I was surprised to read in the Herald that the front nine at the Hillcrest Golf Course will be closed for renovations in late August, then the back nine will close. It certainly was not understood that this would occur when we purchased our season’s family membership pass.
The Hillcrest Board’s golf priorities are certainly not the same priorities as mine and of others I know. A public golf course should be just that – for the public.
Instead of spending $500,000 on improvements the great majority of Hillcrest golfers will not benefit from, the priority should be encouraging more golfers to enjoy the Hillcrest course by significantly reducing daily and seasonal rates and cart fees and setting up a fund to subsidize student golfers and instruction of young golfers over a certain age.
If you have more people wanting to play for the times available, manage or allocate for everyone paying daily green fees and for member times. This will make Hillcrest more affordable, encouraging more (new or regular) golfers from the public to play. And, to enjoy the companionship shared by nonmembers and members.
Hillcrest is not a private course and will (should) never be at the level of a Dalton or Glacier Club golf course. Now, if Hillcrest wants to do the right thing for its members, I hope it will refund some of our dues this year and not apply a credit for next season’s dues after it raises the annual dues again.
Also, in less than 10 seconds, Hillcrest’s secretary could email the board’s approved minutes to all members and not assume they will read them if posted in the clubhouse or online. If so, they could have told me, “You should have known about these improvements in March or before if you had read the minutes emailed to you, and would not have to read about them first in the Herald.” Certainly, I will take a little of the blame, as I could have attended the board meetings.
Kellus Sewell
Durango
