Golfers being ripped off?

[IanM]

Golf is no different from other sports... you could buy a car for what next door's bike cost! Fishing gear is mad too...

But cheaper alternatives are always available.

Did the M6 really become a bad club when they brought out the SIm?

 

[Crow]

I buy old gear but even then it's not always value for money, here's some of my latest acquisition, refund requested!

(Shafts completely rusted through under the leather grips, and people worry about a little bit of chrome pitting on the shaft. )

 

[Jigger]

Prices have gone through the roof for everything since Covid. Its almost as if places are trying to claw back the money within 12 months!

theres also the point all industries have premium gear which eventually trickles down the chain. There’s definitely more affordable options out there than you selected.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

There has always been a huge market for golfers who think that the most expensive item must be the best.
I had an old colleague who decided to charge a fortune for golf lessons,
His diary soon became very full even though he was a useless coach.
He was brilliant self at self publicity though.

 

[Yorkhacker]

I guess, like any goods, it's all about supply and demand. I sold some clubs recently and got probably £200 more than I would have 2 years ago.
Before I buy something, I always consider whether it is worth it to me. I wouldn't dream of spending £400 on a jacket as I don't play in rain that heavy, but I'm happy to pay for a Galvin Green Insula top as I will get full vfm out of it

 

[Waitforme]

I know Galvin Green are expensive but you're paying for top quality goretex which as a brand itself is expensive.

I wouldn't think twice of paying £400+ for a goretex jacket though. Anything else isn't worth buying if you want to stay dry.

Everything else is very much of a muchness.

The only part of the above I’d question is that “ anything else isn’t worth buying if you want to stay dry” - IMO nonsense.
Ive spent many hours in the mountains in persistent rain with a trespass jacket at a fraction of the price and stayed dry.

 

[Backache]

The only part of the above I’d question is that “ anything else isn’t worth buying if you want to stay dry” - IMO nonsense.
Ive spent many hours in the mountains in persistent rain with a trespass jacket at a fraction of the price and stayed dry.

Very true, though with hill walking water proofs you tend to get increasing lightness with increasing price rather than increasing rain resistance.

 

[Foxholer]

The only part of the above I’d question is that “ anything else isn’t worth buying if you want to stay dry” - IMO nonsense.
Ive spent many hours in the mountains in persistent rain with a trespass jacket at a fraction of the price and stayed dry.

I wear a GG jacket for Golf (though/and I didn't pay anywhere near £400 for it), but there's no way I'd wear it for protection 'in the mountains'! Likewise, I'd never consider using a jacket designed for use in mountains (I actually have a North Face one) for protection on a golf course!
Being able to stay dry while playing golf and in adverse weather is GG's 'strength'! Though I certainly believe that they (like so many golf-specific products) are over-priced. Caveat emptor certainly applies to Golf products!

 

[Junior]

There has always been a huge market for golfers who think that the most expensive item must be the best.
I had an old colleague who decided to charge a fortune for golf lessons,
His diary soon became very full even though he was a useless coach.
He was brilliant self at self publicity though.

This happens a lot in the North West.

There is a pro in the North West who does some youtube stuff and specialises in coaching elite players. Basically his process is that he kind of interviews a player before hand to establish if they are of the right caliber for him to coach. He charges a fortune and is fully booked with young superstars, elite and County players. A few years ago I had a lesson with him and he spent most of the time talking absolute gobbledegook. It was like he was trying to tell me how much he knew about the golf swing, rather than fix the problem I had gone to see him about. I just couldn't relate.

A pal of mine pre booked 10 lessons for 800 quid with him, convinced he would transform his game. The first time he turned up he'd double booked, the 2nd time he binned my mate off as a county player needed urgent help, the third time he cancelled as he was sick. He got his money back though.

Then there are a few quality coaches where for £60 per hour you can book a lesson with ex-tour players like Phil Archer and Peter Barber.

 

[Backsticks]

I dont think they are being ripped off, though prices certainly are high.

Two factors at play really - golf is a rich mans game in general, and, the nature of the game does lure him into always looking for some tool or angle that will improve his performance.

