Golf has lost the Plot!

  • Thread starter Thread starter thecraw
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We have tha same deal £14 to play Crail,Lundin Links, Ladybank and Leven Links all cracking tracks.
No luck Murph you'll have to get some Scottish mates to find a utility bill for you so can get on at residents rates. :D
 
Clearly Wentworth is cashing in on the new revamp and giventhe huge outlay it makes economic sense to do so. It's always been expensive and although a good course and one to tick onthe must play list its not in the same league as many of the courses in Scotland and Ireland. I'm not even talking the big names (K Club, St Andrews etc) but some of the bog standard members clubs that always seem that little bit more well kept and that bit more interesting to play than many (particularly parkland) courses elsewhere. I know there are hundreds of decent tracks around (most would always put their own track down as worth a visit) but not many charge in excess of £200

As I think Crawford alluded to in the orginal post, are we going to end up with a two tier golfing system with the traditional clubs having to take a greater brunt of visitors with a second tier making themselves relatively exclusive based on price alone. If so that would be a real disaster as one of the beauties of the game especially with handicapping is the relative accessibility to play the venues the pros play and on a level playing field.

There has been mention of more recipricol arrangements being an answer and I think that may be a way to go certainly to give club members a chance to play other courses at an affordable price. Indeed my own club has a worldwide arrangement with other Royal clubs worldwide.

http://www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk/membership

However where does that leave the nomadic golfer not attached to any particular club who prefers the freedom to play where and when he likes. Are they going to be priced out of the game entirely as even modest members clubs hike green fees to protect tee times for its members. Whilst I have no problem with corporate golf dominating exclusive venues like Wentworth there has to be a realism that many top courses remain iconic to the average player and there has to be a balance with giving them access without the need to take out a new mortgage. Clearly venues like the Belfry show it can be done.

An excellent thread to which I don't know there is a definite answer
 
Its horses for courses isn't it gents.....
You'll have the average joe playing his type of course and you'll have Goldfinger playing the expensive courses....
It happens the world over its like sports cars the lad driving the ferrari can well afford to run it and the lad driving the Vectra can afford to run it.....Live within your means thats my motto.....
 
I think technology should come to the rescue.
Just as it has transformed the equipment we used it can be used to maximise profit potential.
You have a finite number of slots available per day.
These slots can be increased/decreased in accordance with how many people you want to play on the course per day. (To maintain it's appearance and prevent crowding)
With online booking these slots can be assigned anytime and anywhere. Members can book whenever they want with priority.
And visitors/corporate will invariable book in advance.
The remaining slots can be time sensitive, the closer it gets to the tea time the lower the price (Remember once that tee time has gone the money it could have earned is gone too)
If you're local you can book last minute as you'll get the cheapest price (you could even use IP addresses/credit card location etc. to identify local users)
This way = maximum profit and the course becomes open for all.
(But most courses use the standard grid format/fixed price diary on a desk system?!???!)
 
Clearly Wentworth is cashing in on the new revamp and given the huge outlay it makes economic sense to do so.
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Wentworth have actually not increaed their green fees from last year's prices, and only went up a tenner the year before, so they are hardly cashing in.....you only make real money of out membership fees and members and so to justify the membership fee (about 5/6 K I think) then you have to have green fees at a level to make the membership fee value (which it is in my view.....cue the scots...)

I took the dog for a walk a few weeks ago around it to have a look - some of the new bunkers/greens look awesome - some of the bunker are so deep, most people will never get out of them....the West will be the best inland course in the UK when it reopens, the the 18th will be the best finishing hole in tournament golf too - a 2 shot lead may not probably be enough to get in a playoff anyone.....
 
With online booking these slots can be assigned anytime and anywhere. Members can book whenever they want with priority.
And visitors/corporate will invariable book in advance.
The remaining slots can be time sensitive, the closer it gets to the tea time the lower the price (Remember once that tee time has gone the money it could have earned is gone too)
Click to expand...

I've just had a look actually at this
http://www.teetimes.co.uk/

There are the beginnings of a last-minute-bargain culture developing, it seems.

In fairness to one of the "premier" courses I was thinking of in a previous post, there are some times on offer at this one too, for £12.50 as opposed to £50+
Then again, it is winter.....
 
