Value for money

[muttleee]

I recently returned from holiday where I played a round at Bluebonnet Hill in Austin, Texas (the home of the 4-hour round, apparently). For 18 holes and the use of the buggy, it cost $26.75, or roughly £17 sterling. I don't know about you but I've never come across anything as good value as that in my neck of the woods. The course was in good enough nick and the greens/bunkers seemed well looked after - I couldn't fault it for the price. I doubt if there are many courses in the UK that would charge as little as £17 for 18 holes, let alone including a buggy. Are we being ripped off?

 

[GB72]

I think that there are too many mediocre courses charging around £40 a round when something around the £20 mark would be far more realistic. It seems that, in my area at least, this sort of pricing has become the norm irrespective of quality. Trouble is, if everyone charges that then they can get away with it.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Seems like it, I think it's more than £20 to play one of the corporation courses in Edinburgh with no buggy or any extras. They're nice courses but I still think it's quite expensive.

 

[viscount17]

Two munis near me charge £20 but are worth it when compared with other, non-muni, courses. I think the instinct over here to competition is unfortunately 'if they can charge that so can we' rather than 'I can better that price'.

 

[funkyfred]

Was in Missouri in September, wasn't looking to play any golf but the good lady said yeah why dont you!! i'll come with you for a walk. So quickly found a phone book and a couple of courses, drove out to one the next day that looked good.

Cant remember the full price after I had hired the clubs something like $80 plus i hadn't bought any balls yet, when the guy said, are two of you playing i said no just me. Oh that would be another $18 if the lady is going to ride in the buggy (no walkers)

Needless to say I refused to pay and walked out.

To make things worse the good lady then takes me to 5 games at the 10 pin bowling alley before i come back from 1-2 to win 3-2 Just

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Course owners respond to market forces; we are prepared to pay what we are prepared to pay. For one reason or another, there's not enough of us voting with our feet to force a change in the market.

 

[Dodger]

I am with GB72 on this,way too many charging £35 plus for a round at a run of the mill track which in all honesty shouldn't be any more than the £20 mark.

Biggest difference in relation to what was the rack rate and what I would have actually paid was at Murcar where the rate was £70 and I would not have paid any more than £30.Luckily it was a charity voucher we were on that worked out at £22.50.

One of the best value for money must be the twighlight rate at Goswick,play after 3pm for £18.
Hirsel G.C. also did one all day on Bank Holiday Mondays this year at £18.

 

[SammmeBee]

I think most people who are members of a golf club and play regularly get exceptional value for money.....

 

[Dodger]

At the other end of the spectrum I see Kingsbarns are charging £185 for the green fee in 2011.....

But if you play it again within 7 days of the 1st round it'll only cost you a mere £92.50.

Now, that is a right touch.Vastly overhyped and overpriced.

 

[Imurg]

One of the best value for money must be the twighlight rate at Goswick,play after 3pm for £18.

Good job you're up there and not down here. Starting at 3pm gives you about 45 minutes of light!

 

[shagster]

totally agree, some courses charge far too much, but they can, because we pay it. club membership is the best value, and county card, but we all like playing different tracks.
are there courses out there like wentworth west that charge stuipid amounts, that are really worth it or are some clubs up there own a... and think they are above it.
a course that does not rely on green fees can do as it likes and not worry, but there must be a lot of courses that need the extra income, but still want to charge full wack.
i think in this climate, clubs need to generate as much income as poss and if they drop there fees, i sure they would get more custom
shagster

 

[need_my_wedge]

I played in Minnesota back in August when over visiting my mum. Went to the local country club. Three green fees, three sets club hire, and two buggies - total cost $85. I don't think you can do much better than that. The only down side was that the rental clubs were all circa 1970, and I didn't have any two clubs from the same manufacturer, but at that price it didn't really matter, we still had a fun 18 holes, and grandma got to ride in the buggy and watch the new Ryo Ishikawa in full swing....