by The city is considering implementing a new advance booking system for the Balboa and Mission Bay courses, like to the one now in place at Torrey Pines, because San Diego’s municipal golf facilities are accommodating a rising number of players.
At a recent San Diego Municipal Golf Committee meeting, Tim Graham, assistant deputy director of the city’s golf division, stated that the increase has been nothing short of extraordinary.
On June 30, the city concluded the fiscal year 2025 with a preliminary total of 427,508 rounds, more than 7,500 more than the previous year’s record.
For the financially stressed city of San Diego, this translates to yet another record year in revenue: over $41.4 million, of which $13.4 million will go toward capital upgrades for golf courses.
According to Graham, this figure is particularly remarkable when you take into account that the division postponed public play for an extra week in order to stage the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in February following the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Accessing tee times has become increasingly difficult in both Balboa Park and Mission Bay due to high demand, which is a persistent problem brought on by the growing number of players, Graham explained.
The golf division is suggesting modifying the current advance reservation system to resemble Torrey Pines’ in order to satisfy the demand.
For both the Mission Bay and Balboa Park courses, the department would want to charge a $10 non-refundable advance booking fee per player eight to ninety days in advance. Up to ninety days in advance, players would be allowed to make two reservations. All three of the city-run courses would still accept free reservations made within seven days.
The charge plan seems to be basically more money for the city and more money for the players, according to Stephen Michael Shushan, a public member of the golf committee. He questioned whether any thought had been given to replicating what LA does, which is to charge a $10 non-refundable fee to reserve a tee time, which is then added to the cost of the round if the golfer chooses to play. It is not refundable if the golfer cancels.
Shushan went on to say that even if it were refundable, golfers would still benefit from it.
Graham stated at the end of his presentation that the division is certain that the program’s growth will assist in resolving certain access issues that consumers have recently brought up. Additionally, he pledged that the upfront reservation price would deter the usage of computer bots.
Experts in golf from Southern California and across the country have widely acknowledged that computerbots were being used to set tee times and then resell them for a profit. Some 41,000 golfers who paid for municipal golf cards but were unable to reserve a preferred tee time complained about access, which appeared to be explained by this. The city disputes that any bot activity occurred.
The city has issued a request for proposals for a new online system after the contract with ForeUP, which currently manages the golf course reservation system, ended. Notably, foreUP concurred with other specialists that reservation systems were being compromised by bots. Although a new software supplier was selected at the golf committee meeting, the announcement won’t be made until the City Council has approved a deal.
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Future capital projects for the city courses include extensive roof repairs and the reopening of the pro shop at Balboa that was devastated by fire, as well as the opening of a restaurant in Mission Bay in October. Early planning is underway for a new clubhouse and maintenance facilities at Torrey Pines.
Marty Block, a former assemblyman and state senator, presided the meeting of the Municipal Golf Course Committee, which serves as an advisory body for golf operations at city-owned courses. Turf management for the courses was one of several connected subjects discussed by the attendees.
A concept to build a point-of-sale kiosk where golfers can check themselves in using a digital ID card that can be loaded into their cell phone is being developed, golf course manager Matty Reyes informed the board.
At the moment, the city charges $25 annually for plastic identification cards, which are necessary for the resident rate.
