Golf has lost the Plot!

[JJF69]

I am not grudging these clubs charging that sort of money, as has been pointed out its their business. What I cant get my head round is that people are willing to pay these greenfees.

It is quite simple these courses are positioned at the top end of the market either corporate or the rich. If you can't afford it then sorry, we can't complain. Its the same in every walk of life, top restaurants, top bottle of wine, top bottle of champagne, exec boxes at football stadia and so on are outwith the grasp of the ordinary punter. The reality is people will pay, can afford to pay and therefore price is driven by demand.

 

[Ethan]

Wentworth sets fees that are what their market will bear. With the changes to the greensand to the 18th this winter, they will not have too much trouble filling the slots.

From their point of view, half as many people at twice the price is better than twice as many at half the price.

 

[thecraw]

Indeed I hear and see where your coming from JJF69, however I still cant get my head round the price Wentworth want to charge for a round of Golf.

 

[CliveW]

I suppose it is all relative to income. Unfortunately, a lot of people are feeling the pinch, as you are judging by your post, but others aren't and can afford to pay these prices. I see from your signature your club fees are over £700 for a year. That to me seems excessive and I would think twice about paying that for a year's membership.
Others have commented on the quality of the courses and the cost of maintaining them. This is rubbish. I have played courses with green fees around the £20 mark and they have been in as good if not better condition than some of the most expensive courses I've played.
At the end of the day, the elite courses charge what they do because they can and people are prepared to pay for it.

 

[stevek1969]

Have never saw the fasination in the place to be honest , i know a guy who's played it about half a dozen times and said it was ok but not worth the money if he had to pay for it.
Its the same at my club £70 a round at week ends,yes its a nice course but i think its far to much ,and they wonder how revenues are down.
Personally i'd rather play Pitlochry, Taymouth Castle,Machrahanish, Forfar and Alyth all nice courses at decent prices.
Its the same in Ireland the Old Head of Kinsale 300 euro, Lahinch 200 euro,Ballybunnion 200 euro its no wonder more people are going to Northern Ireland to play Porstewart ,Castlerock and Ballyliffan.IMO

 

[thecraw]

I suppose it is all relative to income. Unfortunately, a lot of people are feeling the pinch, as you are judging by your post, but others aren't and can afford to pay these prices. I see from your signature your club fees are over £700 for a year. That to me seems excessive and I would think twice about paying that for a year's membership.
Others have commented on the quality of the courses and the cost of maintaining them. This is rubbish. I have played courses with green fees around the £20 mark and they have been in as good if not better condition than some of the most expensive courses I've played.
At the end of the day, the elite courses charge what they do because they can and people are prepared to pay for it.

Clive,

I appreciate what you are saying however in and around the Glasgow area £700+ is the standard yearly subs that you will have to pay.

I get really envious of people elsewhere who get great value golf for buttons, ie, Machrihanish at just over £200, Boat of Garten £220. JJF69 and I played at Edzell a few years back, thats another beautiful track which is half of what we have to pay for golf in the Glasgow area. Fantastic setting, great layout and excellent greens.

I assume Perthshire is similar in pricing to Edzell.

 

[Ethan]

I suppose it is all relative to income. Unfortunately, a lot of people are feeling the pinch, as you are judging by your post, but others aren't and can afford to pay these prices. I see from your signature your club fees are over £700 for a year. That to me seems excessive and I would think twice about paying that for a year's membership.
Others have commented on the quality of the courses and the cost of maintaining them. This is rubbish. I have played courses with green fees around the £20 mark and they have been in as good if not better condition than some of the most expensive courses I've played.
At the end of the day, the elite courses charge what they do because they can and people are prepared to pay for it.

Clive,

I appreciate what you are saying however in and around the Glasgow area £700+ is the standard yearly subs that you will have to pay.

I get really envious of people elsewhere who get great value golf for buttons, ie, Machrihanish at just over £200, Boat of Garten £220. JJF69 and I played at Edzell a few years back, thats another beautiful track which is half of what we have to pay for golf in the Glasgow area. Fantastic setting, great layout and excellent greens.

I assume Perthshire is similar in pricing to Edzell.

It is market economics. Transplant Machrihanish to Surrey and Wentworth to the MoK and their fee structures will rapidly change.

 

[thecraw]

No thanks Ethan, you can keep your Wentworth, I'm happier with Machrihanish, think we got the better deal!

 

[Ethan]

No thanks Ethan, you can keep your Wentworth, I'm happier with Machrihanish, think we got the better deal!

I agree, I was a member of Silloth, a similar case to Mach, for a few years, subs in late 90s just over £200 a year, but my point is not a comparison of quality, but of location and demand. Wentworth is in the centre of corporate golf land with thousands of companies and many well heeled people as potential clients. Mach is a wee bit less accessible to so many.

