The Zionsville Golf Course will eliminate season passes and increase prices by $1 per 9-hole round and $3 per 18-hole round in 2025. The result, according to the course management company, will be improved offerings and opportunities for golfers, the course and the town overall.
The Town of Zionsville approved an agreement with Zionsville National LLC in 2024 for management of the 9-hole municipal golf course at 10799 E. 550 South. Zionsville National representatives Paul Kite and Pete Prust addressed the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Board Feb. 12 with a review of the course after its first year under private management.
Kite and Prust said while some people might be unhappy about the increased prices — a handful of residents approached the park board last month to complain about the increase and elimination of season passes — it’s for the greater good. Although the per-round fee increase is minimal to support operations, Kite and Prust said season passes were an issue in 2024, with the majority of the 60 to 80 no-shows per week throughout the season attributable to season pass holders.
Kite and Prust said some holders of the $450 season passes would often monopolize the course, playing more than 100 rounds throughout the season, failing to check in or reserving a tee time for four but only show up as a twosome or solo. Management said the removal of the season pass will make a more level playing field for all golfers.
“We’re trying to change the way the course is operated and make it more of a public course and less of a course where it’s used a lot by a few individuals who will tend to fill up a lot of blocks of time,” Kite said. “The bottom line is, this is going to make a course that is more available to more of the public. It’s going to be a great course. We’re trying to make it work where we can and make enough revenue that we can reinvest (in the course) as we’ve agreed to. We’re just going to continue trying to make it a good experience. I’m sorry that inconveniences a minority of the golfers out there, but that’s not our focus. Our focus is the majority of the town.”
Season passes will be replaced with 10- and 20-round discount passes of 10 percent off weekday rates.
Management said even with the increase, the course is among the most affordable 9-hole courses in central Indiana.
New rates for 2025 are as follows:
Weekdays, without cart:
- 9 holes – $15
- 9 holes senior discount — $13
- 18 holes — $22
- 18 holes senior discount — $20
Weekdays, with cart:
- 9 holes – $25
- 9 holes senior discount — $23
- 18 holes — $39
- 18 holes senior discount — $37
Weekends and holidays, without cart
- 9 holes — $19
- 18 holes — $26
Weekends and holidays, with cart
- 9 holes — $29
- 18 holes — $43
Zionsville National representatives said revenues in 2024 totaled just below $550,000 at the 62-acre course, including $300,998 in greens fees; $174,087 in cart fees; $43,552 in food and beverage sales; and $27,821 in pro shop sales. The course had 27,547 rounds played in 2024 — a number management expects to remain steady in 2025.
Zionsville Community Schools middle school golfers and two junior teams will continue to play for free in 2025.
Overall, management said the golf course will remain a true community asset.
The new rates were approved by the park board by a 6-1 vote, with member Chad Dilley opposed. Dilley said his no vote was because of his desire to keep some type of season pass available. Kite and Prust said they would revisit season passes at a future date.
ZIONSVILLE GOLF COURSE LOOK AHEAD
Zionsville National LLC — the private management company for the Zionsville Golf Course — is planning several capital improvements for the course. The first is a plan to construct a concession stand with accessible restrooms, food, craft beer and seating on the southern hill of the course. The project is anticipated to take about two years to complete at a cost around $250,000. The park board approved a $100,000 allocation to the golf course fund in October 2024 to help pay for the project.
The new stand will address the issue of inaccessible bathrooms in the clubhouse.
“For years we’ve had problems (in the clubhouse),” Zionsville National representative Pete Prust said. “Our water is not safe to drink; the bathrooms are not ADA (accessible); there is a line in the carpet where it backs up all the time. We need to get something. And the idea about the concession stand was, also, we’d like to involve more of the town.”
Prust said golf course management will work with the town on an easement to provide pedestrian access from the Village.
“We’ll have people come in, watch the golf and be a part of it,” he said. “The vision is to have people in the town get involved. Will it be a big revenue generator? No. But it’s a way to give back to the town and involve the town in a way that people haven’t thought of before.”
Additional updates planned for 2025 include a two-bay driving net behind the clubhouse; resealing and restriping the parking lot; fencing around fuel tanks; removal of dead trees; and new signposts.
A new work truck was recently purchased and added to the golf course fleet.
Prust also said the clubhouse staff will be reduced from 14 in 2024 to five in 2025 as a cost-saving measure.
“We’re trying everything we can to be better and smarter at what we do,” Prust said. “We’re doing this to give back to the town to make this what it can be. Because it’s such a jewel for this town.”
The course offers five tee times per hour between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. during the regular season.
The golf season begins March 15, weather permitting.
Learn more at zionsville-in.gov/298/Zionsville-Golf-Course.
