Proposed Oak Hills ID card rate draws approval

 By Nancy Guenther Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Yes, there were groans and a few catcalls, but there was also applause at last week’s meeting of the Oak Hills Park Authority.

The clapping came at the announcement that ID card rates are not going up. Other pleasant moments included the news that the authority has received 25 resumes in its quest to replace former superintendent Tommy Vorio, who resigned in December, and a prediction that the restaurant will be reopened Feb. 1 under the new management that was authorized at the last meeting.

Authority members said they would begin culling the superintendent resumes this week. They are optimistic about the quality of the restaurant, saying that the two men operating it are very enthusiastic.

ID cards may not be going up overall, but the early renewal rate is rising from $65 to $70. The price for non-resident juniors is dropping, as junior play is down significantly and authority members would like to encourage teenagers to bring out-of-town friends to the course.

The rates will be discussed at a 7 p.m. Jan. 30 public hearing in the City Hall Community Room. They are:

ID cards

• New resident cards: $75 to March 31; $80 from April 1 to Aug. 30; $50 after Aug. 30
• Resident card renewals: $70 to March 31; $75 from April 1 to Aug. 30; n/a after Aug. 30
• Junior resident cards: $30 to March 31; $40 from April 1 to Aug. 30; $25 after Aug. 30
• Resident family: $140 to March 31; $150 from April 1 to Aug. 30; $100 after Aug. 30
• City employee/property owners: $120 to March 31; $130 from April 1 to Aug. 30; $80 after Aug. 30
• Non-resident discount: $275 to March 31; $275 from April 1 to Aug. 30; $175 after Aug. 30
• Non-resident junior discount: $30 to March 31; $40 from April 1 to Aug. 30; $25 after Aug. 30

(All cards expire on Dec. 31, 2014)

Greens fees

• Resident more than 17 years old: $26, weekday to 4 p.m.; $18, weekday after 4 p.m.; $27, weekend to 4 p.m., $18 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Resident senior (62+): $17, weekday to 4 p.m.; $14, weekday after 4 p.m.; $27, weekend to 4 p.m., $18 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Resident junior under 18 years old: $14, weekday to 4 p.m.; $12, weekday after 4 p.m.; $15, weekend to 4 p.m., $13 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• City employees: $26, weekday to 4 p.m.; $18, weekday after 4 p.m.; $27, weekend to 4 p.m., $18 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• OHPA employees: $5, weekday to 4 p.m.; $5, weekday after 4 p.m.; $27, weekend to 4 p.m., $5 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Non-resident with card: $26, weekday to 4 p.m.; $22, weekday after 4 p.m.; $53, weekend to 4 p.m., $26 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Non-resident without card: $53, weekday to 4 p.m.; $26, weekday after 4 p.m.; $53, weekend to 4 p.m., $26 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Non-resident junior with card: $14, weekday to 4 p.m.; $12, weekday after 4 p.m.; $15, weekend to 4 p.m., $13 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Non-resident junior without card: $20, weekday to 4 p.m.; $14, weekday after 4 p.m.; $20, weekend to 4 p.m., $15 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Resident nine holes: $20, weekday to 4 p.m.; $14, weekday after 4 p.m.; $21, weekend to 4 p.m., $16 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Senior nine holes: $14, weekday to 4 p.m.; $12, weekday after 4 p.m.; $21, weekend to 4 p.m., $16 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Non-resident nine holes with card: $20, weekday to 4 p.m.; $16, weekday after 4 p.m.; $21, weekend to 4 p.m., $16 weekend 4 p.m. or later.
• Non-resident nine holes without card: $33, weekday to 4 p.m.; $24, weekday after 4 p.m.; $33, weekend to 4 p.m., $24 weekend 4 p.m. or later.

Cart fees

• All carts except OHPA employees: $16
• OHPA employees: $8
• Nine holes: $10

Tournament play

• Mondays shotgun or time $60
• Thursday afternoon after 2 p.m. $60

ID cards will be available after the Jan. 30 vote; OHPA Chairman Bob Virgulak is hoping to generate early revenue that way.

The course used to sell 50,000 rounds a year, but had about 35,000 rounds this year, he said.

“We need more golfers, we need to be at 40,000 rounds,” he said. “If we can draw another 5,000 golfers to the course then we’ll have another thing to talk about in six months.”