This file photo from April 2015 shows a new practice facility at Eagle Bend Golf Course.

The cost to play golf at Eagle Bend could fluctuate more often if city commissioners grant a request Tuesday to allow the Parks and Recreation Department to alter fees without their approval.

Mark Hecker, assistant director of Parks and Recreation, said the flexibility to change fees would help city-owned Eagle Bend compete with other nearby courses.

“Since the golf course was opened, the City Commission has been involved with setting fees, and we’ve just stuck with that as tradition even though maybe we don’t need to,” Hecker said. “We set fees for other rec programs. We’re just asking for the ability to do the same thing with the golf course.”

As it stands, fees for the course are discussed and approved yearly. This year, Parks and Recreation officials went to the City Commission twice because it was “so far behind” on revenue midyear, Hecker said.

The City Commission will be asked at its meeting Tuesday to authorize the department’s request to set its own fees. If approved, fees at the course could be adjusted based on weather, course conditions and what other courses are charging.

The request is being made at the same time Parks and Recreation is asking to change its fees for 2016.

The department is hoping to increase fees anywhere from $1 to $4, depending on how many holes are played, when and whether the golfers are using a cart.

“A dollar here or there makes a big difference on revenue,” Hecker said.

According to a memorandum sent to the City Commission, the proposed cost for playing 18 holes on the weekend, with a cart, would be $49 — a $4 increase from 2015 fees.

A chart assembled by Parks and Recreation shows other courses charge an average of $51 for the same service. The courses included in that average are Lake Shawnee, Heritage Park Golf Course, Alvamar (the public course), Cypress Ridge, Forbes and Falcon Valley.

The City Commission will convene Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. The Parks and Recreation request is on the commission’s consent agenda.