Inflation of Greens Fees for the Top UK Courses

[howbow88]

Why are people criticising those who would pay it as daft? £200 -£300 gets you 4 hours great golf on a fantastically prepared course, following in the footsteps of legends of the game.



Some people are happy going to McDonald where others would pay £200 for a top restaurant, £500 to go to Spain or others spend more as a treat to go somewhere different. There is nothing wrong with this its personal choice.



I think lockdown has created a new wave of keyboard warriors who enjoy trolling and putting down the opinions of others rather than living and let live.

I really can't see anyone on here criticising the people who pay these high fees, more just criticism of the high fees.

 

[patricks148]

Yourselves will know more of which courses do and which ones dont, but down here it feels like a lot of them do, but maybe its more the new kids on the block like Castle Stuart, Dumbarnie and KB who do rather than the old traditional courses.

I would also say that them three are more businesses than golf clubs, so it just goes to show that "businesses" can operate using this model, so renders that argument as moot, by others.

I've got a feeling there is something written into the planning or the like to allow locals at a reduced rate on these newer courses??

Just as well what would the new one or castle stuart done last year... even bigger losses

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Yourselves will know more of which courses do and which ones dont, but down here it feels like a lot of them do, but maybe its more the new kids on the block like Castle Stuart, Dumbarnie and KB who do rather than the old traditional courses.

I would also say that them three are more businesses than golf clubs, so it just goes to show that "businesses" can operate using this model, so renders that argument as moot, by others.

The new kids on the block as you have put it are not even entertaining membership and I dont believe that one course is affiliated to Scottish Golf either, they are pure and simple businesses and there aim is to run at a huge profit, they have done the local deals to either satisfy the local planing authority I guess but as you will notice its only for the local postcode holders.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

No, but for me its a bit like football/sport. It is a business but its also a part of this nations fabric and should act differently.

Im sure that some lobdon clubs, man u and liverpool could just auction or sell their tickets every week to tourists and sell out and get 2-3 times the price, at the expense of long standing supporters, locals and season ticket holders, but currently dont.

It should be british sport for british people, and irish. Same with the golf courses, or are we just a disneyland for tourist golfers and the rich only?

Is somewhere like Birkdale or Muirfield or Sunningdale part (or even golf) part of the nations fabric. I am far from convinced of that, at a guess if you went back 75-100 years, these clubs were probably exclusive clubs ? (that the like of you or me(edit), would not have been able to play at, unless you knew someone. I could be wrong, I am guessing tbh)

I would probably say the members are like the season ticket holders/bond holders to football. And they are getting a cheap deal(as such).

The green fee visitors are people who are just using the business, just like walking into a corner shop and buying some sweeties. I think the difference is perhaps the way we look at business and what you/I think are clubs for the public benefit(so the local council run course should be run for the public benefit and priced cheaply. In my eyes Golf clubs should normally be run as a business for the benefit of the owners[who could be members or shareholders / propriety depending on setup].

Running a golf club/course nowadays costs vastly more than yesterday as peoples expectations are higher now and costs have risen massively, so green fees and/or membership fees have to be much higher. Visiting placing like Muirfield and the like and paying full fees, certainly changes your outlook, expectations and you can see at most places the money that is spent .

I'm 100% agreeing with you that green fees are far to high at these clubs and could be probably 25%-40% cheaper from a business point of view.

Sadly it either down to people not visiting/paying the money or down to an organisation like England Golf to push harder for deals to be done, luckily no one is force to pay that amount or play the course.

Blimely that turned into a bit of a ramble, sorry

 

[Deleted member 25172]

I think it is realistic, and like most dont mind paying premium fees to an extent, but due to the levels where getting to, basically only rich Brits or well off foreigners will be able to play them.

I'm not saying release hundreds of tee times for £30, but make it easier to afford for the people who have made these clubs what they are over the last 100 years, as an occasional treat.

However, no letting carpetbagging scandinavians take advantage until they have been here, at least, ooooo, 20 years.

I'm 100% agreeing, but I think it's like @Lincoln Quaker pointed out in his post, you cannot force clubs to do anything like this. For it to happen, you'd need to plea with the clubs to look at it from a emotional side, "grow the game" etc etc bla bla bla. Then if you're lucky enough to find the right people in these club that agree, they'll then need to navigate, what I would imagine it to be, the minefield that are the members to agree to something similar.

But yeah, in principal I agree with you and don't think it would hurt the clubs if they agreed to do some proper deals for us peasants, but I equally understand them from a business point of view that why would they sell it cheap when they know people fork out what ever it takes.

Only 14 year left for you guys to sort this thing out until I can start to take advantage of it as I'd done my 20 years by then. Get on it!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Is somewhere like Birkdale or Muirfield or Sunningdale part (or even golf) part of the nations fabric. I am far from convinced of that, at a guess if you went back 75-100 years, these clubs were probably exclusive clubs ? (that the like of you or me(edit), would not have been able to play at, unless you knew someone. I could be wrong, I am guessing tbh)

I would probably say the members are like the season ticket holders/bond holders to football. And they are getting a cheap deal(as such).

