Manchester Country Club Sets New Green Fees

Since near bankruptcy several years ago, the has made significant improvements to its facilities and operations in an effort to revitalize the town-owned course and attract new members and golfers. But everything comes with a price, and the course will see new daily green fees for play in 2012 as approved by the Board of Directors Tuesday. 

The Board of Directors approved following green fees were approved for the course as part of its meeting Tuesday, April 3: 

9 Holes, Week Day, Resident: $20.50 
9 Holes, Senior: $15.50
9 Holes, Week Day, Non-Resident: $25.50
9 Holes, Weekend, Resident: $22.50
9 Holes, Weekend, Non-Resident: $26.50 
18 Holes, Week Day, Resident: $38
18 Holes, Week Day, Senior: $29 
18 Holes, Week Day, Non-Resident: $44 
18 Holes, Weekend, Resident: $41
18 Holes, Weekend, Non-Resident: $46

Several members of the Board of Directors asked Tom Crockett, a member of the town's Golf Course Oversight Committee, why there wasn't a greater discount in green fees for Manchester residents, but Crockett said that he felt the club's fees were in line with similar courses in the area and that the club's goal was to remain a viable business, not just to provide cheap golfing opportunities for Manchester residents. He noted there was about a $5 difference per nine holes of golf between residents and non-residents. 

"We think that for being open to the public, and being open for Manchester residents, that these rates are very fair and very, very competitive," Crockett said, adding that the Manchester Country Club Board of Governors were "not taking the money that they bring in and reducing the members fees. They're trying to make a profit. They're trying to run a business."

The has been around in one form or another since 1917, and owned by the town of Manchester and operated by its own autonomous board of directors since the mid-1950s. It’s essentially a public course where golfers can either join for an annual fee that allows them to play as much as they want throughout the year, or opt to pay a greens fees per round of golf. But declining membership and a burdensome lease agreement with the town of Manchester for the right to use the land resulted in a new lease agreement and a new management structure several years ago. 

Crockett said the Manchester Country Club has also made significant capital improvements to its facilities recently, including a new roof, a new main entrance with automatic doors, restoration of the club's old pool building, the installation of an elevator to make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a new HVAC system. 

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