What's the most you'd pay to play a great course?

[Matt Schiffer]

I bring this up because I recently got an e-mail from the NCGA saying that Spyglass Hill can be played in January at the reduced rate of $265.  Being in the industry, I've had the good fortune to play a lot of great courses but I don't believe I've ever paid that much to play.

Two questions:

1. Is Spyglass worth that price tag (I realize it's relative to how much money you have but please consider the question on a "value of the experience for your money" basis)?  

2. What's the most any of you has paid for a round and did it influence your appreciation of the experience?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Josh Tarble]

Whatever I think it's worth.  Not a penny more.

If you haven't paid more than $265, you are a lucky man.  (Or you're not playing really good publics.)



Listen, $265 is extremely expensive.  I certainly would not or can not spend that much regularly.  But the fact of the matter is some of the best courses in the world (and some not so good) are charging far more than that.  And most are completely filled.  I get tired of all these posts about high prices.  It sucks, but those are that's how it is.

[Daryl David]

1. No

2. $500 and it was not worth it.

[BCowan]

2. $150 is the most i have and will spend for a round of golf in the US.  I enjoyed playing the $150 track due to the arch quality of the course and history.  There are a good number of top 100 tracks that are $150 or less.  Once those tracks are in the Open rotation they skyrocket.  I personally have enjoyed looking for Gems and unpolished Gems when out of state.  I have played some really good gems for under $35.  Played WW today for $35 and it is a decent track for Florida.  I don't think you have to pay high prices for great courses, but that depends on what region you are in.

  Enjoy your trip!

[RJ_Daley]

I would only pay that much if it were part of a stay and play or other value package.  I would not pay that much for any single round of golf with possible exception of what I might believe is top 5 in the world.  I had paid my personal most for a round about 10+ years ago, around that 250 price point, and had buyer's regret afterwords, because it was definitely not worth that much.  

[Jason Thurman]

I don't know about Spyglass. I paid about $590 for a round down the street, factoring in caddie and everything. The cost didn't color my experience. I did it on a work trip so that $590 was my total out-of-pocket cost to play arguably the best public course in the country, including travel, lodging, and food. From that perspective, it was really a pretty good deal.

How much would I pay? If I got a call from an Augusta member tomorrow offering me a round for, say, $1000, I'd think about it for a long time. I may not be able to justify the cost considering my own budget, but I suspect it's probably worth it.

[Mike Hendren]

What is the most you'd pay for a bottle of wine?    I like an 8:1 golf/wine ratio.

Jason, where would you rather spend that grand?

Bogey

[Jason Topp]

This question reminds me of the time I played Shadow Creek for $500.  I had recently paid the downstroke for a country club for the first time and realized it would be my lowest cost round for some time, depending on how one assigned the costs of a private club membership.  

Setting aside the downstroke, the cost per round assuming 50 rounds per year at private clubs in my area is typically North of $200 unless one considers the clubhouse and pool to be extraordinarily valuable.

[Tim Lewis]

When me and my brother played Spyglass a couple years ago we did the twilight deal for $180. We finished pretty easily, but that was in July. Even if you don't finish your not missing a whole lot in the last couple holes.  

[Mark Saltzman]

I'd like to say $1k, but it's definitely more if the right opportunities arose.

[Terry Lavin]

1.  Spyglass is worth that amount of money.  The first five are awe-inspiring, the #4 hole is one of the more unique you're likely to play the remaining alpine, switchback holes are arduous, but interesting in their own way.  I paid $500 for Shadow Creek and I loved it.  It saved me a shit-ton of money, because it got me out of the casino.  I paid a little less to play Pebble for the tenth time and it made me not care if I played it again.

[Jason Thurman]

Jason, where would you rather spend that grand?

Maybe nowhere. I just have finite cash to devote to golf at this stage in my life. I deduct a set amount from each paycheck that has to cover golf, travel costs, guitars, rec league sports, and anything else that I buy for myself without needing to justify it to my wife. It's a nice arrangement, but $1000 ends up eating into it a little more than I could budget without a lot of mulling it over.

