What single element of the golf course has increased the cost of golf the most??

[S. Huffstutler]

S.:

The last time we had a similar discussion I thought you implied that architects were responsible for these high costs.  [My reply pointed out the areas of architecture which have increased budgets.]

However, of the several areas of maintenance you mentioned, only bunker-raking (plus wider fairways, which you did not mention) is in any way related to the design of the course.

I do agree with you ... it's the primping details like edging cart paths and striping fairways that have risen the most in percentage terms.  Any golf club worthy of its name twenty years ago would not have spent a dime on those things.  Today golfers seem to expect even the out of play areas to look perfect.

P.S.  Don't worry about cracking down on illegal immigration too much.  Most politicians know deep down that a lot of our economy is riding on their backs; they're just grandstanding for the high percentage of their constituents who don't understand how the system works.

TD: Funny....I thought you were saying it was all our fault. Regarding illegal immigration, I must agree that this economy at least (S. Florida) is totally dependant on their labor....lets hope they don't find out.

Regards

Steve

[SB]

Tom,

I do think that, as a general rule, new courses are more expensive to maintain than old courses due to design and engineering changes - more irrigation heads, primarily, but also some design features.

However, after reading information from John Vander Borght in the other thread on maintenance budgets, and watching what is happening in the various markets, it appears that budgets are going way up for existing courses.  In the other thread, John pointed out that in Pittsburgh, the average maintenance budget has gone up by $150K-200K  in a few years.  The cost of most maintenance items (including labor) hasn't gone up that much, so it's got to be that the customer is demanding more in daily conditions, particularly at the high end.  I'm not sure what would change that.