Paul - Low cost encompasses many things, but equally many things that are GCA liked are not cheap. Width for instance is expensive in many places because it involves triple perhaps even quadruple rowed spacing, it is cheap in the UK because the irrigation requirement is zeroed.
Bunkers at £40 a tonne for sand makes you really think if you need that bunker or not. They are also very expensive to rake, cut round, trim, edge.....cut your bunkers out and you will save a lot of money. The great thing about grass bunkers are that they are as difficult to get up and down in two for a good player versus sand bunkers where as the lesser player finds them considerably easier, which is kinda perfect if you want to cater for all standards without making the course a doddle.
Ryan - Yes a few play 100-150 times a year but usually good spenders in the bar, no definite rules and yes you do get a few who irritate.