I used to think that 9 holes should be a privilege of membership not pay and play. It’s a great benefit / value of membership to play a few holes. But if it’s priced above 50% of 18 hole rate it’s not too bad providing it’s policed that they don’t play the full round.
It’s also much better than a twilight rate. After 4pm Members are coming from work, so no need to discount.
Another scheme England Golf in their wisdom are backing is ‘The Revenue Club’. Turn up to an England Golf Roadshow and they will preach to the gullible and convince Clubs to assist with dynamic pricing structure in return for a fee and a cut of the action!
All these Clubs maintaining Courses and premises and paying someone else who invests nothing.
And Club’s are going for it....
I don’t know whether to be glad, as sensible Clubs will benefit from their demise in the long run or throughly depressed as they trash the market and drag everyone down.