The green fee visitors are people who are just using the business, just like walking into a corner shop and buying some sweeties. I think the difference is perhaps the way we look at business and what you/I think are clubs for the public benefit(so the local council run course should be run for the public benefit and priced cheaply. In my eyes Golf clubs should normally be run as a business for the benefit of the owners[who could be members or shareholders / propriety depending on setup].

Running a golf club/course nowadays costs vastly more than yesterday as peoples expectations are higher now and costs have risen massively, so green fees and/or membership fees have to be much higher. Visiting placing like Muirfield and the like and paying full fees, certainly changes your outlook, expectations and you can see at most places the money that is spent .

I'm 100% agreeing with you that green fees are far to high at these clubs and could be probably 25%-40% cheaper from a business point of view.

Sadly it either down to people not visiting/paying the money or down to an organisation like England Golf to push harder for deals to be done, luckily no one is force to pay that amount or play the course.

Blimely that turned into a bit of a ramble, sorry

Which nation are you talking about?...If you are talking about Scotland then I'd suggest that golf is absolutely 100% part of the national fabric - a bit like asking if Burns is part of Scotland's fabric...

In fact I think golf as part of the nation's fabric applies to all of the UK - though perhaps to a lesser extent than in Scotland.

 

[Crazyface]

You could argue "in what other sport could you play at the same place as the top players?". Well....not EXACTLY as I've quoted but along the same lines. (From another thread a while ago).

 

[KenL]

Yourselves will know more of which courses do and which ones dont, but down here it feels like a lot of them do, but maybe its more the new kids on the block like Castle Stuart, Dumbarnie and KB who do rather than the old traditional courses.

I would also say that them three are more businesses than golf clubs, so it just goes to show that "businesses" can operate using this model, so renders that argument as moot, by others.

Are CS and KB still doing Scottish rates?

 

[D-S]

Well at least we are able to get on to these courses here in the UK. In the US you simply cannot play a significant proportion of courses as they are members and their guests only - the very, very long list of such clubs (up to 30%?) includes many of their oldest and best courses. The lists of the top courses over there has one which is 'the top courses you can play'. With a few exceptions we at least have the ability to play these historic venues albeit at these inflated prices.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Which nation are you talking about?...If you are talking about Scotland then I'd suggest that golf is absolutely 100% part of the national fabric - a bit like asking if Burns is part of Scotland's fabric...

In fact I think golf as part of the nation's fabric applies to all of the UK - though perhaps to a lesser extent than in Scotland.

I am British.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I am British.

And that's what my passport says for me also.

You asked a general question and I do not think there is a general answer.

And so I was very specific about golf perhaps being viewed differently in the eye of the general public depending upon which part of the country you are in. Most Scots I suggest will consider golf as being part of the national fabric of Scotland. I most certainly found the game viewed quite differently by my circle of friends and work colleagues when I moved to England in the early 1980s.

 

[KenL]

Are CS and KB still doing Scottish rates?

Yes they are although KB do not advertise it.
KB £164 book up to 3 weeks in advance
CS £120.

 

[patricks148]

Yes they are although KB do not advertise it.
KB £164 book up to 3 weeks in advance
CS £120.

don't know if Kingsnarns does the local postcode rate, but CS still does and the new place Dumbarnie, though theres wasn't as cheap as CS which is £60 now (was £50)

i remember the Old SGY website having a quite a few scottish rate deals, def some of the open courses were on there. not that many on there now now

 

[IanM]

Post code rate??

Its getting to the point where its worth buying a flat locally!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Post code rate??

Its getting to the point where its worth buying a flat locally!!

Just live in a PO Box ?

 

[davidy233]

It should be british sport for british people, and irish. Same with the golf courses, or are we just a disneyland for tourist golfers and the rich only?

I'm not sure that someone for Liverpool has any more connection or influence on the heritage and development of the Old Course or my local courses than someone from California.

100% up for cut rates for locals (residents of the town/local area where the course is) - not at all for tourists, including people on trips from other parts of the UK

 

[patricks148]

Post code rate??

Its getting to the point where its worth buying a flat locally!!

but then you would have to pay everytime you play, cheaper to buy somewhere like Dornoch, no waiting list if you live in the town.. sames true of Carnoustie as well i think, prices might be higher there though

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I'm not sure that someone for Liverpool has any more connection or influence on the heritage and development of the Old Course or my local courses than someone from California.

100% up for cut rates for locals (residents of the town/local area where the course is) - not at all for tourists, including people on trips from other parts of the UK

Even as an English man I think I would have to agree with you.

We would have as little input to the heritage and future development of these courses as the typical American or Japanese golf tourist.

If discounts are to be offered then the postcode schemes sound the fairest.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

My mate fancied a day trip to play Dumbarmie during the summer at short notice.

He had a look to see there were loads of tee times available so gave them a ring so see if they would do a deal. Full whack, take it or leave it. He left it...

He would have happily paid the Scottish rate, not the American rate.

 

[patricks148]

My mate fancied a day trip to play Dumbarmie during the summer at short notice.

He had a look to see there were loads of tee times available so gave them a ring so see if they would do a deal. Full whack, take it or leave it. He left it...

He would have happily paid the Scottish rate, not the American rate.

should have booked a time then stopped off on the way and rummaged though some bins in Fife and found a bill