Bill would let ID-holding youths play golf for free

Oahu youths holding golf identification cards will be able to play golf for free at any of the six city-owned courses starting July 1 under a bill expected to be signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell in the coming days.

Bill 46 eliminates the $17 weekday fee and $19 weekend/holiday fee for juniors, defined as children ages 8 to 17.

To make up the roughly $45,000 in lost revenue, fees for adults without ID cards will rise to $66 a round from the current $55. Adults with ID cards will continue to pay $26 a round on weekends and holidays, $22 on weekdays. A senior weekday discount rate of $17 a round will also stay in place.

(The golf ID card provides a discount for residents, who must show either a Hawaii driver’s license or Hawaii state ID to obtain one. They are available for free at the Ala Wai, Pali and Ted Makalena golf courses.)

The free keiki golf proposal was made by city Councilman Trevor Ozawa, a golfer since childhood.

“What kid has an extra $20 to spend? Kids should be kids and they should be enjoying sports that they find interesting and are passionate about,” Ozawa said.

Enterprise Services Director Guy Kaulukukui said the administration supports Ozawa’s plan and believes it will help continue operations of the municipal golf courses that have been hit with a decline in popularity that’s consistent with a nationwide trend.

In fiscal 2016, the city recorded 375,710 rounds played on municipal courses, down 19 percent from the 465,154 rounds played in 2012.

“It’s a strong move to try to build the market for golf,” Kaulukukui said. “We want to grow younger golfers … who eventually become full-paying golfers later.” Until then, free keiki golf will hopefully attract their parents and other adults to the greens as well, he said.

Bill 46 initially was introduced by the Caldwell administration with the intent of lowering the rates of all ID card holders by $3 to $4 that was to be countered with increasing fees for those without IDs by $5 to $10, to $65 on weekends and $60 on weekdays.

Ozawa first proposed changing the bill to provide free golf for both keiki and seniors. That proposal would have cost a projected $645,000 annually, raising concerns by the administration about the lost revenue, Kaulukukui said. But the administration felt the $45,000 in potential lost revenue, coupled with a possible increase in overall paid rounds by adults, not only made sense but might ultimately prove to be a boon, he said.

Non-senior adults with IDs comprise about 48 percent of municipal golf revenues, seniors about 45 percent and junior golfers only 1 percent, Kaulukukui said.

The free keiki golf policy would not apply to the fees charged for organized junior golf play, which are part of a separate fee structure, Kaulukukui said.