New Haven Independent

“When it’s cheaper to play mini-golf than to come and golf at our golf course, I think we’re giving it away,” reasoned Tom Verderame, executive assistant to the city parks department director, at a recent budget hearing.

Verderame’s department sets the fees at the city’s Alling Memorial Golf Course, a public green in Quinnipiac Heights at 35 Eastern St.

The popular “Six at 6” golfing special allows people to play the public course after 6 p.m. for only six bucks. In effort to boost revenues, the parks department seeks to eliminate the deal, doubling the twilight rate from $6 to $12, matching the regular fee for nine holes.

“I’m frustrated to hear that that is going up,” responded Fair Haven Heights Alderman Alex Rhodeen (pictured), who counts himself in the ranks of Six at 6 enthusiasts. The twilight deal gave the public access to an otherwise prohibitively expensive sport, he argued.

Verderame said the program just wasn’t working out.

“It seemed to bring out the hackers. The wear and tear that they put on the course was not worth the six dollars.”

The fee hike, discussed at a recent hearing of the aldermanic Finance Committee, is part of a $820,000 golf course operating budget proposed for FY 07-08. The golf course, like the city skating rink, is a self-funded operation not reliant on taxpayers’ money. Along with the rest of the city budget, it must gain aldermanic approval.