Top 10 Price No Object VS Top 10 Money Savy

[Sean_A]

I was asked at a golf charity event on Friday (by an American) which 10 courses I would reco if money were no object (that I have played) and 10 if money were a consideration, but not to the point where the golf wasn't of a very high standard.  When I got home I tallied the cost of the courses I recoed.  The difference in price was far more than I had anticipated.  The Savy list was 1/3 the price of the No Object list.  I don't know about you lot, but a thousand quid over 10 games seems a huge amount of money.  Its so much money that its hard to get my head around the idea.  It is also interesting that only North Berwick crosses over. 

PNO                                                     MS

Prestwick                                              St Enodoc
Portrush                                               Woking
N Berwick                                             N Berwick
Sandwich                                              Enniscrone
Lahinch                                                 Pennard
Ballyunion                                              Beau Desert
Merion                                                  Addington
Co Down                                               Lakewood Shores
TOC                                                     Kington
Kiawah                                                  Brora
_________                                            _________________
£153  on average                                    £52 on average

I would like to see some comparative lists from others.  Perhaps my picks are just a one off and not representative.  One thing is for certain, I would take the cheaper list any day over the more expensive list for a thousand quid in the bank, but many of you lot may not feel the same. 

Ciao 

[Carl Nichols]

Sean:
Just curious -- are you comparing rack rates to rack rates? 

[BCrosby]

Sean - Why/how is N Berwick on both lists?

[BCrosby]

One of the services provided by GCA - probably inadvertently - is getting word out about really good golf courses that are off the beaten track. That also usually means they are less expensive to play.

Sean's list is an interesting one. We all have our own. My point is that there are large number of interesting, well-designed golf courses that are both affordable and accessible, in both the US and the UK. GCA has played a big role in giving them the attention they deserve.

Bob 

[Carl Nichols]

Sean - Why/how is N Berwick on both lists?

Bob:
I was assuming it's because it's the only inexpensive course in Sean's top 10 overall courses (expensive or not). 

[Sean_A]

Sean:
Just curious -- are you comparing rack rates to rack rates? 

Carl

Yes, the weekday price at high season for one game of golf.  No deals, mats, playing in the dark or snow.  I never like it when folks talk about prices by using some sort of deal.  If yer gonna reco a course reco it at full whack or not at all.

Bob

I spose North Berwick is just one of those places.  Even at £75 its a savy deal. 

Ciao

[Sean Walsh]

Sean my list comes out similarly 1/3 the cost for the value courses.

TOC                                     Barnbougle Dunes
Ballybunion                            Carne
Lahinch                                 Enniscrone
Royal Dornoch                        Port Fairy
Kingston Heath                      Barwon Heads
Ganton                                 The Eden
Baltray                                  Brora
Portrush                               Dooks
Kingsbarns                             Hosham
Barnbougle Dunes                  Ballyliffin Old

Avg - £117                           Avg - £41

Carne is the dearest on the cheap side while suprisingly due to current currency rates Kingsbarns only pips Kingston Heath by £3 for an overseas visitor on the dear side.  Barnbougle Dunes makes it on both lists and at £50/round or £60 for the day is a bargain.  Port Fairy and Horsham are cheapest at £17. 

On a side note I took an opportunity to have a beautifully sunny mid winter round at Port Fairy last week.  An absolute Delight..

Dooks is perhaps the only cheapie lucky to make the list.

[Sean_A]

Sean my list comes out similarly 1/3 the cost for the value courses.

TOC                                     Barnbougle Dunes
Ballybunion                            Carne
Lahinch                                 Enniscrone
Royal Dornoch                        Port Fairy
Kingston Heath                      Barwon Heads
Ganton                                 The Eden
Baltray                                  Brora
Portrush                               Dooks
Kingsbarns                             Hosham
Barnbougle Dunes                  Ballyliffin Old

Avg - £117                           Avg - £41

Carne is the dearest on the cheap side while suprisingly due to current currency rates Kingsbarns only pips Kingston Heath by £3 for an overseas visitor on the dear side.  Barnbougle Dunes makes it on both lists and at £50/round or £60 for the day is a bargain.  Port Fairy and Horsham are cheapest at £17. 

