Sunrise Golf posts year-over-year growth; manager proposes modest weekend rate increases

The Sunrise Golf Course reported growth in rounds and revenue for the season and proposed modest rate increases targeted at busy weekend times to continue improving cash flow.

Roger Gallatin, Sunrise manager, said September showed about 10% growth and that the course recorded 2,086 rounds in a recent period; he told the board the facility is on track to exceed last year’s totals. Gallatin said year-to-date revenue growth is evident and that about 40% of rounds come from season-pass holders.

To capture additional revenue, Gallatin proposed modest increases focused on peak weekend times—raising the Saturday rate with cart from $45 to $48—and a roughly 5% increase in some season-pass pricing. He said he wanted to avoid raising rates for seniors or the least-expensive passes that drive weekday play. Gallatin also proposed a limited pre-purchase window allowing customers to buy 2026 passes at this year’s price to generate year-end cash flow.

Board members and a golf-board representative said they supported cautious increases but warned of a rate ceiling beyond which play could fall. One board participant said, “If we continue to push the rates, I'm gonna start feeling concerned about the play,” and another noted that too many rounds can also damage course conditions.

Separately, staff said the $50,000 in current lease payments (primarily for golf carts and some mowers) will be moved off Sunrise’s operating budget and funded next year from the city’s food-and-beverage tax allocation to parks. Gallatin said he expects that change to materially improve the course’s budget position.