Is Golf now too expensive???

[Jacko_G]

I see that the St Andrews Links Trust have raised the green fee for The Old Course again this year.

£295

It was "only" £195 in 2021 before a staggering 40% rise to £270 in 2022.

 

[Imurg]

I see that the St Andrews Links Trust have raised the green fee for The Old Course again this year.

£295

It was "only" £195 in 2021 before a staggering 40% rise to £270 in 2022.

Falling in line with the rest of the "-Big name" courses it seems....
Trouble is, for anyone travelling, it's not just the 300 notes for the golf....travel, accommodation etc makes it an expensive trip.
Add in another course to get better value for money but the total goes up even further...

 

[Swango1980]

I see that the St Andrews Links Trust have raised the green fee for The Old Course again this year.

£295

It was "only" £195 in 2021 before a staggering 40% rise to £270 in 2022.

Maybe it is just me, but seems cheap for one of the worlds most iconic courses, and worth it for a once in a lifetime round. Much more accessible than Augusta National. Love to play there.

 

[Deleted member 25575]

I see that the St Andrews Links Trust have raised the green fee for The Old Course again this year.

£295

It was "only" £195 in 2021 before a staggering 40% rise to £270 in 2022.

I played it many moons ago as a teenager or early 20s and at that point it was £75. Funny to think you could have a 4ball round it then for the cost of a single today

 

[Imurg]

Maybe it is just me, but seems cheap for one of the worlds most iconic courses, and worth it for a once in a lifetime round. Much more accessible than Augusta National. Love to play there.

I'd love to play it too.....
But, as above, the thick end of 500 quid for 1 round is nonsensical at any timel, especially in the current climate..
Add in another course and maybe another night's stay and the cost may come down to average £350 per round but that's still £700 to find .
I'd take some convincing that that would be worth it...

 

[IanM]

St Andrews is a national monument, so their price hikes are unforgivable.

What Trump etc does with commercial venues is, well, a commercial decision.
I last played the Old Course in 2018. I probably won't play it again. At the time. Kingsbarns wanted £245, we didn't bother. (That's me, the course saddo)

 

[Grizzly]

Despite having a decent level of disposable income, I find myself thinking "really?" at some of the prices that are now being quoted - I mean, its not like you are guaranteed a perfect set of conditions even - you could just as easily book for a day that turns out to be be blowing a hoolie and walk round a great course unable to see where you are actually going!

 

[Swango1980]

I'd love to play it too.....
But, as above, the thick end of 500 quid for 1 round is nonsensical at any timel, especially in the current climate..
Add in another course and maybe another night's stay and the cost may come down to average £350 per round but that's still £700 to find .
I'd take some convincing that that would be worth it...

As I said, my personal opinion is that it is "cheap". Not for those that want to play it regularly, but for those that see it as a 4 hour once in a lifetime experience. I'm sure it is set to match supply and demand as well. I'm sure many would find a trip to the Maldives as extortionate for a holiday, but many will still pay it.

I guess the opinion on whether something is too expensive or not is entirely subjective. I saw some clothes brand in news the other day that charged £500 for a vest. Luxury brand. Clearly, I think that is ludicrous as an individual. So, I won't be buying one. But, bizarrely some people must not think that.

In a general sense, I'd only say the green fee is too much if they were not getting the green fee players they hoped to be getting. I'm assuming that is not an issue?

 

[Swango1980]

Despite having a decent level of disposable income, I find myself thinking "really?" at some of the prices that are now being quoted - I mean, its not like you are guaranteed a perfect set of conditions even - you could just as easily book for a day that turns out to be be blowing a hoolie and walk round a great course unable to see where you are actually going!

I think St Andrew's could charge more if it is blowing a hoolie. I'm sure many of the sadistic purists would feel like they've not properly played St Andrews on a nice calm day

 

[Mandofred]

There are a whole list of things I "could" do if I wanted to spend the money.
1. Maldives (or similar)
2. Expensive golf courses
3. ProV1
4. £5+ for a pint of beer
5. Scuba boat dive trip
6. Train around Australia
7. £40K and up for a car
etc etc etc

I won't pay £50+ just to play one round of golf....it would have to be more than just a nice course. It's just golf. I recently checked the daily price on the course I liked the best before I moved back to the UK.....$70 a round....unless I got a better membership type deal, my golf days would be over. I'd love to have a nice nice car....but it also makes no sense since I don't drive very much.

As has been mentioned...there are things I do pay more for than others would......almost £100 a month gym membership (and well over if I start playing tennis), case after case of Diet Coke, Hoka running shoes, and and and........ At least I don't have to worry about haircuts like my wife, alopecia took care of that a few years ago

 

[Deleted member 15344]

St Andrews is a national monument, so their price hikes are unforgivable.

