The Waterford Municipal Golf Course in Williamstown is set to increase its prices significantly next year.
Speaking at the November Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council, Fianna Fáil Councillor Eamon Quinlan raised the topic, saying that old age pensioners who use the golf course feel they are being unfairly discriminated against by the price hikes.
“I was approached by a couple of old age pensioners who use the Williamstown golf course pretty regularly and they want to bring it to my attention that for adults, students etc. the price raise is 25-35%,” he said.
“They noticed that for old age pensioners the increase is 65%. While they don’t have an objection to paying more, they are taken aback that we [the council] are discriminating in our pricing.
“They thought it might be 20-30% across the board for everybody, but it’s a 65% increase for OAPs.”
In response, Director of Services Michael Quinn said that the price rise may be proportionate with demographic changes.
“It is not specifically my responsibility, but in a lot of cases older users of golf courses had a preferential rate and because of the changing demographics they have actually had to increase the OAP rate,” he said.
“I assume what we are doing in our golf course is that the older person’s rate is going up more than the average rate simply because of the need to reflect the usage of the golf course and then pricing accordingly.”
The matter was followed up later in the month by Independent Councillor Donal Barry who reminded the council executive that they were yet to see the results of the feasibility study for the golf course, which he believed cost €50,000.
“I would ask that the fees for the golf course for old age pensioners and people with disabilities are not raised this year because we gave €50,000 towards a feasibility study there and we haven’t got the results of that back,” Cllr. Barry said.
“Maybe we should look at it again when we get that back to see how the golf course can become viable.”
In addressing the matter more generally Council CEO Seán McKeown confirmed that there was a feasibility study underway, and indicated the golf course is currently costing the council a significant amount of money.
“We have the review underway. It is also important to note that there is a huge subvention currently being provided because of the low membership at the municipal golf course,” Mr. McKeown said.
“It’s continually an audit issue as well … so we’ll keep you posted on the review as that takes place,” he added.
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