On a side note I took an opportunity to have a beautifully sunny mid winter round at Port Fairy last week.  An absolute Delight..

Dooks is perhaps the only cheapie lucky to make the list.

Sean

That is an interesting comparison and to come out more or less with the same price ratio is a bit weird.  Are there any on the PNO list you wouldn't go back to?  You seem to have selected many courses I have a lot of time for or would make time for, but I don't know anything about Hosham.  Can you tell me more?  Any pix?

Anybody else have a comparative list to offer? 

Ciao 

[Scott Warren]

Sean Arble,

Knowing Sean Walsh is from Australia, he may well have meant Horsham in country Victoria. There was a thread recently by Neil Crafter showing some before and after pics following the recent bushfire that did some tree-clearing at the course. I can't find it using the search function right now, but it's there somewhere.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Sean Arble,

I cannot believe that your list averages £153...

Even without deals, almost all of those courses on your list are individually under that price... Unless there has been serious increase from 2008 to 2009 (which is unlikely)...

Not that I'm casting aspersion on your honesty, mind!....

[Emil Weber]

Ally:

This is Sean's list with greenfees:

                             weekday                           weekend
Prestwick                 120 P                                  145 P
Portrush                   125 P                                 140 P
N Berwick                 75 P                                    95 P
Sandwich                 140 P                                   140 P
Lahinch                    150 € = 127 P(16.6,09)         150 € = 127 P
Ballybunion                180 €= 153 P                      180 € = 153 P
Merion                                                           
Co Down                 160 P (AM)                           180 P
TOC                        130 P                                   130 P
Kiawah                      Around 300 $ that would mean 183 P

Weekday average:  135 P
Weekend average:  144 P
excluding Merion, of course.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Turnberry               North Berwick
Muirfield.               Addington
Sunningdale            Woking    
Portush                Aberdovey
Lahinch               Brora
Dornoch               Pennard
Ganton               Brancaster
RCP               Portsalon
North Berwick            Castlerock
CrudenBay               Hainault Forrest Lower

Not everyone has your vast list to choose from so I’m not sure what this all means. I suspect there’ some crossover here.

[Sean_A]

Turnberry               North Berwick
Muirfield.               Addington
Sunningdale            Woking    
Portush                Aberdovey
Lahinch               Brora
Dornoch               Pennard
Ganton               Brancaster
RCP               Portsalon
North Berwick            Castlerock
CrudenBay               Hainault Forrest Lower

Not everyone has your vast list to choose from so I’m not sure what this all means. I suspect there’ some crossover here.

Tony

My list isn't so vast.  It is remarkable how similar our lists are. 

Well, out of three folks, all of them have an odd course on their list.  I think you did a deal on Hainault Forest, but I can't find it.  What is the price difference between the lists?  

Emil

Go much higher for Kiawah and Merion ain't cheap.  Plus, I didn't use any deals and always the high season most expensive rate. Finally, the Pound has enjoyed a resurgence of late and I didn't bother to go back and figure the new exchange rates.

Ciao

[Gary Slatter]

Sean, great topic, it's one that we discuss almost on a daily basis.

Limiting the exercise to just our area around St Andrews,  people are faced with questions like: should I pay £165 to play one course, or will I pay the same amount and play four courses?   This year many rates have been lowered and good golf can be had for around £50.00.  You can enjoy four gems for the price of one round.

It's a bit political for me to discuss individual course prices but if I were to make two lists,  4 or 5 of my Savy courses would appear on my No Object list.

Play Panmure, pass on Carnoustie, bet the difference on Paul Casey in the Open.

[Mark Chaplin]

I believe members guest at Merion is $220 plus caddie or £137.50 plus caddie at today's rate.