How much does price influence your playing decisions?

[Dale_McCallon]

Great topic imo

Living in a rural area, I guess I'm lucky that golf is really a fairly inexpensive habit.  Most courses within a 50 mile radius are 40 or less even on weekends--of course most may not even be worth that much.  

I'm willing to pay much more than that, but my fellow golf buddies just will not do it.  Case in point, about 6-7 years ago the Tennesseean Golf Club opened to some fairly high praise and charge around $60 for weekend rounds.  Way out of line with other courses in area.  Plenty of people played it once, but very little repeat business.  Sad to say, I don't even know if course is still open.  Sad because it had some really great holes on some wild terrain.  

[Matt_Ward]

Dale:

The issue with courses that charge higher amounts is not when a new course of substance comes onto the scene and does charge beyond what many of the "locals" are prepared to pay.

It's when all the other "wannabee" courses THINK they are at the same level as the top course that the issue becomes a major irritant to many golfers.

The issue for the "groundbreaking" type course is to provide time frames when others can access the course (e.g. twilight, off-season, etc, etc).

Just keep this in mind -- many people are not enamored with course design as those who post / lurk here. For many golfers the key thing can come down to which course allows coolers on the carts and if fivesomes are permitted.

[Dave Bourgeois]

Matt,

I try limit myself to around $50.00 on the weekend if I can help it. Being from the Metro NY area this is quite tough to do. This is why Bethpage is worth the drive for any of the courses (sorry Jay Flemma).  

I cannot see paying the $80+ for any of the Crystal Spring area or $150.00 for NY country Club, when I can have lots of fun at Maple Moor or hit Mohansic for $27!  I will splurge every now and then, but for me it has to be worth it, and sadly most of those courses within an hour's drive are quite private.  Public worth it within range would be Links at Unionvale, The Architects Club, Tallgrass, and Ricther to name a few.

Like many on here I'm a no frills kind of guy, don't need the CCFAD experience and prefer to carry my own bag.  When playing I try to make the best of what is there and work on my game within the confines of what is presented.  With all my play at Maple Moor I will be ready in case rakes are banned!    

[Matt_Ward]

Dave:

Glad you mentioned The Links at Union Vale -- although it's a bit of a drive from No Jersey the layout (minus the goofy lay-up at #1) is quite good and the price, as you correctly mentioned, is very tough to beat.

If you are looking for modest fees from the Jersey front I would dare say that Somerset County provides a good bang for the buck and the newest layout, Neshanic Valley, is probably the most complete facility (practice wise and clubhouse wise) one can imagine.

Just a quick point -- the last time I checked Richter Park was quite selective on when outsiders could get tee times / access on weekends & holidays. Maybe things have changed there but I have not been back in quite some time.

[Dave Bourgeois]

I played Neshanic and liked it quite a bit.  The $$s weren't bad either.  I have not been to Berkshire Valley in NJ yet, and have hesitated because of the cart policy.  

NJ and LI  certainly have it over Westchester in terms of the available quality public golf.   I will be moving to northern Fairfield county and will be curious to see what's in the 1 hour range.  With no traffic I might make it to Wintonbury, "so I got that goin' for me....which is good."

[Doug Siebert]

I don't think it influences my decisions too much, but I live in a fairly inexpensive area golf wise.  If I'm on a trip where playing golf is my intent, I don't really have any set limit.  I'll pay what they ask to play a TOC or Ballybunion, that's pretty small potatoes compared to the cost of getting over there, rental car and lodging.

If I'm not travelling for golf I tend not to even bring my clubs anymore because I hate dragging them through an airport and having to check them just for one round during a week, unless I know ahead of time I'll be playing with someone.  If I do bring them, my price is variable depending on what I perceive the quality of the course to be and how much/well I've been playing recently.  If I'm not playing well, spending $180 to spend the day in the left rough somewhere unless it is a great course in a location I may never return to just isn't worth it to me.  I can spend the day in the left rough at home for a lot less cash!

[Mike McGuire]

First time :

.....if its $20 i will to pay it  - why so cheap? - what could be done  to improve it?

.....if its $50 i will to pay it (whats it about?)

.....if its $150 i will pay it (must be good)

......if its $300 i will pay it ( i'm nuts)

Second time...

[jpenkwitz]

Mr. Daley...how are you?  I've been out of the picture at Lawsonia, but Lawsonia is not out of my heart.  I've been reading posts the past year and feel I have some insight on a few things that are happening at Lawsonia...since I spent 13 years as Director of Golf.  I'm not one to pat myself on the back, but I feel quite responsible for some positive changes that took place at Lawsonia the past years.  Through the assistance of Rod Johnson...golf course super at Pine Hills CC in Sheboygan...I found Ron Forse who assisted us with the long range plan that implemented tree removal, fairway widening and new tee construction, etc.  Most of the things happening at the course today are because of a long range plan that was developed over 5 years ago.  Financial woes of the conference center and the downturn of the golf business had put a lot of the projects on hold.  The golf course is in dire need of a new irrigation system (installed in 1966-67!) Super Mike has done a tremendous job with his budgetary restrictions.  

Price structuring of golf today is an interesting topic.  Obviously it's a golfer's market.  Deals can be had everywhere.  I would suspect the muni's and county courses are in decent financial postions since they are able to keep rates low and traffic high and maximize food and beverage sales.

