Is golf cheaper the further North you go?

[louise_a]

Playing with a visitor this afternoon has prompted this thread. I asked how he liked the course and he said he had enjoyed it and asked the membership cost. I told him full membership was around £800 and he said he wouldn't play that much to be a member there.

He plays at Blyth in Northumberland and said his fees were £500 and something, I know a lot of courses in the South are over £1000.

So is it true that its generally cheaper the further North you go.

 

[sandmagnet]

I would say yes Louise as a crap course near me is 750 and a run of the mill is a 1000 if you want the the better ones it's 1700+! I look at people's sigs on here and nose at their clubs and can't believe what they get for the money. Played gainsbourgh last year 2 nice courses= 800 I think,and looking at woodhall spa at 800 is just a joke!

 

[HankMarvin]

Some but not all £800 is still cheap for a good course north of the border & the courses are a lot better too. After all Scotland is the Home Of Golf

 

[Scott W]

Definitely...I am in Surrey and pay 1500 p.a. which round here is not considered too expensive!

 

[Three]

Lol no, look at the prices in Cornwall, miles cheaper than the South East, which is actually up north.

 

[chrisd]

I would say yes Louise as a crap course near me is 750 and a run of the mill is a 1000 if you want the the better ones it's 1700+! I look at people's sigs on here and nose at their clubs and can't believe what they get for the money. Played gainsbourgh last year 2 nice courses= 800 I think,and looking at woodhall spa at 800 is just a joke!

Sandmagnets spot on, I've just had the New Years invoice that's close to £1100

 

[fundy]

isnt everything dearer in london/southeast then gets cheaper as you go further away, no reason golf wouldnt be

 

[MendieGK]

I'd base costs (outside of open venues) on house prices in the area. As already mentioned, the top courses in the south west (which stand up to any course in the UK) are very cheap -

Saunton (36holes) is £800, they also do a combined membership with Royal North Devon for £1300

Burnham & Berrow is £1000.

Head to the south coast and I believe Hayling (not as good as the south west) is close to £1500 - Gordon might correct me about that.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It seems that it is cheaper to play the same standard of courses the further north you go - expect there is always the odd exception with a few very expensive rounds or membership fees with a number at over £100 a round

 

[SugarPenguin]

I think in life as a general rule of thumb it is unless you are near a historic city such as York or Edinburgh

 

[connor]

Lol no, look at the prices in Cornwall, miles cheaper than the South East, which is actually up north.

Agreed I pay £620 and my old course was only about £640 I think.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Head to the south coast and I believe Hayling (as good as the south west) is close to £1500 - Gordon might correct me about that.

Pretty close Sam, full membership according to the website is £1346. Country membership is £717 which is a lot more than Burnham

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Definitely...I am in Surrey and pay 1500 p.a. which round here is not considered too expensive!

We're slightly higher than that. That said we're still cheaper (marginally) than our comparable neighbours. That said, I look on in jealous fashion at so many others on here paying a fraction of that, and in many cases for far better courses

 

[Liverbirdie]

I think a major factor is the closeness of major conurbations.

Manchester, Liverpool arent much father north than North Wales, but North Wales courses are quite cheap in comparison (maybe £3-500 a year, compared to £800-1,200 p.a.).

Other factors are availability of other courses, amount of visitors, prestige etc.

I would have thought that Scottish courses of the likes of Cruden, Murcar, Nairn, Royal Aberdeen, and some of the Ayrshire courses might be quite cheap on green fees for members, but they get tonnes of money from overseas and UK visitors who play them on golf trips, so can keep the price down for members, and the quality up.

 

[richart]

Sandmagnets spot on, I've just had the New Years invoice that's close to £1100

Pensioner rate ?

 

[Hobbit]

Cruden Bay still has a joining fee, but is less than £700 a year........ for a course that is in the top 60 in the world.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Silloth On Solway is very cheap for the quality of the course at £455 a year. High visitor numbers a major contributing factor in keeping price down for members.

 

[Oddsocks]

Around me there's nothing under 1200, with most members clubs starting just over 1500

 

[delc]

Reverse the argument. The closer to London you are, the more expensive golf becomes. I originally played golf in the Midlands, but moved down to London for employment reasons after graduating from University. I then didn't play golf for almost 20 years because I just couldn't afford it until I paid my house mortgage off (houses are also pretty expensive down here). Few half decent clubs around here charge less than £1500 for annual membership, and until recently often had a several thousand pound joining fee. Some still do!

 

[Robobum]

We're slightly higher than that. That said we're still cheaper (marginally) than our comparable neighbours. That said, I look on in jealous fashion at so many others on here paying a fraction of that, and in many cases for far better courses

Gulp!!