"Saving Golf Clubs"

[David_Tepper]

From Barron's/Penta:

http://blogs.barrons.com/penta/2014/12/15/saving-golf-clubs/?mod=BOLBlog?mod=BOL_hp_highlight_5

[Kevin_Reilly]

"golf pros like Jack Nicholas"

Are there no editors or fact checkers any more?

[Jonathan Mallard]

Reading further, there's this howler:

"The aging sport is, in other words, finding a new lease on life by listening to a new breed of customer."

[Dave McCollum]

I saw the subject, thought it might be interesting, and even thought I might have something to contribute to the discussion here.  After I read it (and quit laughing and blowing snot bubbles), I honestly didn’t know what to say or where to start.  Then I read Penta’s mission statement:  “…Penta provides the affluent with advice on how to navigate the world of wealth management, how to make savvy acquisitions ranging from vintage watches to second homes, and how to smartly manage family dynamics.” 

Oh, now I understand.  It’s written in a language I don’t know for golfers I don’t ever see.  But that isn’t quite true.  I played a few times last year with two guys who flew into town in a private jet to play our course.   Very nice guys and avid golfers.  Perhaps the reason I didn’t see these guys as our future is because they were the pilots.  Dropped off their jet owner/employer in Sun Valley and went looking for someplace fun and affordable to play nearby.  Good for the owner as well.  Parking your jet at the airport is free, hotels, food, and golf are cheap.  Hell, parking at the airport for cars is also free.  Leave it there for a month, no problem.

Somewhat more serioulsy, but not much, obviously there was no editor or fact checker.  The most interesting thing about this article is that it was published at all.  It may be one of the most insipid and pointless golf posts I’ve read.  And that may be its claim to fame:  I suppose that isn’t easy to achieve in a world full of dumb stuff written about golf.

[RJ_Daley]

 

[David_Tepper]

I do think the article raises one valid point, one that has in fact been discussed here from time to time. With the rise of a number of high quality destination golf venues available to the daily fee golfer (Bandon Dunes, Streamsong and others), many golfers are opting out of joining a local club in favor of allocating their time and money to play their golf at the former rather than the later. Some golfers are opting for quality golf at a destination over quantity golf at a so-so local club/course. It is not just the private jet crowd, although they can afford to both join a local club and fly away to a golf destination.     

[Gary Sato]

Could they have found anyone else to interview then Robert Trent Jones Jr?  Maybe they could have found an expert or someone with knowledge? 

Most of the article is a thinly veiled advertisement for his shenanigans.  He mentions Poppy Hills and Sentry World, both courses he screwed up the first time and had to be rebuilt.

Very poor journalism.

[Dave McCollum]

David,

After I posted my snarky comments, it occurred to me they might be offensive to you.  It didn’t beforehand because you simply posted the link with no editorial comment of your own.  I meant no offense.  I’ve read a lot of great stuff you’ve posted that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.  Please keep it up.  And you’re right, the article wasn’t pointless.  Perhaps it was so poorly written that some of us got distracted by that. Or maybe I was just trying to have a bit of fun with it because I didn’t know what else to do.  Sort of like my golf game, best to have a laugh and move on.

Dave 

[Mike_Young]

This is nothing more than advertising thinly disguised as journalism.  Whoever his publicist, he/she has always been very good at such....more power to him....

[BCowan]

I do think the article raises one valid point, one that has in fact been discussed here from time to time. With the rise of a number of high quality destination golf venues available to the daily fee golfer (Bandon Dunes, Streamsong and others), many golfers are opting out of joining a local club in favor of allocating their time and money to play their golf at the former rather than the later. Some golfers are opting for quality golf at a destination over quantity golf at a so-so local club/course. It is not just the private jet crowd, although they can afford to both join a local club and fly away to a golf destination.     

+1, many people are turned off from the private club vibe.  I've met a few and they travel to above mentioned courses. 

[David_Tepper]

"+1, many people are turned off from the private club vibe.  I've met a few and they travel to above mentioned courses."

BCowan -

I don't know if it is "the private club vibe" so much as there are now so many quality destination golf venues available as an alternative.

Here in Northern California, it is easy to spend $25,000 to $100,000 (or more) on initiation fees to join a private club and $5,000 to $10,000 a year on monthly dues. That amount of money could easily fund 3 or 4 long weekend visits a year to Bandon and some muni golf while at home. For some people, that is an attractive alternative to playing the vast majority of your golf at the same club, unless that course is a really, really good one.

DTi

[Joe Zucker]

"+1, many people are turned off from the private club vibe.  I've met a few and they travel to above mentioned courses."

BCowan -

I don't know if it is "the private club vibe" so much as there are now so many quality destination golf venues available as an alternative.

Here in Northern California, it is easy to spend $25,000 to $100,000 (or more) on initiation fees to join a private club and $5,000 to $10,000 a year on monthly dues. That amount of money could easily fund 3 or 4 long weekend visits a year to Bandon and some muni golf while at home. For some people, that is an attractive alternative to playing the vast majority of your golf at the same club, unless that course is a really, really good one.

DTi

I like David's point here.  I'm a little young to consider joining a club, but ten years down the road when I have more disposable income, I'm pretty sure I won't because of all the options I have to play great public courses.  In the Chicago area, I can play at least a dozen very good public courses that cost ~$100 every weekend and it will be more affordable than joining a good club.  Sprinkle in a few day trips to Lawsonia/Erin Hills/Kohler/Sand Valley and that's a great summer of golf.

Now one thing you will miss are the old classic courses in Chicago that are primarily private.  That is certainly a shame and those courses are fantastic, but is it worth thousands and thousands? Some may say yes, but you're probably paying for a lot more than just the golf.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Wow!

Yet again, I am stunned by the amount people pay to play golf in the US. I could join half a dozen World Top 100 clubs all at once for less than that!

You're talking Cypress Point, right?

[David_Tepper]

"You're talking Cypress Point, right?"

Duncan C. -

Sadly no, I am not.

DT

[Daniel Jones]

"+1, many people are turned off from the private club vibe.  I've met a few and they travel to above mentioned courses."

BCowan -

I don't know if it is "the private club vibe" so much as there are now so many quality destination golf venues available as an alternative.

Here in Northern California, it is easy to spend $25,000 to $100,000 (or more) on initiation fees to join a private club and $5,000 to $10,000 a year on monthly dues. That amount of money could easily fund 3 or 4 long weekend visits a year to Bandon and some muni golf while at home. For some people, that is an attractive alternative to playing the vast majority of your golf at the same club, unless that course is a really, really good one.

DTi

I fall into this category. About this time every year I debate joining the local club, but when given the choice between initiation and dues or $20-30 for the local muni plus a half dozen golf trips to various destinations, I always end up choosing the latter. Plus it helps that Muni is a century old beauty that most on this board would probably prefer over a course filled with replica holes any day.

The main downside to this approach is you do lose the social aspect of the private club.

[BCowan]

"+1, many people are turned off from the private club vibe.  I've met a few and they travel to above mentioned courses."

BCowan -

I don't know if it is "the private club vibe" so much as there are now so many quality destination golf venues available as an alternative.

Here in Northern California, it is easy to spend $25,000 to $100,000 (or more) on initiation fees to join a private club and $5,000 to $10,000 a year on monthly dues. That amount of money could easily fund 3 or 4 long weekend visits a year to Bandon and some muni golf while at home. For some people, that is an attractive alternative to playing the vast majority of your golf at the same club, unless that course is a really, really good one.

DTi

I agree David, i include cost when talking vibe. 

[Daniel Jones]

On an unrelated note, it would appear the author may also work in retail. (Golf Digest just tweeted this)