ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Orange Beach is hoping to see more tee times and more revenue for the city.

In an effort to generate more money for the city, the council is discussing changes for the golf center.

Hoping to attract more players to the city sanctioned greens, the council is working with center officials to create incentives.

Currently the golf center costs the city money to operate, but there is hope to turn that around so the center would bring money to the city.

“The golf center is one of the best resources this city has and if we can make a few tweaks I think it will be a great source of revenue,” a resident, and golfer, said. “It’s a great benefit to live in Orange Beach and have that golf center.”

The rates, as they stand now, charge a member $100 annually for an adult resident. Adult non-residents are charged $150 annually. Children from nine years old to 17 pay $20 a year. Children eight and under play for free.

“I think we need to get something better then that to draw people in,” Bill Kramer, co-manager of the Orange Beach Golf Center, said.

The proposal will offer a three month rate of $100 which the city is hoping will pull in winter and summer long-term visitors. For a child, age nine to 17, the center would cost them $50 a year.

Walk-in rates would remain the same.

“We are pretty confidant this will generate more usage,” city administrator Ken Grimes said. “We’re lowering to generate more usage, therefore generating more revenue.”

To bring in more business the center is offering a golf tournament on the first and third Sunday of each month.

The first tournament of the year will occur tomorrow as players meet for a round of golf and friendly competition. Vision Bank will sponsor the event and hold a cookout at 12:30 p.m. The bank will also sponsor a $250 hole-in-one.

Each tournament will have a 1:30 p.m. tee time, with a 1 p.m. meeting before. Members of the center are charged a $5 cart fee and $5 entry fee for the tournament. Non-members will pay the $20 18 hole fee as well as the $5 entry fee.

“Everyone is welcome at this tournament,” Sue Davis, co-manager of the center, said. “We have had fathers and sons, husbands and wives and golfing buddies.”

The nine hole golf complex is a par three course and is open from 7 a.m. until dusk, seven days a week. A lighted driving range is onsite and costs $3 for a bucket of golf balls.

Along with the tournament, a suggestion of a new sign was offered to help attract more players. Councilwoman Pattisue Carranza discussed the idea to advertise on The Wharf digital sign, which the city owns.

The changes to the golf center rates will be up for vote at the upcoming council meeting.