[Brent Hutto]

Domestically I've paid $290 to play Spyglass Hill. It was worth it in the sense that it was a course that I'm now convinced is greater than generally recognized and as I said before it was in absolutely immaculate condition including the greens which were marvelous. But still it is certainly a one-time thing and I'm slightly appalled that I paid that much money.

Overseas I paid GBP165 to play Royal Birkdale so factoring in the exchange rate it was my most expensive round to date. The justification was that it is not only an Open course but more specifically I'll see (on TV) the Open played there this year so I wanted to experience it first-hand and then watch the elite players tackle it on television. So it was worth it, especially given that I can't exactly hold the exchange rate against the golf club. Once was enough and I would not play there again on a future visit unless it were much cheaper.

Except for the perfectly lovely links turf (which is worth crossing an ocean for any time in my book) I would say of these two hyper-expensive courses I think Spyglass Hill is the finer bit of golf course architecture. I'd still rather play Birkdale due to the turf but Spyglass has "better holes" overall in my opinion. Then again I think the Ocean Course (for which I paid "only" $190 winter rate) is a finer course than either Spyglass or Birkdale. So I conclude that once you get into the $200-and-up range the quality of the course does not strictly follow the relative pricing.

[Ronald Montesano]

Is the tail wagging the dog, or the dog wagging the tail?  It costs so much because we demand so much, and we demand so much because it costs so much.

[Tom Yost]

I will cheerfully admit to being a cheap ass.  Until this past April, the most I ever spent for a round of golf was $75.   Not that I can't afford it, I just don't see the value.

Living in the Phoenix area and being able to play the upscale courses that cost $200+ in season for $45 during the summer likely affects my point of view.

My cherry was broken (in a manner of speaking) in April when we visited Maui and I laid out $295 to play the Plantation.  It was an enjoyable experience but not a great value.  Because it was a special occasion, we agreed going in that we would do what we wanted to do and not count our nickels so that made it a little easier.  Honestly, paying $150 for one of the other courses would have been even a lesser value.

So is that my new price point?  I guess it will make it easier to spend that kind of money for golf in the future but would still maintain that to go over $100, it's going to have to be pretty special. 

Tom

[John Kavanaugh]

I will cheerfully admit to being a cheap ass.  Until this past April, the most I ever spent for a round of golf was $75.   Not that I can't afford it, I just don't see the value.

Living in the Phoenix area and being able to play the upscale courses that cost $200+ in season for $45 during the summer likely affects my point of view.

My cherry was broken (in a manner of speaking) in April when we visited Maui and I laid out $295 to play the Plantation.  It was an enjoyable experience but not a great value.  Because it was a special occasion, we agreed going in that we would do what we wanted to do and not count our nickels so that made it a little easier.  Honestly, paying $150 for one of the other courses would have been even a lesser value.

So is that my new price point?  I guess it will make it easier to spend that kind of money for golf in the future but would still maintain that to go over $100, it's going to have to be pretty special. 

Tom

Tom,

You are lucky to live in an area where there are architects who design the most interesting best value courses of any truly urban region of the country.

[JR Potts]

I would pay anything short of a grand to play the "top 10."

I would pay up to $500 to play each of the next 90.

[Jerry Kluger]

I think it costs so much because some people are stubborn or idiots.  I went to the Turning Stone Resort last week with 11 other guys.  They had a golf package that was very reasonable and we had a great time.  They have one course where they play the PGA Tour event and we played it twice as part of our package: they charge $225 to play it if you are not on a package.  One day when we played it, there was one other group on the course besides us - I'm talking the whole day - a total of 16 people were going to play the course that day.  I asked them about a replay and they said the charge would be $150 - I said to the person in the golf shop, you have to be kidding, there's no one on the course, how about if I pay a cart fee and go out - he said the replay fee is $150 and that's it - he had no discretion to charge anything else and he had asked previously on other days and was told there were no exceptions. I still enjoyed the place but it wouldn't cost them anything for me to go out there and the good PR is certainly worth something to them. 

[John Kavanaugh]

I think it costs so much because some people are stubborn or idiots.  I went to the Turning Stone Resort last week with 11 other guys.  They had a golf package that was very reasonable and we had a great time.  They have one course where they play the PGA Tour event and we played it twice as part of our package: they charge $225 to play it if you are not on a package.  One day when we played it, there was one other group on the course besides us - I'm talking the whole day - a total of 16 people were going to play the course that day.  I asked them about a replay and they said the charge would be $150 - I said to the person in the golf shop, you have to be kidding, there's no one on the course, how about if I pay a cart fee and go out - he said the replay fee is $150 and that's it - he had no discretion to charge anything else and he had asked previously on other days and was told there were no exceptions. I still enjoyed the place but it wouldn't cost them anything for me to go out there and the good PR is certainly worth something to them. 

