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[Marty Bonnar]

I note from the Links Trust website that Group Bookings (by tour Operators, Hotels and so on) are now subject to VAT (Value Added Tax) which runs at 17.5% in the UK.

Individual Bookings remain Tax exempt.

So the choice now is: either arrange yourself for £120 or pay the Tour Company £141 (probably PLUS their Handling, etc). My advice - come as singles or don't come at all.

Could they EVER price themselves out of the Market?

FBD.

[redanman]

FDB

Most of the time at TOC - say in the afternoon,  singles, maybe twosomes walking up to the starter usually works to get you out in an hour or so, yes or no?

Get my e-mail yet?

BV

[Tom_Doak]

Martin:  Pebble Beach is $450 and Americans want to play The Old Course just as much.

[ForkaB]

My understanding is that art is exempt from VAT (I know that books are).  So, is Gordon saying that The Old Course is not a piece of art?  If so, I hope Hadji MacWood reads this post and reads him the riot act!

DISCLAIMER:  Gordon Brown is my MP, or would be if I chose to be a British "subject."

[Marty Bonnar]

Maybe if Gordy had spent a bit more time dodging Skool like all the other Kirkcaldy boys and playing golf at Balwearie or Dunnikier...



..he might not have been such a Swotty Simon and turned out a bit better!

Bill - got your message. Will keep you posted.

Tom - I saw the PB Rates when we were there in December. Eye-Wateringly painful!!! I guess Market Rates will prevail.

FBD

PS Would anyone care to guess just what The Links Trust COULD get away with charging for TOC. £300?

[redanman]

Martin

The Links Trust could easily have a program whereby American visitors are charged £350-1000+ per head depending on their ability to pass a test on the history of golf, how large their bag is, how many trophy bag tags they carry, how willing they are to carry or use a trolley, and charge the rest of the world's visitors £30 or so.  There are a lot of people in the USA with more money than sense.

A fool and his money and all that.....

[Bob_Huntley]

Martin

A fool and his money and all that.....

Bill,

I read somewhere that if one omits Florida, more Brits travel to Las Vegas than any other state.

Bob

[David Sneddon]

I know they were charging VAT on groups as far back as 2003.  It only applies, as matin pointed out, to tee times made through Travel/Tour companies and Hotels.
You can still organize a group of 8 golfers and apply and arrange for tee times VAT free.

The current greens fee makes me weep, though, since I remember my first greens fee at TOC was 10 shillings (about $1.25US), and the starters shack was really a shack. :-)