Courses like Lawsonia are at such a disadvantage.  Not much local population to charge lower rates for repeat business.  No alcohol to subsidize income.  Lawsonia must make it on golf and cart fees alone.  That is why I felt the rates should be a little higher.   How do you find the right balance of rounds and rates to hit the most revenue?  It was a tough question for me to answer for 13 years.   My theory was to give a great experience and not "push the cattle through" every 6 and 7 minutes.  I believed in less traffic and better conditions.

Let's face it $75 times 30,000 rounds equals $2,250,000
                 $50 times 40,000 rounds equals $2,000,000

So my question is too the discussion group is:

What's more important...an experience or a good rate?

[Wyatt Halliday]

As most know, the Houston area isn't known for exceptional quality when it comes to courses. However, it is know for quantity. Typically the courses to play are the most difficult to get on (no surprise here) such as HCC, River Oaks, Lakeside. However, when it comes to access golf, the choices are horrendous.

There are no less than 26 courses in the $40-$60 range (might I add they are cart included), which IMHO aren't worth half of that. These beauties include Cinco Ranch, Houston National, Greatwood. You could be blindfolded and dropped down from course to course without any knowledge you were somewhere else.

As for the $60+ range, it is the same concept plus a tree here and a pyramid stack there. See Redstone, Augusta Pines, Blackhorse (althought the North course has some value), and Meadowbrook Farms.

The only courses of any interest (that I have played) in this category are Blaketree National$68, and Woodforest$65. Both have their problems, but those are overshadowed by the sheer fact that they maintain variety throughout.

In the last 8 years, the Houston "daily fee" boom has given the Southeast Texas golfer the misguided perception that he has a multitude of options. Unfortunately, he is presented with a multitude of mediocrity.

[cary lichtenstein]

The first time, I will pay up tp $300/350, Trump in California and East Lake in Atlanta wharged me that. Would I go back a 2nd time at those prices? No way.

I think my max on 2nd visits is probably $150, with plenty of excellent courses way below that.

I did pay $500 at Shadow Creek once, but would not pay that for a 2nd time.

[Jerry Kluger]

Matt: Price is surely a factor but I would rather skip and few and pay the high price for something special.  When given the opportunity, I have paid some really steep prices to play some of the great courses as an unaccompanied guest but I never regretted it.  You can read all the books you want and view all the photos you want, but there ain't nothin like the real thing baby and until you've experienced the best, how can you know what the best is?  I have also been to some nice resorts and they wanted a bunch of money to play their course and I hit balls at the range rather than paying a high price for an okay course.

[Matt_Ward]

Jerry:

I hear what you say but I know some golf guys of mine who are wedded to the almighty dollar and will not part with it even if the architectural pedigree is top of the charts.

Let me further add that there are people who are throwing forward comments about "one time" plays. I stipulated at the outset that my intention was not to highlight this unique aspect.

No doubt people will pay a high amount if the likes of Sand Hills, Pebble, et al is involved.

What I am talking about is the return play. Will people opt for the lower level design because it's easy on the wallet or will they play possibly less and enjoy the qualities of the design long after the round is completed.

[Tom Huckaby]

Matt:

Asking in here is obviously going to get very different answers from asking out in the real world.  I'd guess that it will all come down like this if you were to ask all golfers who play more than 10 rounds per year:

10%:  will play anywhere cost be damned.  Subset is 2% who just have so much money that it's not an issue; 8% who just love to play the game so much they'll do whatever it takes to play.

50% - cost determines everything.  They have a threshold and exceed it only very, very rarely, under great duress.

39% - splurgers.  They have thresholds, but also have great courses they like to return to either near or far, and do so because it's worth it to them.  But they generally watch their money re return play, and most of their golf will be inside the threshold.

1% - Getkas.  Those who save their money, play only a few times a year, only at courses with a very high design pedigree.


Disagree?

TH

[Matt_Ward]

Huck:

I hate to say this but the folks who are more influenced by architecture / pedigree of the design is rather small when compared to those who have to watch their pennies when deciding to play which courses. Or mayve it's just my circle of golf friends who part with the dollar only when "push" has come to "shoove."

For me I simply don't play golf for the sake of golf unless the course has some elements to it (doesn't have to be a Sand Hills mind you) that make playing it compelling. I'd much rather practice than play some ballfield that pretends to call itself a golf course. If a course has one or two key elements I'd be happy to play it because of the requirements mandated.

I like your layout in terms of rough percentages although Ed may take exception.

[Tom Huckaby]

Matt:

You hate to say it because you're agreeing with me?

 

And I doubt Ed would take any offense.  He knows he is a rare bird.  He also knows he plays WAY better golf courses than guys like me, and I know it also.

TH

[Phil Benedict]

I belong to a private club and try not to think about the cost.  My guess is the average cost per round is well above even up-scale daily fee courses.

On our annual trip to Palm Springs my brother and I consider Shadow Ridge our "home" course because he is an owner and we get a deal on greens fees.  Last year we paid an extra $100 to play PGA West Stadium, a very different golfing experience which we both loved.  We will go back to the Stadium Course on occasion but are unlikely to become regulars because of the upcharge compared to Shadow Ridge.  In the future we will probably play Shadow Ridge 3 times for every time we play the Stadium Course or some other premium priced course in the desert.  $235 seems like a lot of money for a round of golf, particularly for someone who grew up playing muni's for $5.