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Gary Slatter

  • Karma: +0/-0
Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« on: January 18, 2007, 02:06:24 PM »
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 Slatter
gary.slatter@raffles.com

mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2007, 02:12:43 PM »
 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.
AKA Mayday

JESII

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2007, 02:18:31 PM »
Mike,

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

Mike_Cirba

Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2007, 02:19:25 PM »
One old chestnut that I find has always proven to be true is that you get what you pay for.  

Dave_Miller

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2007, 02:20:08 PM »
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

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2007, 02:21:32 PM »
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

Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2007, 02:39:22 PM »
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

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2007, 02:42:20 PM »
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

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2007, 02:50:04 PM »
I understand David, and I have seen a few of those courses.


Rob_Waldron

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2007, 03:37:55 PM »
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

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2007, 03:51:20 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: January 18, 2007, 03:54:43 PM by Steve_ Shaffer »
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

D_Malley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2007, 10:27:11 AM »
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

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2007, 10:58:04 AM »
East coast bias.
We are no longer a country of laws.

Cassandra Burns

Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2007, 11:01:14 AM »
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

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #14 on: January 19, 2007, 11:42:27 AM »
East coast bias.

Care to ellaborate? Or just feeling especially crotchedy this morning?
« Last Edit: January 19, 2007, 11:43:05 AM by JES II »

SB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Is Philly the best buy in US golf?
« Reply #15 on: January 19, 2007, 02:09:56 PM »
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.