Cherry Hill Preparing for Early April Opening

Report on the Meeting of the Cherry Hill Working Group, March 23, 2026

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Recreation Director Rey Harp reported to the Cherry Hill Working Group (CHWG) that he and member Ryan Diplock looked at revenue projections for the golf course in the coming year with the institution of a $2 increase in green fees and a 10% increase in membership fees, along with beginning to sell hard liquor in the clubhouse midway through the season. Those measures are projected to produce $40,000 to $50,000 in retained earnings, which could then be used for the increase in maintenance costs and capital improvements.

The golf course plans to open the weekend of April 10 and 11 or possibly the next weekend if it takes longer that anticipated to incorporate the new scheduling software and train the staff to use it. Harp would like to arrange a tour of the course, the clubhouse, and the maintenance shed for CHWG members prior to the opening day.

Harp said there is no decision yet from the town on whether Cherry Hill will move to become a revolving fund that would support itself through revenue, rather than having its revenue go into the town’s general fund and its expenses be part of the town budget. The CHWG had recommended that the golf course be supported by a revolving fund, but it will be difficult to set that up in this budget cycle. Harp suggested that the group consider how the course could best be run if it were not possible to establish a revolving fund.

Another concern that the group voiced at its last meeting was the increase in the amount budgeted for chemicals. Harp stressed that the course is committed to using the most eco-friendly chemicals and that the cost of them has risen greatly since the $13,000 budget was set 20 years ago. He added that the town has reached out to the UMass Turf School for recommendations on the best treatment for the course. In addition to environmentally conscious fertilizer, the course is dealing with combatting the weevils that develop resistance to new products introduced.

There is usually a team of volunteers that clean the course of winter debris about a week before the golf season starts.

Raising Additional Funds for Cherry Hill
CHWG Chair Michele Miller noted that a Friends of Amherst Recreation group was formed as a 501 (c) (3) in 2019 but became inactive during the pandemic. This was a booster group of interested residents that ran fundraising events for the department. She suggested that the group could be resurrected to apply for grants for the golf course, but would need the Recreation Department’s consent.

Harp said that the golf course could accept donations from interested members of the public directly. A formal nonprofit would not be needed to sponsor tournaments and fundraising events.

Sanjay Andrade supported the idea of a Friends of Cherry Hill group to carry on the work of the CHWG and bring people with enthusiasm about all the uses of the golf course together. He suggested that some may even volunteer in the clubhouse during cross-country skiing season. He recommended arranging a public forum for interested residents to get input on how to best support the golf course. He noted that town support for the course is strong, with over 50 people applying to be on the working group. Miller will try to arrange a time and date for the forum and publicize it on the town website and local media.

Items for Future Agendas
Diplock noted that there is no one whose primary job is at Cherry Hill, so that decisions can be made efficiently. At one time, Barb Bills was the Assistant Director of the Recreation Department and was stationed at Cherry Hill, but she was later promoted to Director, and her position was never filled.

Harp said that Sports Director Jose Allen is primarily responsible for day-to-day decisions, in consultation with Harp, although Allen is not on-site. Harp felt the current system works well, and the course is more in need of labor to get the jobs done than of more management.

Diplock also mentioned starting an endowment for Cherry Hill, so that supporters could make bequests that would go to the property and the golf course.

The CHWG will next meet on Monday, April 6. Tentatively, the meeting will be in person at the golf course with a tour at 6 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7 p.m.