Press release from what appears to be the world's most incompetent PR firm.

ANN ARBOR GOLF & OUTING REAFFIRMS
DECISION TO ENFORCE NEW PARKING REGULATIONS

The Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Board of Directors today reaffirmed its earlier decision to enforce new parking regulations beginning with the first Michigan game versus Western Michigan September 5.

"We appreciate the time and effort that a number of people have taken to ask for reconsideration due to their desire to remain in private parking areas where they can be with the longtime friends and colleagues," said Larry Eiler, chairman of AAGO parking.

"However, despite the requests, we have again gone over the safety and accountability issues that apply to all people who park at the club.  And our decision is that all patrons are best served by parking in the spaces we direct them to in order for us to have them park properly, place canopies in the proper space behind any vehicle and occupy one space, not two or more spaces."  These regulations will be enforced by the club's parking supervisors and the Washtenaw County Sheriffs who assist the club in enforcement of all parking rules.

"We are disappointed at the decision of patrons to disagree with the new regulations, which were made for safety concerns.  However, we understand the decision to seek other parking sites where 10-20 members of a groups can park all in one spot, safely," said Eiler.

We recommend that patrons who desire to park together coordinate their entry to that they have their desired group all entering at once and not randomly as in the past.  We also recommend that people enter in vehicles that contain their cooking and other utensils so they can still be together at one site.

One photo below shows how vehicles whose patrons use canopies must place those canopies - behind their vehicles.  "The second photo demonstrates the safety problem we encounter virtually every game as vehicles use extra spaces to set up canopies, play games, place cooking utensils and tables/chairs," Eiler said.
Parking supervisors will direct people to the next available spot when they enter the course from either the main gate on Stadium Blvd. across from the UM Crisler Arena or on Saline Road across from the Scio Church Road entry to Saline Road.
Parking prices remain the same for the fifth year in a row, $40 per vehicle and no charge  this year for canopies placed properly.

All vehicles parked on the Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club course during Michigan football games must place canopies like the photo above - behind their parked vehicles.  No canopies may be placed beside or in front of vehicles.  There is no charge this year for use of canopies.  Patrons who place canopies improperly risk being evicted from the course.

Reason for parking regulation changes.  This example of vehicles parked with canopies improperly placed at the 2008 Michigan State game is the underlying reason for the AAGO parking change rules.  The scene at the top of the grade along the second hole demonstrates how canopies, games, cooking utensils and seats use extra space by vehicles and impede ingress and egress along the fairway.  Similar sites are noted on other holes across the course.  Emergency vehicles cannot pass the clogged pathways intended for vehicles to reach parking sites.  They are not intended for canopies, cooking utensils, games, tables and chairs.
Portion of Statement by Jeff Carter, president of Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club, To club members

Dear Golf & Outing Member,
Our outside parking guests have traditionally been able to park in a spot of their choice.  Beginning this season, they will be required to park according to order of entry and arrival time. There has been pressure from non-member groups to revise our new regulated parking routine, and the purpose of our letter is to clarify the reasons for the changes.  We have reconsidered our decision announced in June and have again found that safety must be the primary criterion for allowing guests to park on our course.

Over the past several years, there has been tremendous growth in the use of canopies by our patrons. We have unsuccessfully tried to control the placement of these in order to maintain available parking places for other vehicles as well as maintaining entry lanes, and we are now at the point where the police have indicated that we must resolve the issue. Access to all areas of the course for emergency and security vehicles has at times been literally blocked by improperly placed vehicles and tent-type structures.  The emergency professionals simply can't get there at certain times to assist when the ingress and egress routes are blocked by canopies and games.

There has been much criticism by outsiders that our changes are based upon "more money."  The fact is that we have not increased our $40 fee for several years and have never charged for canopies. While these canopies and tents do take up some of our available spots, the purpose of this change is about safety and security for our patrons and members.

Ann Arbor Golf & Outing is a private club and policies cannot be dictated by outside opinion or misinformation.  We do value the opinions expressed to us by longtime parkers and have taken several weeks to reevaluate our decision.  Please consider when you have visited ANY parking venue where you have been allowed to park wherever and however you wished.

The changes are entirely about safety and security for both guests and members.