I have used TeeTimes and they send you a weekly update of the all the available tee-times on the silly deals too....most of the course wouldn't be your fist choice but if you wanna game for a tenner then they're real good...
 
People who pay this for a single round and the sake of a conversation sentance in the pub, or a talking point regarding the photo on the living room wall are fools and just fuel these daft prices. Golf and clubs make their marks because of the golfing public, not just because of joe fat wallet. If a club wants to be private and have extortional prices for membership, fine, but if they seek to fleece the public, I say stuff em! You can get just as memorable and fulfilling golf elsewhere for far less outlay. Of all the really noted courses I have played I can honestly say they have offered no greater value or golfing kudos than many other lesser known clubs/courses, in fact one or two I thought were well below value. Now we are into select clubs with extreme prices for a simple round of golf (nothing else,just a round)it just shows how gullable people are who happily pay it.

If dog s88t became as popular as golf Im sure there would be a sizeable queue of open wallets for this too.
 
Sambee, that's some claim to make. I have never played it nor will I at that price however, it will need to be awesomely good to better loch lomond which I have had the pleasure of playing.
 
If you have the money then fill your boots I say! Personally an occasional treat to a special course is worth it without going stupid. But Club Membership, couple of lessons a month and work society days just about blows my budget
 
If a club wants to be private and have extortional prices for membership, fine, but if they seek to fleece the public, I say stuff em! You can get just as memorable and fulfilling golf elsewhere for far less outlay.
Click to expand...

Well said. Spot on as ever.

As I have a "country" membership at an exclusive club that you'd do well to get on let alone pay the green fee (NOT Royal St. David's b.t.w.) I can only say that some clubs seem simply happy to charge the earth and not be overrun with players.
I realise this goes against my earlier sentiments, but as this course was one of the only I ever managed to get a deal on back in the days (when I earned £200 p/w), I don't feel too bad. :)
 
The top dollar price is to put you off playing there.Paid 245euro to play Valderama and the service we received was well below the level we had at other courses...will never go back but still a great day but will def think twice about paying top dollar again,as has been said there's plenty hidden gems and deals to be had.


We have a similar agreement where we can go to some local courses to play for £12 and they can do the same which works well.
Dodger often goes to play at Magdelene Fields.. :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Aye that'l be right as well :D....only league matches and the odd scramble when bugger all else is on takes me onto the ugly sister.

I think as IM02 touches on alot of 'personal touch' goes a long way,we played Faldo's new track in Algarve last year which was advertised at 130 euro but we paid 70 but the service was nothing short of superb and if we had paid top dollar then I think that attention to detail may have made the difference between loving it and only enjoying it.
 
Wentworth is overpriced yes. However, you can play both courses at Sunningdale for the £190 quoted and in my view, this represents excellent value.
 
Wentworth is overpriced yes. However, you can play both courses at Sunningdale for the £190 quoted and in my view, this represents excellent value.
Click to expand...
That to me is more in the 'value for money' market, and I would probably prefer sunningdale. ;)
 
Further to my earlier post I think that there are so many things that can make up a great trip out to a course be it a 'Top' course or a 'Hidden Gem'.

Last year for example I played Western Gailes,now everything about it oozes class but the fact I paid £40 for the privelage had a huge say in it being so enjoyable as did the company for the round.

Also played Silloth for the sum of £15 and for me it was a huge let down after all I had been led to believe... it was IMO behind my own track in quality and that was a day spent in the same company as WG but the course just wasn't all it is trumpeted for IMO.

As I also touched on the Faldo was out of this world and much of that had to do with the conditioning of the track and the 6 star performance of the staff but maybe in truth not so much about the actual routing on the track.

Next year it looks like I will be playing Royal Troon,Montrose,Castle Stuart,Nairn and the Old for next to nothing so no doubt the pricing side of things will help me enjoy these tracks all the more but it will be interesting to see if the cut pricing enhances my thoughts on Nairn as it will be a 2nd time round and the 1st for me wasn't all I had thought it would be!With regard to The Old I could be paying £300 and still enjoy it as it is my favourite ;)
 
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