What Trump etc does with commercial venues is, well, a commercial decision.
I last played the Old Course in 2018. I probably won't play it again. At the time. Kingsbarns wanted £245, we didn't bother. (That's me, the course saddo)

“Unforgivable” ?‍

We even had someone who understand the finances within the links trust - how much money the lost due to Covid , how much it actually costs to run the trust and all the courses

it will always come down to a choice

Either pay the going rate and enjoy the course
or pay and play elsewhere

 

[IanM]

Yes, @Liverpoolphil , absolutely correct, pay the fee or don't play. And if you saw my diary you'd know what I have been doing.

But, I don't expect the operating models of the Links Trust and commercial resorts are that closely aligned, do you?

edit: Just looked at the Links Trusts Accounts. The losses in 2020 amounted to a little over two years average profit based on the last three. (I assume figures are distorted by years with an Open in them!) Nevertheless, looking at the balance sheet, they are not exactly on their uppers are they? Meanwhile, up the road the investors and shareholders of Kingsbarns are baying for blood if their dividends drop. (Bit like the difference between Nationwide and Barclays)

Yep, they need to make a profit. (To maintain and continue to invest in the property) What they don't need to do is profiteer, because they are a Trust, not a PLC. That was the point I was making.

 

[KenL]

It is a big hit. I played TOC at my last big birthday, wife paid £175. That was 2015.

 

[D-S]

Oddly, I think that they can almost charge anything they want for TOC as it is unique. The home of a sport, an iconic venue, playing where all your heroes have played etc. etc.. There is nothing like it in any other sport with such resonance. For all this £295 seems great value.
However, why this sort of inflation should trickle down to courses which aren’t on the Open rota or firmly on the US trail is where I get annoyed. £150 to 200 for courses that were £50 or 60 4 or 5 years ago, without appreciable improvement to the customer experience is sad.
Thankfully this trickle down effect hasn’t affected normal decent clubs otherwise current £35 - 45 green fees would now be over £100.
If things get tough for golfers and therefore clubs (no sign of it yet though) then I foresee a few more deals on offer from mid range Top 100/200 courses.

 

[Jacko_G]

“Unforgivable” ?‍

We even had someone who understand the finances within the links trust - how much money the lost due to Covid , how much it actually costs to run the trust and all the courses

it will always come down to a choice

Either pay the going rate and enjoy the course
or pay and play elsewhere

The Links Trust is a charitable organisation. A non profit making organisation. They also received a lot of government money through covid.

Everything in life is a choice.Lets not pretend its exclusive to golf.

Increasing the green fees every year while the product remains the same - not many industries can get away with that.

 

[IanM]

Oddly, I think that they can almost charge anything they want for TOC as it is unique. The home of a sport, an iconic venue, playing where all your heroes have played etc. etc.. There is nothing like it in any other sport with such resonance. For all this £295 seems great value.
However, why this sort of inflation should trickle down to courses which aren’t on the Open rota or firmly on the US trail is where I get annoyed. £150 to 200 for courses that were £50 or 60 4 or 5 years ago, without appreciable improvement to the customer experience is sad.
Thankfully this trickle down effect hasn’t affected normal decent clubs otherwise current £35 - 45 green fees would now be over £100.
If things get tough for golfers and therefore clubs (no sign of it yet though) then I foresee a few more deals on offer from mid range Top 100/200 courses.

Agree entirely, and would add a subtext re the Old Course of "just cos they can, does it mean they should?"

 

[Jacko_G]

Yes, @Liverpoolphil , absolutely correct, pay the fee or don't play. And if you saw my diary you'd know what I have been doing.

But, I don't expect the operating models of the Links Trust and commercial resorts are that closely aligned, do you?

edit: Just looked at the Links Trusts Accounts. The losses in 2020 amounted to a little over two years average profit based on the last three. (I assume figures are distorted by years with an Open in them!) Nevertheless, looking at the balance sheet, they are not exactly on their uppers are they? Meanwhile, up the road the investors and shareholders of Kingsbarns are baying for blood if their dividends drop. (Bit like the difference between Nationwide and Barclays)

Yep, they need to make a profit. (To maintain and continue to invest in the property) What they don't need to do is profiteer, because they are a Trust, not a PLC. That was the point I was making.

They don't need to make profit - they're a charitable trust.

 

[Skytot]

On my golf bucket list is Ballybunnion old course. I’m 60 in 2 years time and me and the mrs ,plan touring Ireland again. I looked last night for Bally and it’s €300 , and in 2 years time god knows . I will probably pay it but it’s a lot of money to justify.

 

[louise_a]

Maybe the old course increased their green fees so much because the likes of Kingsbarns was charging so much more

 

[Jacko_G]

On my golf bucket list is Ballybunnion old course. I’m 60 in 2 years time and me and the mrs ,plan touring Ireland again. I looked last night for Bally and it’s €300 , and in 2 years time god knows . I will probably pay it but it’s a lot of money to justify.

If it's a bucket list and you can afford it why not.