Amsterdam Muni Golf Course membership fees boosted; greens fees unchanged

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

Greens fees will remain unchanged at Amsterdam’s Arthur Carter Municipal Golf Course, but the city’s Golf Commission agreed Wednesday to increase the cost of seasonal memberships.

Commission members discussed the need to develop a more active marketing strategy for the course and other ideas aimed at bringing more guests to the recreational site, one of few in the region designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Standard membership will increase from $650 to $700.

A family membership — based on two people — will increase from $1,060 to $1,160.

Junior memberships, for those 18 and under, will increase by $10 to $150 for the season.

The senior membership will increase by $50 to $675, senior family membership will go up $100 to $1,110 and the senior limited membership — restricted to Monday through Friday — will cost $635, an increase of $50.

The commission created a new membership level for this year: young adult, which will cater to those age 19 to 25. They’ll pay $350 for the season.

Greens fees Mondays through Thursdays will remain $25 before 3 p.m. and $17 after 3 p.m.

Greens fees Friday through Sunday and holidays will remain $28.

The cost for golf tournaments will increase from $1,600 to $1,700.

The commission discussed the idea of increasing rates for those living outside the city of Amsterdam to give locals a benefit, but the idea was rejected for fear of losing out-of-towners.

Commission member Dave Putman said he is behind the idea but there isn’t sufficient data to determine the impact. “There should be a perk for living in the city,” he said.

Commission member Ron Barone said the golf course used to charge more for those outside the city but the difference was eliminated years ago to try to draw more golfers.

City Controller Heather Reynicke told the commission she doesn’t see any changes that might increase revenues from the golf course, a goal of city officials.

Doing so, commission member Ralph Gaetano said, will require drawing more golfers to the course.

“You’ve got to get more people there,” Gaetano said.

The 182-acre, 18-hole course will be getting roughly $468,000 in upgrades this season. It’s hoped the work can begin as soon as the weather allows, commission member Rene Knudsen said.

The upgrades, to be funded by money the city borrowed, will include reconstruction of tee boxes, cart path renovations and drainage improvements.

Putman said he doesn’t expect those improvements to boost usage right away, but he hopes they will encourage those paying by the day to consider a membership instead.