 

[thecraw]

Totally agree. Supply and demand etc. However it doesn't stop me from thinking its crazy money.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

In economic terms we are talking about "The Doctrine of Diminishing Marginal Utility"

What is Fragger spouting on about? I hear you say...

Basically, the charges are set at a level to stop too many people using the services provided, BUT that enough people do use them to make a profit.

If we look at the phone system, if all calls were free, the system would be overloaded because everyone would be on the blower all the time. So the price is set to avoid queueing.

In Golf, the clubs that market themselves as "Exclusive" will have a higher "Bite Point". Those who can will and those who can't won't. There is still plenty of cash floating about somewhere. If the individual clubs find themselves squeezed then the pricing point may be altered downwards

Other economic rules such as "Supply And Demand" also come into play.

Hope that clears it up

Prof Milton Fragger (PHD in Bulls***)

 

[Ethan]

Dear Dr Phil PhD (BS).

I agree, and that was what i was getting at when I said: From their point of view, half as many people at twice the price is better than twice as many at half the price.

Put another way, they make more money this way, AND keep the chavs out.

 

[Junior]

I've played Wentworth's West Course, (suppliers invite), definately a really nice course, but not a phenominal one, The whole places reeks of exclusivity . . . . Even the driving range balls were mostly Srixon Soft feels & HX tours (i pocketed two TP reds that were in my bucket) , However even the sight of Di Stewart in the clubhouse (taller than she looks) wouldnt make me pay £285 a round. She was there with some England Rugby player who's name I cant remember !!

 

[Smiffy]

I love it when I pay the best part of £150.00 to play a fantastic course and score 23 points. Absolutely love it.
No seriously. I do

 

[RGDave]

From their point of view, half as many people at twice the price is better than twice as many at half the price.

That's got to be true.

What I can't understand is the "old and established" places (not Wentworths etc.) that actually don't have many visitors (other than the odd small society) but could increase their turnover with a few "deals" to the club member/h'cap player.

There are a few courses around here that make cow poo claims about being "premier" golf destinations/courses. Now, I appreciate that they probably need to big themselves up this way to get the business society days, but local players simply don't go there. These courses aren't even in the county book scheme that allows members of the regional courses to play at other courses (we all meet anyway in matches) for "visitor" rates. If these "premier" courses actually offered a few discounted tee times to local players, they could bring in another 100k a year.

Even our course could increase revenue (and we need it) by offering half price green fees at anti-social times (in the summer mostly) so the guys that go to the purely P&Ps might consider coming to us instead. I've actually had the conversation with the proprietor.

 

[USER1999]

What bugs me is that if I am scottish, I get some residents discount at certain scottish courses (fair enough), but if I live opposite (20 yards) from an exclusive golf club in Herts, do I get any discount? No, that'll be 130 quid then. Why can't locals get on for less, and sting the tourists? Even if they just set aside 3 4 balls a day. It would be a nice gesture, that would show that it isn't just about money, which it clearly is.

 

[Andy]

£285 is a valid fee for a round with Di Stewart. Dont have to play golf either haha

Andy

 

[RGDave]

What bugs me is that if I am scottish, I get some residents discount at certain scottish courses (fair enough), but if I live opposite (20 yards) from an exclusive golf club in Herts, do I get any discount? No, that'll be 130 quid then. Why can't locals get on for less, and sting the tourists? Even if they just set aside 3 4 balls a day. It would be a nice gesture, that would show that it isn't just about money, which it clearly is.

YES! at last, an agreement on this issue.

As we speak, the 2 clubs in my city and the 2 in the nearest town are currently bashing out an agreement to have some reciprocal deals.

I can't speak for clubs up n down the country, but there are always quiet times before and after the "member" slots at most clubs. 3 x 4 balls a day.....it wouldn't be much to ask.

re; our local arrangement, I'm fairly confident it'll happen. It's got to really as only 1 club is full with members.

 

[HRC99]

I played Turnberry a couple of years ago and it was very special indeed. We got a bit of a deal staying two nights and playing the Ailsa twice and Kintyre once. Worth it? You bet.

I've also played all of the Wentworth courses (had a friend whose company had corporate membership) and I wouldn't pay anything much for them. Good tracks but not amazing.

Carnoustie was quite good value. A round on each of the courses for £135. The championship course was about the hardest thing I've ever played.

You can get some decent deals to play great courses when tied in with accommodation too. There's a deal to play Royal St Georges, Princes and Royal Cinque ports for about £250 including 2 nights dinner bed & breakfast at the moment. Woodhall Spa has a good deal on at the moment too with one night's stay.

As everyone's said these are businesses and its up to them. I don't mind paying a fair bit for a top track but I'm expecting something special in return for handing over decent money.

There are plenty of gems out there for sensible money.

 

[IM01]

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..