Greedy golf clubs?

[birdieman]

Got an invite in the post today for an August wedding in Northern Ireland. Of course after the immediate reaction of "Oh no not another f'in wedding" my immediate thought was "right lets make a golf trip of it so what courses are we near?" Turns out Royal County Down, (Walker Cup venue, classic links) is not far away so went to the website to have a look and was horrified to see their green fees.
At £155 for one round, quite frankly they can stuff it!
Am I totally out of touch? I cannot justify spending that much cash on one round of golf, that's 3/4 of my home club subs for a year!
Golf should be a game for the people, not just rich Yanks and Japs, shouldn't it. £60 or £80 fair enough but £155 for a round, not even a day ticket - Shame on you RCD.
I know it's the same at a lot of other top courses but I think this is the worst aspect of modern golf.
Can any of the NI lads on here recommend any other links tracks in Co. Down that don't charge the earth for one round?

 

[clubchamp07]

Loads, birdieman. Just name it and we'll arrange the game of you're life. It won't cost you alot to play the course but you might lose a few quid.

 

[brendy]

The small course In RCD is an excellent test also matey, you get to cross some of the fairways of the big course and is an excellent chance to get some pics of the course as it lies under the mourne mountains.
Such an outstanding backdrop! and around 25 quid a game too.
edit (it says 35 for this year)

 

[medwayjon]

That absolutely takes the piss. And I wonder why non-golfing people tell me that golf is a rich boys game!

 

[birdieman]

Never been to Ireland before so the only 2 tracks I was familiar with were R.C.D and Portrush.
Might just hold you to that offer clubchamp, see how things pan out!!!

 

[DCB]

When I was last over there in 2000 I went to play RCD half way through the holiday. It was less than a week after the Seniors Open had taken place and they were still asking £65 for a round even with tractors and workmen around the course. £65 was the normal rate at that time! Needless to say, the canny scot in me decided to wait for another day. If the standard visitors ticket is now what Birdieman quotes then it's not going to remain on my list of 'must plays'

 

[RGuk]

£155 per round.....whoa....

It's a shame, but this is the way these days. Clubs that don't actually want to open their doors to everyday keen golfers just price these players out of the market. I could spend £155, but I wouldn't because some of my family and friends don't earn this in 2 or 3 full days work.

Near to me (in the Midlands) there are plenty of courses I would like to play, but most probably never will. One of my old haunts that was £35 for a day back in 1998-ish is now £100 per green fee, for one round. I remember playing courses such as Copt Heath, Little Aston, Enville, Blackwell, etc. all on £30-50 day tickets.

Bottom line, like everything, is that unless you are in strife and actually WANT the business, you can charge whatever you want. Some of my friends earn 150k a year and still put up their prices every year for their services, because they can. I don't do this because all this inflation is simply a new wave of class-ism. I'm not a socialist, nor anti-capitalism, I just think that it's time for a re-alignment of things.....golf included.

 

[brendy]

DCB It is a very exclusive membership, visitors have to use a seperate part of the club for lockers etc too. Saying that the 175 quoted is for the high season, the course is 100% playable all year round even in the early/late season when the fees are around 65 quid. The annesley course is a lot cheaper and to me isnt as challenging as you onbly get to see the dunes most of the time rather than play them.

 

[John_Findlay]

Birdieman, Ireland is becoming a bit of a joke for golf prices at the better known clubs.

Happily, I had a about seven or eight trips there when I was younger and played most of the best courses before they went mental. £100 for a weekly ticket at Ballybunion, for example. It's off my list for a while, too. Cheaper to go to Vegas!

 

[birdieman]

John,
If Vancsik wins tomorrow in Malaysia I might be able to go to Vegas!

 

[John_Findlay]

Ahh. Practicing for the Masters, Stu? You going for a punt at Augusta? I've not thought about it yet but definitely go for a top ten. It's only one bet compared to two for each way.

 

[USER1999]

Ardglass is supposed to be nice. I used to live there, but moved away when I was twelve. My dad was a member there, and he remembers it being nice.

These +£100 green fees are the biggest annoyance in golf for me. Once it was just a few clubs (wentworth and such), but now there are hundreds out there trying to charge silly amounts. The grove opposite me in Watford is about £150, and it is always empty. I hope they go bust to be honest. Only people you see play there are footballers.

Enough, I have ranted about this before.

 

[brendy]

Ardglass is nice if a little difficult in places. The first two holes over cliffs is fun in the sideways winds.