Olds Central Highlands Golf Course has had to raise its rates by about 10 per cent to cover higher costs due to the carbon tax and the increase in the minimum wage, according to golf pro Wade Bearchell.
"We raised our rates a little bit -- probably significantly more than we've raised them in the past, only because we have the pressure of increases in minimum wage. And the addition of the carbon tax necessitated a significant raise in membership prices and green fees, which is unfortunate," Bearchell told the Albertan.
"But we're still proud to be one of the most affordable championship golf courses around," he added.
He said the impact of the carbon tax is only a guess by golf course officials. They'll know its true impact after the 2017 golf season ends. However, he said management had to make a decision on fees and memberships in November, hence the roughly 10 per cent hike.
Bearchell said it's anticipated the carbon tax will hike costs for virtually every aspect of the golf course.
(It will increase costs for) fuel and power and shipping; everything that comes by truck," he said, adding that includes goods sold in the pro shop as well as the facility's power bill.
"There's not much that won't be affected by the carbon tax in our business," Bearchell said.
He said the rates will be examined at the end of the season and lowered if possible, because the course was created for the community.
"Our mission statement is to be an affordable community recreational facility. So we've always managed to keep our rates as low as possible, providing as much service as we can, but making sure that the main focus is the quality of the golf course," Bearchell said.
"We were built by community members. And we take our responsibility very seriously to try to keep our rates as affordable as possible so that people can afford to enjoy it."
He said as part of that effort, memberships for junior players are subsidized "heavily" and rates are kept affordable for seniors and other club members.
"There's not much that won't be affected by the carbon tax in our business."WADE BEARCHELL PRO OLDS CENTRAL HIGHLANDS GOLF COURSE