But golfers choose the high price gear. Its as if car buyers were only willing to buy a Ferrari, a Roll Royce, or a Porsche, and regarded anything else as not to be taken seriously as worth buying.

There is no such thing as a 'golf shirt'. Its just a polo shirt that you can get in any dept store for less than a tenner, or £20 for a 'premium' one. So anyone paying £70 for a golf brand shirt as worn by the tour players is choosing to do so, even though of course the manufacturing price of both is similar. We can buy the Benross, or Slazenger gear for 20 or 30% of the major golf brands.
You can get a decent pair of golf shoes for £50. But people will pay £200 for a pair of golf shoes that they will only wear for 4 hours 20 or 30 times a year, when they are probably wearing a £50 pair of Clarks street shoes day in day out. Then he starts obsessing and posting on forums for reviews of what studs he should have on tham, and spends another £20 because the ones on the shoes from the box dont quite suit the soil at his club apparantly. And he needs different ones when he plays when on holiday in Portugal. Oh, and the pair of 'golf' socks for £15 while he is at it.
Putters for £250? Is madness. But you dont have to buy it. The no name brand beside it for £30 is to all real analysis the same thing.
Irons havent improved in any meaningful way in 30 years. Drivers in 15 years. The genius of the club manufacturers is adding stripes and colours, and gimmicks like movable weights or adjustable shaft angles to create the illusion of improvement when none exists from year to year. Yet people delude themselves, handing over £400, that since thieir driver is now 3 years old that they are up grading.

So people arent being ripped off - they are choosing to spend such money because the have it. And the golfbrands of course are going to take it - its almost that the more expensive golf gear is, as long as a tour player is using it, the more the golfer dreams it will help him and will hand over his money as part of that dream.

 

[IanM]

Absolutely. Don't confuse a purchase decision with being ripped off. Plenty of alternatives available.

 

[Golfmmad]

I dont think they are being ripped off, though prices certainly are high.

Two factors at play really - golf is a rich mans game in general, and, the nature of the game does lure him into always looking for some tool or angle that will improve his performance.

But golfers choose the high price gear. Its as if car buyers were only willing to buy a Ferrari, a Roll Royce, or a Porsche, and regarded anything else as not to be taken seriously as worth buying.

There is no such thing as a 'golf shirt'. Its just a polo shirt that you can get in any dept store for less than a tenner, or £20 for a 'premium' one. So anyone paying £70 for a golf brand shirt as worn by the tour players is choosing to do so, even though of course the manufacturing price of both is similar. We can buy the Benross, or Slazenger gear for 20 or 30% of the major golf brands.
You can get a decent pair of golf shoes for £50. But people will pay £200 for a pair of golf shoes that they will only wear for 4 hours 20 or 30 times a year, when they are probably wearing a £50 pair of Clarks street shoes day in day out. Then he starts obsessing and posting on forums for reviews of what studs he should have on tham, and spends another £20 because the ones on the shoes from the box dont quite suit the soil at his club apparantly. And he needs different ones when he plays when on holiday in Portugal. Oh, and the pair of 'golf' socks for £15 while he is at it.
Putters for £250? Is madness. But you dont have to buy it. The no name brand beside it for £30 is to all real analysis the same thing.
Irons havent improved in any meaningful way in 30 years. Drivers in 15 years. The genius of the club manufacturers is adding stripes and colours, and gimmicks like movable weights or adjustable shaft angles to create the illusion of improvement when none exists from year to year. Yet people delude themselves, handing over £400, that since thieir driver is now 3 years old that they are up grading.

So people arent being ripped off - they are choosing to spend such money because the have it. And the golfbrands of course are going to take it - its almost that the more expensive golf gear is, as long as a tour player is using it, the more the golfer dreams it will help him and will hand over his money as part of that dream.

Are you actually a golfer? Because what you describe above is not indicitave of the general club golfer, or indeed I'm sure, most of the posters on this forum. And I'm certainly one of them!

 

[Voyager EMH]

I dont think they are being ripped off, though prices certainly are high.

Two factors at play really - golf is a rich mans game in general, and, the nature of the game does lure him into always looking for some tool or angle that will improve his performance.

