At the Oct. 27 Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, a steady stream of public commenters urged the commission to reverse or moderate proposed green-fee and resident-card increases, saying the hikes would put public golf out of reach for many long-time residents.

The speakers, largely players and league representatives who identified themselves as regular users of municipal courses, said the increases would reduce play, disrupt community groups and cut ancillary local spending by players. "It's unacceptable for us to have a 64% fee increase," said Jackie Bowman, who introduced herself as "president of Chocolate Street Butter and Spa Club," during public comment. "We're out on the course when we see the Learjets flying over ... they're going down valley to play private country clubs. We do not have access to that."

Why it matters: Commenters said the changes threaten both affordability and community cohesion. Several speakers pointed to cost comparisons and to bond-service timing as reasons the proposed fee changes should be revisited. "I made a phone call today to the City of Palm Desert and La Quinta Parks and Rec. Their resident cards are $50 a year. Ours is proposed to go from $37 to $61," Bowman said, adding that green fees were "going up almost to a $100 from high fifties." Another commenter noted that after the bond is paid off, the course could generate substantial profit for the city and questioned why residents would shoulder the immediate increase.

Speakers pressed two specific asks: a technical review of the consultant's cost model and formation of an ad hoc committee representing men's and women's league membership. "If the consultants included debt service in their analysis and that grew the spike in the cost ... that's just wrong," said Anne Walsh, who said she had followed the budget and requested staff recheck the consultants' assumptions. Multiple speakers, including league officers, said higher fees would reduce rounds played and could drive leagues to other courses where green fees remain lower.

League and user perspectives: Members of organized groups described the local and downstream impacts. "We bring a lot of revenue to the public course and then spend another $3,000 or $4,500" at the clubhouse, said Mitch Howard, identifying himself with an events club that he said runs roughly 150 members. A representative of a women's group said club members regularly support the on-site restaurant and maintain course conditions through volunteer care.

Commission response and next steps: During commissioner comments later in the meeting, a commissioner suggested forming an ad hoc golf committee that would include representatives from men's and women's leagues and one or two commissioners. The commission requested volunteers to serve; no formal motion to change fees was taken at the meeting. Staff and commissioners acknowledged they could not answer detailed policy questions during public comment but encouraged commenters to follow up via the department's general email (RecInfo@not-specified in meeting) so staff could gather details and respond.

What was not decided: No vote or formal action to change the proposed fee schedule occurred at the Oct. 27 meeting. Commissioners did not adopt targets or a new fee schedule on the record; the record shows only public comment, a request to review consultant calculations, and the suggestion to form an ad hoc committee to give league members a formal channel for input.