Do you pay a seperate fee to make reservations?

I must have been living under a rock for the last few years.

Thought I might play some golf this holiday season with a friend who lives in the San Fernando Valley (technically in Los Angeles). He said he couldn't make a reservation because he didn't pay the fee (umm, tax) to get a reservation card.

He said it would cost $25-$35 dollars to get a card for a year., and there is no reduction of green fees.

I told him that was ridiculous, and that he must have been mistaken .

A little research and it turns out he was correct.

To make advance reservations for starting times (more than 1 day), golfers must purchase a Department of Recreation and Parks Player Card.

Also, since I live in LA county, and not LA proper, I would have to pay an added on fee (tax)  as well...

Way to make an effort to grow the game Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation!!

Just wondering if anyone else in other cities have to put up with this nonsense?...end of mini rant!

A $25 card used by several thousand golfers would help pay administrative costs for the reservation system.  Public municipal golf courses are not as popular among non-golfers as among golfers. So, the cards might have been a negotiated point with left-of-center politicos to help defray costs.

The cards might be part of a program of yield management - like hotels and airlines use - to tell when light and heavy play days are, and promote specials to get traffic on lighter days.

In our area, municipal or county courses often charge more to non-residents. At two local 9-hole munies, non-residents pay an extra $2 per nine to play there.

Also, some munies require you to buy a senior card for $5 or $10 in order to get the senior rate when you play.

A third munie is part of the City-County Parks District, and was renovated in part with foundation $$, so there's no extra charge for non-residents. (About 70 cities and silly "tiny towns" in the county, so it would be a nightmare to track residency).

Bonafide Angelenos would question why you should be allowed to "freeload" off their city park system when you don't pay municipal taxes. And, you would be told its a user fee, not a tax.

City of San Diego does that for Torrey though residents DO get a discount

So this type of special fee/tax is common in the industry....I didn't know that as I rarely play any Parks and Recreation tracks.

This is what I have found out:

Apparently in an attempt to get more people to buy the cards, they do offer a one price card that does not charge more for non-residents: One-year Player Card - $25.00 (Residents, Non-Residents and Seniors pay one fee).
Three-year Player Card - $65.00 (Residents, Non-Residents and Seniors pay one fee).

It's only a walk up,  out of the area,  card less player who gets additional charges?

SENIOR CARDS - 60 years of age and over; provide a copy of your California Drivers License or other picture identification with your birth date on it. Additional proof may be required.

If you are 60 years of age or older, you will receive senior status on your Golf Player Card. By completing the above requirements, you will enjoy the reduced senior rates.

It looks like the card can be used on any of the 14 partnered courses (7 - 18 hole, the rest 9 holes tracks)

In reference to the bolded section above...I hardly consider paying green fees, sometimes at an increased rate, freeloading off their system. You would be renting a cart, utilizing any snack/restaurant facilities, making purchases in the pro shop if they have one etc...all going to their municipal tax base.

The only reason I can see to increase the charge for a person who might live outside a geographical barrier line is if they are attempting to limit course traffic; making it more enjoyable for the locals?

I still see no reason to charge a person an additional $25 a year so they can take my greens fees and any other $$ I may drop at their facilities.

If they don't want my money, that's fine with me...plenty of other options available.

Ive never heard of such a thing and wouldnt play at course who required it.  Sounds like a rip-off to me.