WEST HARTFORD, CT — The fairways of both town-owned golf courses are closed to duffers for the winter, but when they reopen in the spring, it will cost a bit more to swing away.

But the good news, however, is the new fees approved last week by the West Hartford Town Council for the Rockledge and Buena Vista golf courses only go up slightly per round.

According to West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith, operation costs and grounds maintenance have gone up as will minimum wage, which will increase by 4.2 percent on Jan. 1, 2025.

As a result, he said, the West Hartford Leisure Services Department, which oversees the golf courses, has asked for slight fee increases for both the 18-hole Rockledge and the nine-hole Buena Vista golf courses.

At Rockledge, which is located at 289 S. Main St., West Hartford, green fees (the fee to play a round) will be $42 on weekdays and $46 on weekends/holidays (a $2 hike).

Meanwhile, Beuna Vista, located at 37 Buena Vista Road, green fees are going up by $1 to $15 for weekdays and $17 for weekends/holidays.

Yearly membership fees will also go up by a similar percentage, along with all sorts of other fees associated with using the courses.

Ledwith said the town is always careful when it must increase fees of any kind, the goal being to address financial necessities and, yet, not price out folks from using the facilities.

“The presentation of this resolution always follows a thorough review of our operational costs at our golf courses,” Ledwith said. “Maintaining a first-class golf facility requires resources as we’re all aware.

“We continue to face rising costs in the areas of maintenance, equipment, and staffing, areas that are essential to ensuring a high-quality experience for all of our golfers.”

Council member Debra Polun, who chairs the council’s leisure services subcommittee, agreed.

“This is a very modest increase as the town manager has explained to us,” said Polun. adding the fee hikes address cost increases while, still, being competitive for golfers.

Ledwith said the new fees would raise an additional $97,000 in revenue for Rockledge operations and $14,000 in revenue for Buena Vista.

For the minutes of the Dec. 10 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.