What is meant by the "Retail Golfer?"

[Tom_Doak]

     Is an unescorted guest at a private club a retail golfer?

Or a rater for a major golf magazine who gains access to a private club a retail golfer?

This is like waving a red banner in front of Kavanaugh! 

[Gary Slatter]

To me, retail golfer used to mean: a golfer who bought their equipment at a golf store, vs. buying their hooks at a pro shop.  This fine line has changed over the years, the stores have all the gadgets now while the pro shops seem to sell for less.  I recently heard this something like:  "Go to Golftown, get measured up and then come back."

I've never heard it used to mean someone who paid full price to play golf.  Aren't they called "punters" ?  We need more of them anyway, a ratio of 9:1 would be great! :-)

[Dan Herrmann]

Rich:

Mike Keiser was the first I ever heard use the term, and the book(s) about Bandon Dunes have helped to popularize it.

I think Mike mostly meant "customer", but he did also mean the customer who would pay retail to play a new course.

The bottom line is that new golf courses have to charge retail prices.  If they can't, then they have to charge liquidation prices.  Wholesale is for older, simpler courses where the debt is already paid off.

Guys - that's all the term means.  It's not a knock on anybody.