Paying what you think the round was worth in the winter?

[Hacker Khan]

What do you think of the idea of a club, to generate some publicity and hopefully new members, making an offer where visitors pay what they thought the round was worth during the winter months.

So you say normally a round in the summer would cost £x. And then after they have completed their round players pay what they think the round was worth. So you may get people paying nearly the summer rate if the course was in good nick, half decent weather. Or you may get people paying half price if the course was on temporary green and tees and the course was very wet.

You could set a minimum price of say a tenner or a fiver, limit the offer to 3 rounds and see what happens. As someone who is not a member of any club that would certainly make me interested. I have played courses where I have felt royally ripped off in the winter as the course was pretty awful, but also have played courses in very good nick where I would have happily paid a bit more.

 

[JustOne]

I can't see anyone paying a tenner suddenly offering to pay £15, but I agree clubs should charge a very much reduced rate when the course is not up to standard (temps/mats/top dressed greens/shorter course). They should try harder to get people to hang around after their round and spend some $'s.

 

[patricks148]

I can't see anyone paying a tenner suddenly offering to pay £15, but I agree clubs should charge a very much reduced rate when the course is not up to standard (temps/mats/top dressed greens/shorter course). They should try harder to get people to hang around after their round and spend some $'s.

Yes , i can't see anyone paying more than £10.

 

[Rooter]

its what my local course does already, if there are temp greens, or sanded greens, temp tee's. the fees are reduced for visitors.

 

[AmandaJR]

I'd be happy to at least be told there are mats/temps etc as nothing worse than getting out there and finding that out rather than being told beforehand. I do think courses could reduce their green fees more than many do in winter. We play other courses once or twice a month in summer but never ever in winter as the prices just don't get reduced enough - plus of course the chance of dreadful weather!

 

[HickoryShaft]

I think its an interesting angle on getting visitors in.

At this time of year you need to get the money in somehow and if you are confident that your course is in good nick it will tempt some who would otherwise not bother for fear of a bad day out at a high cost.

If they stay on in the bar and spend some cash it all helps. Plus its a way of people checking the course out - if you treat them right when they visit they could be the new members joining next Spring.

 

[duncan mackie]

it's a bit of a viscious circle because a visitor isn't going to do any less damage to the course (that won't start to repair until spring) just because the conditions are poor and they wish to pay less for the experience.

the situation is pretty much already there - better conditions see the visiting golfers go back and play again.

it's not really different in summer either!

 

[pokerjoke]

A few of us off the forum played the west course at Saunton a week or so ago.
Some of the greens were being spiked whilst we were playing,probably about half,there
was also two temps.
Apparantly we were not informed this was happening.
We payed 48 pounds,i probably would have paid 20.
For a course in the top 60 i would have expected better.
I was a little disapointed overall,however the curry was great.
Always a positive ending.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The trouble is no one will fork out close to full whack when they know can get away with paying less so it becomes a self defeating cycle. I kind of like the idea of attracting publicity but don't really see much merit in this scheme or perhaps it's just me