UPDATE: Disc Golf Contractor Renegotiates Agreement with City

Update (2 p.m., Apr. 18) Independent contractor Fairway Flyerz renegotiated its agreement with the City of Inver Grove Heights after losing $5,800 in operations while managing the , which began charging a pay-to-play fee last year.

“I’m hoping Fairway loses nothing this year,” said Mike Snelson, who owns Fairway Flyerz and negotiated the agreement.

In 2011, Snelson’s company received 50 percent of the approximately $13,000 made in pay-to-play course revenue. The other 50 percent, totaling approximately $6,000, went to the Inver Grove Heights .

Fairway Flyerz, however, lost thousands when revenue fell below original projections and failed to cover overhead costs, such as the course’s facility and labor.

Under the new agreement, Fairway Flyerz will receive 60 percent of all pay-to-play revenue.

North Valley will begin charging under a revised pay-to-play policy on May 3.

The policy was reformulated when Fairway Flyerz compared the projected player count for 2011 to the actual player count for 2011 and found a discrepancy.

Snelson also said that allowing players younger than 21 years of age to use the course for free was one cause for the overriding losses.

In 2012, Snelson projects the course will raise $15,000 in revenue, with the city receiving $6,000-$7,000 and Fairway Flyerz turning a $1,000 profit.

Snelson also said that the city contacted his company about developing a partnership. Patch originally reported that Fairway Flyerz approached the city about working together, as was stated by George Tourville, mayor of Inver Grove Heights.

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Original (5 a.m., Apr. 16) Starting May 3, North Valley Disc Golf Course will implement a pay-to-play policy for the second year in a row.

“There was a little pushback,” said Tracy Petersen, recreation supervisor for the Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation Department, in reference to the introduction of last year’s required season or day pass purchase policy. “We’ll see how it goes in Year Two.”

Kaposia Disc Golf Course in South St. Paul began charging for course usage in 2010, when that city hired Fairway Flyerz, Inc., an independent contractor, to manage the course.

North Valley followed suit last year, when Inver Grove Heights was approached by Fairway Flyerz about establishing a similar partnership.

Community members reacted with resistance to the news that the previously free course would require a pass purchase.

“I think it should be free,” said Aaron Klein, an Oakdale resident who uses the North Valley course several times each week. “We’re taxpaying citizens.”

The Parks and Recreation Department has made changes to this year’s pay-to-play policy.

Last year, course users under the age of 21 could play for free. This year, users age 14 and under won't be charged, and high school-aged users can purchase day passes at a reduced rate of $3.

The adult day pass rate will be $5.

Season passes will cost $30 for Inver Grove Heights residents. The city has raised season pass rates to $40 for non-residents.

The North Valley pass fees are now identical to those at the Kaposia course. Annual passes can be used at both courses.

“I was kind of skeptical at first,” said David Swanson, an Inver Grove Heights resident who has used the North Valley course for several years.

However, because he has seen the park improve with the introduction of the pay-to-play policy, Swanson said he’s warmed to the idea.

“Personally, I love the idea of it,” said Inver Grove Heights resident and long-time course user Chris Cook. “A lot of the money that they’re raising from it is going back into the course.”

Last year, the city collected approximately $6,000 in revenue from pay-to-play fees. Half of those funds pay for course maintenance and future improvements, while the other half go to the Parks and Recreation Department general fund.

“It’s enhanced the program,” said Inver Grove Heights Mayor George Tourville.

In 2012, the Parks and Recreation Department hopes to see the course host a community college day for students.

Fairway Flyerz is also currently working to establish cross-promotional partnerships with local businesses.