Is Philly the best buy in US golf?

[Gary Slatter]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/golfersworld/2007/01/is_philadelphia.html

Larry Olmstead's piece in USAToday says so.
$1500 a year and many courses.

[mike_malone]

 Gary,

   These are the Phila. city courses. I wish they would charge more and put the $ into maintenance rather than creating a dirt cheap deal and leave the courses in horrible shape.

[JESII]

Mike,

I'm sure they'll accept a $5,000 check from you...

[Mike_Cirba]

One old chestnut that I find has always proven to be true is that you get what you pay for.  

[Dave_Miller]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/golfersworld/2007/01/is_philadelphia.html

Larry Olmstead's piece in USAToday says so.
$1500 a year and many courses.

Gary:
These are a good deal for a reason.  The layouts are good, some are great.  The conditioning is horrendous.  The greens are generally horrible.
Best
Dave

[JESII]

This is not meant as a knock on the city superintendents because I have no idea how this is actually set up, but aggregating the greenkeeping needs to enable the city to offer a high dollar figure to a qualified individual might help the conditioning without hurting the cash situation.

Do any of you locals know what the city does for superintendent(s) at these courses?

[wsmorrison]

Interesting that you propose that, Jim.  St. Louis tried to lure Flynn to become the district's managing superintendent responsible for advising all the clubs.  They were prepared to pay him $7000-$10,000 to do just that in 1921.  

Flynn's design business was really going well at this point and he decided to stick with it.  Good decision, Bill!

[Dave_Miller]

This is not meant as a knock on the city superintendents because I have no idea how this is actually set up, but aggregating the greenkeeping needs to enable the city to offer a high dollar figure to a qualified individual might help the conditioning without hurting the cash situation.

Do any of you locals know what the city does for superintendent(s) at these courses?

Jes:
Don't know the answer but when you see these courses it is obvious that there are budgetary constraints.  Similar problems exist in other municipalities.
Best
Dave

[JESII]

I understand David, and I have seen a few of those courses.

[Rob_Waldron]

I believe Adam knocked the bottom out of Eve under one of the trees at Walnut Lane. I do not think a single tree has been taken down at any of these courses...EVER! At Walnut Lane many tree canopies nearly meet in the middle of the fairway. One iron is the play off the tee. By the way if you make a trip to WL be sure to stop at Dellasandro's for a cheesesteak...UmmmUmmm Good!  

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Part of the answer about the Philly munis is that current lease operator is probably there on an interim basis. The previous operator, Meadowbrook, left and their local management team took over. The city has much larger priorities on its hands, namely an unbelievable homicide rate, than to deal with a new lease proposal that may call for the closure of Cobbs Creek for a year or two so that it may be renovated. For those locals and other interested GCA members, let's see for ourselves and visit Cobbs Creek in May or June and see it first hand.

Joe Logan did a piece last fall on Juniata, my former "club." I'll try to find it.

[D_Malley]

wasn't there some prelim talk about a harding park type deal for cobbs about 3 years ago, that either involved the usga or pga. not sure which one.

[Craig Sweet]

East coast bias.

[Cassandra Burns]

An acquaintance in the Chicagoland area told me of a muni in Wood Dale (I can't remember the name) - 36 holes, only $300 a year for senior residents to cover greens fees for a year, anytime except before noon on weekends.  That's where I'd like to retire!

[JESII]

East coast bias.

Care to ellaborate? Or just feeling especially crotchedy this morning?

[SB]

I would add that Philly is a pretty good value for private clubs, too.  The quality is very good to excellent and the cost, both dues and initiation fees, is much cheaper than NY, Boston, Chicago, and even DC.