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Free golf for Vancouver during the winter a possibility: Park Board

Depending on how the Vancouver Park Board votes tomorrow night, the city’s three pitch and putt courses could become free to play during the winter months.

It’s a recommended solution to a problem that’s plagued the park board the past year – how to keep their facilities open and the books balanced. Currently, Vancouver’s three 18-hole golf courses and three pitch and putts cost roughly $10 million a year to operate but only generate $1 million in revenue.

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By making the three pitch and putts in Vancouver free during the winter months, the park board would be able to cut labour costs by moving employees to other departments.

“The winter months are very slow,” says Aaron Jasper, Vancouver Park Board. “For more than 80 days between this past November and February, the courses weren’t being used. The move is expected to save taxpayers more than $100,000.”

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The pitch and putt greens would still be maintained, just a little less frequently, and golfers would need to bring their own clubs, balls, scoring pad and pencils.

The park board is considering the recommendation tomorrow night and it’s expected to be approved for a one-year trial.

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