Jerry,

I think letting you out on the course at a reduced rate does cost them in the perceived value they have earned through their past practices.  It is the same reason diamond merchants don't flood the market and prostitutes who pull fewer tricks get a higher rate.

[Matt Bosela]

Interesting thread.

All I can add is this: I got the opportunity to play Oakmont in the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association charity tournament that was posted on here by J.V.B. in the early autumn last year.

$500.00 for the round, including lunch, light dinner and caddy.  I recruited three friends and the four of us drove down from Ontario, Canada.  It was easily the most I've ever spent on a round of golf but I figured it was another one of those 'once in a lifetime' things.

All I can say is that by the time we hit the DRIVING RANGE, we knew we had our money's worth and by the time we hit our opening tee shots on the 3rd (our first hole of the day in the shotgun), the other guys were asking me when the tournament is coming back to Oakmont so they could get the chance to play again.

If I had the chance to play another of the top rated private courses, I'd easily pay the same amount quite happily, especially if a worthwhile charity benefits.

[Kalen Braley]

Based on some of these posts, it sounds like golf would be served well to introduce price discrimination into thier pricing practices.

Instead of telling people how much thier rates are, they should ask back, "how much are you willing to pay?"

[John Moore II]

I'm not sure we should go so far as to ask people what they will pay, though many courses in Pinehurst basically do that in winter. Its not quite that extreme, but its basically if you want to play for $20 you can do it. I think people will change what the market will let them charge and that comes up higher and higher. Also, people want Augusta conditioning. With that, the rates must go up. If people would settle for less than ideal conditions, I think you could get far lower rates. If you want Augusta conditions, be prepared to pay Augusta rates.

[Brent Hutto]

Yes, my mom uses the same "logic". She'll go shopping to "save" $250 because of a Sale at which she spends $300. So the next day she can go spend that $250 and "save" another $150 because she finds a Sale at another store. And it can go on and on.

So maybe that explains where Kalen and John come up with this stuff. They've got Stockholm Syndrome from years of accumulated captivity to their wives' shopping excursions.

[JohnV]

Interesting thread.

All I can add is this: I got the opportunity to play Oakmont in the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association charity tournament that was posted on here by J.V.B. in the early autumn last year.

$500.00 for the round, including lunch, light dinner and caddy.  I recruited three friends and the four of us drove down from Ontario, Canada.  It was easily the most I've ever spent on a round of golf but I figured it was another one of those 'once in a lifetime' things.

All I can say is that by the time we hit the DRIVING RANGE, we knew we had our money's worth and by the time we hit our opening tee shots on the 3rd (our first hole of the day in the shotgun), the other guys were asking me when the tournament is coming back to Oakmont so they could get the chance to play again.

If I had the chance to play another of the top rated private courses, I'd easily pay the same amount quite happily, especially if a worthwhile charity benefits.

Matt,  that hardly counts since it was a charity fund raiser and not just a green fee.

It should be back in about 5 years as that was how frequently they would invite us to hold it.

[JohnV]

Interesting that this comes up and Geoff S has a link to the following story about the 10 most expensive green fees in the world:

ABC Story

While I doubt they'll drop the rack rate, some of these might start offering deals over the next few years as the economy sours.  Pebble and Spyglass had a pretty good deal for NCGA members this past winter as well as the three-day tournament we had at Pebble / Spy / Poppy last weekend which at $2000 including 3 nights at Spanish Bay hotel and at least 4 meals was a bargain.

[Bob_Huntley]

10. Spyglass Hill Golf Course -- Pebble Beach Resorts, Pebble Beach, Calif.


The Pebble Beach Resort's second-most expensive golf course, the Spyglass Hill course, comes at a relative bargain in comparison to its sister course. The golf course was designed by the late Robert Trent Jones Sr., who is known for creating courses that encourage golfers to take chances with their swings. According to the Spyglass Web site, the course features two kinds of terrain: five holes through seaside dunes and 13 holes through majestic pines with challenging greens, bunkers and lakes. The costs: $330, including golf cart fees for non-guests.



I would hazard a guess that the difference between the Resort Rate of $330.00 and being a guest of a member at $15.00, is the largest divergence of all.

Bob

[Wayne_Kozun]

I would hazard a guess that the difference between the Resort Rate of $330.00 and being a guest of a member at $15.00, is the largest divergence of all.