But that doesn't mean I wouldn't spend that $1000 eventually. Ask me in five years when I'm living that #BallSoHard life to the next level and I'd definitely do it.

[Jud_T]

A lot less than I would have a decade ago.  It's really down to each person's discretionary cash and desire to play the big names and or bedpost notch.   I liken it to fine wine.  I used to be on the mailing list for a certain Cabernet that sold for $1000 a bottle at auction.  I started buying it for $50.  I've still never tasted the stuff cause I could never justify foregoing a grand when I had so many great bottles that were worth $50-100.  Is the stuff great?  Purportedly.  Is it 10-20 times better than other really good wine?  Surely not.  It's a luxury item plain and simple.  I seriously doubt that I'll ever spend $300 for a round of golf again.

[Sean_A]

What is the guest fee for Augusta?  Assuming its not crazy, I would likely pay it.

I think Kiawah is the most expensive round I paid - I think $275.  I wouldn't pay that again for Kiawah.  

I think the only really expensive round I played that I would return is Merion. There are many uber expensive places I wouldn't even entertain the idea of playing - Pebble for instance.  For the most part, I usually lose interest around £100 mark.  My bar is really set around the $100/£65 mark (I can't see why awesome courses should cost more than this) and it stretches up to about £100.  Once a course costs more I have to give it some serious thought.  Usually its part of trip in which I level out the costs with a few cheaper courses.  There are several great courses that I really like that I will never play again.  Luckily, there are many other cheaper courses which I like as well.  

Bogey, interestingly, your 8:1 ratio works pretty well for me!

Ciao

[Richard Choi]

What is the most you'd pay for a bottle of wine?    I like an 8:1 golf/wine ratio.

Wow Bogey, either you spend some extreme amount to play golf or you are a cheap wino...

[Ivan Lipko]

This is a question that in other words may look like this - how much money do you have and how greedy you are?

Let me say that if I earn around USD 1 000 000 per year I wouldn't hesitate to USD 10 000 to play certain courses. Hope this answers your questions.

PS: I paid as much USD 500 to play a course and didn't really regret it. we're used to USD 300 for a round in Mother Russia.

[Bruce Wellmon]

2. $150 is the most i have and will spend for a round of golf in the US.  
I have played some really good gems for under $35.  Played WW today for $35 and it is a decent track for Florida.

Paying $35 for that round just allowed you to pay $265 for the next round and still average out to your max of $150.
Creative Accounting 101.
 

[Ronald Montesano]

I'd like to say $1k, but it's definitely more if the right opportunities arose.

Duh duh duh DUUUUUHHHHHHHHH

(Tune in next week to learn more about the right opportunities.)

[Rob Curtiss]

I would pay 800-1000 dollars each for Augusta, Pine Valley, Cypress point, Shinnecock HIlls and Oakmont..
all because they would probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity ..

[Mike Hendren]

I'm no big spender, but if I look at all the ways I've wasted money in my life, green fees would be way down the list.  

Rich, you can drink some really good wine for $30/bottle and play some really good golf courses for $240.  Also, $10 and $80 will get the job done.

Bogey

[Joel_Stewart]

A: $400 for Pebble Beach

B: Pine Valley outing.  I took 2 guys the first day and another 2 the following day.  We all stayed on the property.  Lunch for 4 the first day and dinner for 6 that night with multiple bottles of wine.  Breakfast the following day.  One guy decided to buy out the pro shop.  Total tab sent to me, $5,000.

[Michael Felton]

I would probably go up to about $1,000 to play NGLA or Shinnecock. I'd go a little higher to play Augusta or Cypress Point. I'm not sure how high I'd go in the hypothetical, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be beyond 2k.

[Tim Leahy]

$1000 for Cypress Pt, Augusta, Pine Valley or $500 for SFCC.
I think Spyglass is worth it.

[Adrian_Stiff]

£1500 or $2500 to play Augusta.

[Matt Schiffer]

Thanks all - I appreciate the opinions.  

I think I'll hold off on Spyglass until I can get on for a little bit cheaper.  Better yet, I might go next door and play Bayonet and Blackhorse twice each and pocket the loose change left over.