But golfers choose the high price gear. Its as if car buyers were only willing to buy a Ferrari, a Roll Royce, or a Porsche, and regarded anything else as not to be taken seriously as worth buying.

There is no such thing as a 'golf shirt'. Its just a polo shirt that you can get in any dept store for less than a tenner, or £20 for a 'premium' one. So anyone paying £70 for a golf brand shirt as worn by the tour players is choosing to do so, even though of course the manufacturing price of both is similar. We can buy the Benross, or Slazenger gear for 20 or 30% of the major golf brands.
You can get a decent pair of golf shoes for £50. But people will pay £200 for a pair of golf shoes that they will only wear for 4 hours 20 or 30 times a year, when they are probably wearing a £50 pair of Clarks street shoes day in day out. Then he starts obsessing and posting on forums for reviews of what studs he should have on tham, and spends another £20 because the ones on the shoes from the box dont quite suit the soil at his club apparantly. And he needs different ones when he plays when on holiday in Portugal. Oh, and the pair of 'golf' socks for £15 while he is at it.
Putters for £250? Is madness. But you dont have to buy it. The no name brand beside it for £30 is to all real analysis the same thing.
Irons havent improved in any meaningful way in 30 years. Drivers in 15 years. The genius of the club manufacturers is adding stripes and colours, and gimmicks like movable weights or adjustable shaft angles to create the illusion of improvement when none exists from year to year. Yet people delude themselves, handing over £400, that since thieir driver is now 3 years old that they are up grading.

So people arent being ripped off - they are choosing to spend such money because the have it. And the golfbrands of course are going to take it - its almost that the more expensive golf gear is, as long as a tour player is using it, the more the golfer dreams it will help him and will hand over his money as part of that dream.

An excellent rant. I'm with you on most of this and I don't feel embarrassed if that puts me in a minority.
I played today with a set of irons that are 60 years old - not a huge difference in design or playability.
That set of irons cost me £10 a few weeks ago.

 

[brotherdeal]

I’m new to golf ( 2 years) I don’t think golf is that expensive gear wise. I used to do carp angling some lads would have close to £10k of kit on the bank,with most having at least £3k then bait and tickets on top a ridiculous amount of money!

People could enjoy hobbies at any level of kit however some of us are tarts like to have the latest and greatest that’s where manufacturers us the good old price point marketing.

 

[Oddsocks]

I dont think they are being ripped off, though prices certainly are high.

Two factors at play really - golf is a rich mans game in general, and, the nature of the game does lure him into always looking for some tool or angle that will improve his performance.

But golfers choose the high price gear. Its as if car buyers were only willing to buy a Ferrari, a Roll Royce, or a Porsche, and regarded anything else as not to be taken seriously as worth buying.

There is no such thing as a 'golf shirt'. Its just a polo shirt that you can get in any dept store for less than a tenner, or £20 for a 'premium' one. So anyone paying £70 for a golf brand shirt as worn by the tour players is choosing to do so, even though of course the manufacturing price of both is similar. We can buy the Benross, or Slazenger gear for 20 or 30% of the major golf brands.
You can get a decent pair of golf shoes for £50. But people will pay £200 for a pair of golf shoes that they will only wear for 4 hours 20 or 30 times a year, when they are probably wearing a £50 pair of Clarks street shoes day in day out. Then he starts obsessing and posting on forums for reviews of what studs he should have on tham, and spends another £20 because the ones on the shoes from the box dont quite suit the soil at his club apparantly. And he needs different ones when he plays when on holiday in Portugal. Oh, and the pair of 'golf' socks for £15 while he is at it.
Putters for £250? Is madness. But you dont have to buy it. The no name brand beside it for £30 is to all real analysis the same thing.
Irons havent improved in any meaningful way in 30 years. Drivers in 15 years. The genius of the club manufacturers is adding stripes and colours, and gimmicks like movable weights or adjustable shaft angles to create the illusion of improvement when none exists from year to year. Yet people delude themselves, handing over £400, that since thieir driver is now 3 years old that they are up grading.