Unless you're a St Andrews resident and play the Old Course a fair bit.

[Bob_Huntley]

Wayne,

I do not believe a GUEST of a St. Andrew's resident gets a preferred rate.

Bob

[Matt Bosela]

Interesting thread.

All I can add is this: I got the opportunity to play Oakmont in the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association charity tournament that was posted on here by J.V.B. in the early autumn last year.

$500.00 for the round, including lunch, light dinner and caddy.  I recruited three friends and the four of us drove down from Ontario, Canada.  It was easily the most I've ever spent on a round of golf but I figured it was another one of those 'once in a lifetime' things.

All I can say is that by the time we hit the DRIVING RANGE, we knew we had our money's worth and by the time we hit our opening tee shots on the 3rd (our first hole of the day in the shotgun), the other guys were asking me when the tournament is coming back to Oakmont so they could get the chance to play again.

If I had the chance to play another of the top rated private courses, I'd easily pay the same amount quite happily, especially if a worthwhile charity benefits.

Matt,  that hardly counts since it was a charity fund raiser and not just a green fee.

It should be back in about 5 years as that was how frequently they would invite us to hold it.

True enough John, but as I briefly touched on at the end of that post, I'd likely still pay a $500.00 green fee if it was on my 'Hope-to-Play' list - it would just be that much easier to justify the expense if some of the money went to charity!

[Wayne_Kozun]

I do not believe a GUEST of a St. Andrew's resident gets a preferred rate.

You're right Bob - I did not read your post closely enough as I was interpreting it as the difference between a local and a guest.  But I do believe many of the other good courses in Scotland do have very cheap rates for guests of members, but not to the extent that you highlighted.

[JohnV]

10. Spyglass Hill Golf Course -- Pebble Beach Resorts, Pebble Beach, Calif.


The Pebble Beach Resort's second-most expensive golf course, the Spyglass Hill course, comes at a relative bargain in comparison to its sister course. The golf course was designed by the late Robert Trent Jones Sr., who is known for creating courses that encourage golfers to take chances with their swings. According to the Spyglass Web site, the course features two kinds of terrain: five holes through seaside dunes and 13 holes through majestic pines with challenging greens, bunkers and lakes. The costs: $330, including golf cart fees for non-guests.



I would hazard a guess that the difference between the Resort Rate of $330.00 and being a guest of a member at $15.00, is the largest divergence of all.

Bob

Or even better, being a guest of an NCGA employee on a day when we have the course for a tournament.  It is free.

[John Kavanaugh]

I would have never paid to play one of the Disney courses if not for being a guest of an employee.  $25 at Disney where money flows like my bowels after a hot humid day at Epcot's Mexico is chump change.

[Chris Kane]

Wayne,

I do not believe a GUEST of a St. Andrew's resident gets a preferred rate.

Bob

Bob, I'm not sure what R&A members get, but Yearly Ticket holders of at least three years standing get a series of guest passes.  They can take guests for around 1/3 the full rate (I think TOC was £45 in 2007).

[Jim Tang]

I think anything over $150 is a bit nutso.  That said, I think there are certain special places where the price goes out the window and you pay what they are asking.  Why?  Well, for me, I am not really paying for a round of golf.  In these particular instances I am paying for an experience that I'll remember, cherish and talk about for the rest of my life.  Bandon and Kohler are two places that come to mind, for me.  I've been to those places and loved every minute of it.  Ireland is one of those places that I am working on getting to.

[JohnV]

I think the most I paid was $225 to play Riviera on a reciprocal back in about 1997.  It was worth it, but wish I'd known some of the people I know now.

My limit is definitely lower since I switched from software to golf administration.  The funds are down and I get to play plenty of good courses for a lot less $.

Now that I think about it, the most I probably every paid was about $1800 for one round at Pumpkin Ridge when I had moved out of the area and was waiting for my membership to sell.

[MargaretC]

My husband and I have been discussing this thread since it started and have decided that we can't set a number.  We're sure that there's a limit, but it's all relative -- relative to what's going on elsewhere in our lives (costs, activities, etc.).

An opportunity to play any of the courses on our wish list?  I'm sure we could rationalize quite a bit because it's likely to be a rare, possibly once in a lifetime opportunity.

The opportunity to play an exceptional course is a lasting experience.    

[Wayne_Freedman]

Pay?

When I play one of those courses, it's a pleasure, but also work because I  will inevitably photograph the place and write about it.

The key is to pay little more than the industry rate.

So, more than $100....forget it.

 

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