Harwich residents will see a $50 increase in their annual golf passes next season as the Golf Committee moves to close a projected budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year. During a public hearing on November 18, Director of Golf Roman Greer presented a suite of fee adjustments designed to generate approximately $75,000 in new revenue. Under the proposed schedule, Harwich resident annual passes will rise to $960, while non-resident passes will jump by $100 to a new rate of $1,460. Younger golfers are also affected, with young adult passes increasing by $40 and collegiate rates rising by $25.

Greer explained that the department utilizes an alternating-year model for fee increases to avoid overwhelming users. While last year focused on daily greens fees, this cycle targets annual passholders to meet the town's requested budget increases for FY27. Historically, this would be the year we look at the annual passes to generate revenue required to cover our requested budget increases, Greer noted, adding that he chose to spare cart rates from any hikes this year as they are currently in a good position.

The proposal faced scrutiny from the public regarding the cost of those very carts. Jack, a resident and former committee member, spoke on behalf of the local Men’s and Women’s Golf Associations to advocate for a cart fee discount for frequent players and seniors. If you play 40 times a year... you're going to spend as much on cart fees as you do on a golf membership, Jack said, pointing out that neighboring towns like Brewster and Dennis offer member discounts. He suggested that since the town may renew existing cart leases rather than purchasing new ones, some savings should be passed to the members. I was trying to get a feel for—is that beyond consideration or just shut up and go home?

Greer responded that Harwich maintains a high-end fleet featuring lithium batteries and GPS, making it the most expensive on the Cape. He further noted that the town’s 60/40 revenue-sharing agreement with the vendor limits flexibility. Member Jay Adams expressed interest in seeing the math behind a potential discount. I would love to know that number to make a better informed decision, Adams said, suggesting a small $1 or $2 discount might be offset by a higher pass fee. Member Karen Doucet remained wary of tinkering with the figures during the hearing. I think we should be cautious to keep our anticipated revenue going forward for this coming year, Doucet said, though she joined the rest of the board in asking for future data modeling on the issue.

The committee also touched on the town’s broader infrastructure challenges, echoing the recent shift toward a Repair over Replace strategy seen across other Harwich boards. Greer reported that the much-anticipated irrigation project is set to begin the first week of December, following a single-bidder process that saw National Sprinklers win the contract. To facilitate the work, carts will be pulled from the course after December 7, with temporary greens established on December 8. Looking ahead, Greer’s capital plan includes bunker renovations in FY29 and a replacement of the maintenance building in FY30, the latter of which aligns with Acting Town Administrator Tony Schiavi’s push for a town-wide building maintenance consultant to move away from triage repairs.

Addressing course conditions, Adams raised concerns about a lack of etiquette on the greens. Divots are not being replaced and ball marks are not being fixed... it hasn't improved in my opinion, Adams said. In response, Greer quipped that the department might launch an awareness campaign. We can definitely make 2026 a 'Year of the Divots.' I'm going to make t-shirts, he said.

The committee concluded by formalizing their support for the fee increases before they head to the Select Board for final approval. Chair Paul emphasized the committee’s responsibility to the town’s bottom line. I think it's important for us to demonstrate our sensitivity to the town's revenue issues by moving forward... I think it would be appropriate for us to support the Director of Golf's recommendation, the Chair said. Motion Made by K. Doucet to accept the recommendations and move forward to the Board of Selectmen. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

In other business, the committee confirmed that 7:00 AM start times for 18-hole rounds will be codified for the 2026 season. The committee also noted that the lease extension for Jake’s restaurant has been approved, with new management strategies in place to handle larger tournament crowds that have recently pushed the facility to its seating capacity.