Toms River Council Tables Changes To Bey Lea Golf Fees

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Amid complaints from residents that proposed changes would have a significant impact on senior citizens, the Toms River Township Council tabled action Tuesday night on an ordinance that would make significant changes to the fees at Bey Lea Golf Course.

The most significant -- and most hotly contested -- change in the proposed ordinance is the elimination of the option to pay for and play only nine holes during the first hour of the day, with golfers teeing off on both the front and the back nine.

The ordinance also includes an across-the-board increase of $2 in greens fees for the 18-hole rates.

Jared Tate, Toms River's director of recreation, said eliminating the option would allow the course to book additional 18-hole golfers during that first hour of the day, resulting in increased revenue for the golf course and the township.

Tate also said a survey of several other local courses showed none of them offered the option of simultaneous tee times for nine holes on both the front and back nine. Ocean County-owned Forge Pond Golf Course in Brick and Lakewood Country Club both offer nine-hole rates, and Forge Pond offers an early-bird nine-hole option. But Cedar Creek Golf Course in Berkeley Township does not offer a nine-hole rate.

Toms River golfers who utilize the back-nine option frequently say taking away the nine-hole rate will unfairly burden the township's senior citizen players, many of whom are unable to play 18 holes of golf.

Philip Castiglione of Arrow Drive said the changes have been in the works since a new greenskeeper was hired at Bey Lea four years ago, and will make it unaffordable for the seniors to play.

"Playing the back nine is good exercise for seniors," Castiglione said, citing several regular participants in the informal back-nine golf group, including a 95-year-old resident, an 88-year-old who still walks and carries his golf bag, one who uses a walker and plays, and another senior golfer who plays while carrying a chemotherapy bag.

"This agenda targets them," Castiglione said.

Joe Mayer, the 88-year-old who still carries his golf bag asked the council to retain the back-nine option.

"I can get my exercise out in the fresh air," Mayer said. "With the new fees I won't be able to play five days a week."

Seniors currently pay $7 for the nine-hole option, plus cart fees. With the elimination of the nine-hole fee, seniors would pay $15 weekday mornings, with an additional $10 per person for the golf cart. On the weekends, seniors would pay $25 plus the cart fee.

"I can't play more than nine holes," said Gene Berrier, who said bad discs in his back cause him too much pain to play 18.

Warren Backer of Viscount Drive, who said he's been playing golf at Bey Lea for 28 years, said the nine-hole option makes it viable for people with families to be able to enjoy a little golf and then spend the rest of the day with their families.

Backer said Tate's explanation of the changes said the elimination of the back-nine option would free up eight more tee times each day, "but not one can give statistics on what will be lost," he said.

Councilman Jeff Carr said he understood the golfers' concerns and said issues raised at the council meeting have prompted questions he wants to ask the golf course staff. But he said the council has a responsibility to make sure the golf course benefits even township residents who do not play, by not only covering its expenses but bringing in revenue.

Council President Brian Kubiel, who voted in favor of tabling the ordinance on the condition the situation be resolved in two weeks, said both the golfers and the recreation department will have to make some concessions.

"I think everyone needs to go into this open-minded," Kubiel said.

The ordinance will be up for final approval at the April 26 council meeting.