan said.
The course fees are considered town revenues and remain in South Hadley.
Fontaine expects 26,000 rounds for the coming season.
In Fontaine’s report to the Selectboard, he noted a 9% increase in membership revenue, a 30% rise in merchandise sales, and improved coordination between maintenance and operation crews.
Fontaine said South Hadley High School golfers do not pay fees during scheduled matches at the club. The Ledges recently added incentives and discounts for golfers who sign up for memberships or who get others to join.
In other business, the Selectboard accepted the resignations of town board and committee members Ryan LaFond, Carol Gillis, Allyson Garcia, Margaret Jodoin, Janet Veitch and Heater Clark-Blankenbaker.
A Town Hall meeting will take place Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. – noon concerning the renewal of the trash-recycling contract. The forum will update residents on the contract and the future of trash and recycling collection.
The Town Election is scheduled for March 3, coinciding with the Massachusetts presidential primary. Residents can register to vote or make address or party affiliation changes until Feb. 12.
The board also allowed the Drunken Rabbit Brewery at 70A New Ludlow to change its hours of operation. The brewery’s new hours are Monday - Thursday 3:30 – 9 p.m., Friday 3:30 – 10 p.m., Saturday noon – 10 p.m. and Sunday noon – 8 p.m.