Howie instituted the charge in March 2017 and applied the additional income to covering “a myriad of new employee costs, including minimum wage increases, expanded health insurance requirements, and new family and medical leave mandates.”



After going on vacation and registering “shock and dismay” at a $3 water fee added to his bill for a round of golf, he nixed the surcharge and instead made “minor price adjustments” to the menu.



“When I wondered aloud why the fee wasn’t just added to the greens fees, my wife responded, ‘Oh, it’s kind of like your …’ before catching herself and saying nothing more.”



In that moment, he said, he understood “how our surcharge felt to our guests.”