By John Schwing

WESTPORT — Fees for golfing and other summertime activities will rise following action by the Parks and Recreation Commission, but a possible silver lining is an early start to the Longshore Golf Course season because of this winter’s unseasonable warmth.

The panel last week approved relatively modest across-the-board increases for all the fees, with commissioners voting to boost several golfing fees slightly higher than proposed by parks and recreation administrators.

All of the fees endorsed by the commission still must get final approval from the Board of Selectwomen.

“Nominal” increases of $1 for most golfing fees initially were recommended in a presentation by Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava.

Those higher fees were justified, according to a staff report, when compared to fees at other area golf courses, as well as looking “ahead to be able to cover the cost of the tee leveling project that is anticipated for this coming fall.”

However, commissioner Matthew Haynes questioned why increases weren’t higher, suggesting a $2 rise for some categories instead of $1 across the board. At that level, he said, Longshore’s fees would remain competitive, but also might avoid the need to ask for larger increases to cover projects in the future.

Jane Dally, of the Golf Advisory Committee, cautioned the commission not to increase fees too steeply, noting that Longshore currently lacks clubhouse amenities available for golfers at courses like Smith-Richardson in Fairfield and Sterling Farms in Stamford.

The lack of such facilities locally is expected to be addressed as one of the major projects in the final version of the Longshore Capital Improvement Plan. The commission is expected to vote on that plan next month.

Following more discussion of the fee structure, commissioners were swayed by Haynes’s idea and voted unanimously to increase fees by $2 in several categories, while others will rise $1.

Fees amended at last Wednesday’s meeting with the $2 increase include:

• Adult-resident handpass for 18 holes, from $31 to $33 Monday through Thursday, and from $33 to $35 Friday through Sunday and holidays. 

• Resident golfers 62 years old and over, 18-hole fees would rise from $33 to $35 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

• Adult-resident handpass for nine holes, from $26 to $28 Monday through Thursday.

All the other fees would rise by $1. (See the accompanying chart for the complete list.)

When commissioners asked when the new golfing season at Longshore might get underway, Fava noted that since the course opening is weather dependent, the unusually warm winter so far may allow play to start earlier than usual.

Summer camp, adult tennis fees

Fee increases for summer activities also were approved by the commission.

The increases, as detailed by Cyndi Palaia, program manager, primarily are needed to cover higher operating expenses for each of the programs. All of the counselors, she noted, are now paid $15 an hour.

Camp Compo, for elementary school students: Fee will rise from $210 to $220 per one-week session. The fee was last changed a year ago.

RECing Crew, for middle school students: Fee will rise from $240 to $260 per one-week session. The fee most recently was raised a year ago.

Adult tennis instruction: Fee will increase from $105 to $115 per session. The fee was last increased in 2018.

John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.