WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) - Golf enthusiasts on Maui are pitching ideas ranging from higher prices to night golf in an attempt to keep Maui County’s mayor from shutting down an 87-year-old municipal golf course.
In his State of the County address, Mayor Alan Arakawa said he can’t afford to keep Waiehu Golf Course open. Officials say the Maui County Council has been flooded with calls from people fighting to keep the course open since Arakawa’s speech, Hawaii News Now reported (https://bit.ly/2m0ko81 ).
“I think we really need to do a study to see what are the true issues of operations? And what are some of the solutions? Could we raise the fee a few dollars? Or is it looking at the current management and expenses and lowering expenses,” Maui County Councilman Alika Atay said.
The Mayor’s Office said it has also been inundated with calls. Some suggestions including bringing in TopGolf, a popular mainland golfing company, offering night golf or Frisbee golf, and transitioning it into a community-run course.
Arakawa said he’s open to ideas that can keep Waiehu Municipal Golf Course open.
Waiehu is the most affordable golf course in the county. Residents pay just $13 on weekdays, seniors pay $8, and students only pay $2.
Pro Shop Owner Arthur Rego said customers are willing to pay more to play.
“Most of them are very upset. They come up with, why only the golf course? We support all the swimming pools, we spend millions of dollars there. The golfers pay a fee. Maybe they have to raise it up a few dollars more, whatever it is,” Rego said.
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Information from: KGMB-TV, https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/
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