So people arent being ripped off - they are choosing to spend such money because the have it. And the golfbrands of course are going to take it - its almost that the more expensive golf gear is, as long as a tour player is using it, the more the golfer dreams it will help him and will hand over his money as part of that dream.

While some content has merit, the reference to shoes is waffle. With an average game of golf being 5 miles , I don’t often walk 260miles a year in a pair of Clarkes.

I generally get 2-3 years out of two pairs of adidas boosts, so averagely 400 miles a pair and I normally buy the previous years colour for £100 a pair opposed to £150-170.

You can’t put a price on comfort or stability especially with a shot knee.

 

[GB72]

I think that the issue I have when the addition of the word 'golf' ups the price. If there are 2 equivalent waterproof jackets, one for walking but the other for golf and the golf one is significantly more expensive, that is a rip off. Spikeless golf shoes are effectively astroturf trainers but cost much more etc.

Not in any way ranting against the high price of anything but if there is an issue with the comparitive price then that is another matter.

The price of clubs, however, seems to be rising exponentially despite there being nothing I would see as a massive advance in technology.

 

[Oddsocks]

We have to acknowledge that a large percentage of uplift is salary’s for the tour pros wearing the stuff!

Notice how Nikes prices rocketed the year they signed Rory on 250mil

 

[3offTheTee]

I find the price of Open Competitions are absurd. Clubs need to catch up but some are taking this to extreme

 

[Crumplezone]

I dont think they are being ripped off, though prices certainly are high.

Two factors at play really - golf is a rich mans game in general, and, the nature of the game does lure him into always looking for some tool or angle that will improve his performance.

But golfers choose the high price gear. Its as if car buyers were only willing to buy a Ferrari, a Roll Royce, or a Porsche, and regarded anything else as not to be taken seriously as worth buying.

There is no such thing as a 'golf shirt'. Its just a polo shirt that you can get in any dept store for less than a tenner, or £20 for a 'premium' one. So anyone paying £70 for a golf brand shirt as worn by the tour players is choosing to do so, even though of course the manufacturing price of both is similar. We can buy the Benross, or Slazenger gear for 20 or 30% of the major golf brands.
You can get a decent pair of golf shoes for £50. But people will pay £200 for a pair of golf shoes that they will only wear for 4 hours 20 or 30 times a year, when they are probably wearing a £50 pair of Clarks street shoes day in day out. Then he starts obsessing and posting on forums for reviews of what studs he should have on tham, and spends another £20 because the ones on the shoes from the box dont quite suit the soil at his club apparantly. And he needs different ones when he plays when on holiday in Portugal. Oh, and the pair of 'golf' socks for £15 while he is at it.
Putters for £250? Is madness. But you dont have to buy it. The no name brand beside it for £30 is to all real analysis the same thing.
Irons havent improved in any meaningful way in 30 years. Drivers in 15 years. The genius of the club manufacturers is adding stripes and colours, and gimmicks like movable weights or adjustable shaft angles to create the illusion of improvement when none exists from year to year. Yet people delude themselves, handing over £400, that since thieir driver is now 3 years old that they are up grading.

So people arent being ripped off - they are choosing to spend such money because the have it. And the golfbrands of course are going to take it - its almost that the more expensive golf gear is, as long as a tour player is using it, the more the golfer dreams it will help him and will hand over his money as part of that dream.

Golf is like anything. Some people choose and value stuff because of how much it costs. Others value stuff for its utility no matter how little it costs.

 

[Voyager EMH]

I find the price of Open Competitions are absurd. Clubs need to catch up but some are taking this to extreme

...and the cheaper entry fee for members in an open irritates me. Played in an over 60s open Am/Am at my club this year - £12 for members and £20 for non-members. I find this embarrassing. I invited 3 guests and told them would pay £18 each.
First prize was won by a team of 4 members which I found even more embarrassing. (£48 team as opposed to an £80 team) The members don't win cheaper prizes for their cheaper entry fee. If members don't want to pay the same entry fee, then they don't have to play, leaving more tee-times for non-member teams.
I don't seem able to persuade the-powers-that-be of this, however.