Why is The Cost Of Golf Membership so much lower in Scotland?

[Khamelion]

Here in the North East my home club (Whickham GC) has held it's 7 day full membership at £594 for the last three years, and the club is doing well with around 600 members, travel a sort distance inland to Close House and I believe the membership there has just gone up from £1,800 to £2,200, so not all courses in the UK or close to Scotland are cheaper than the south.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Silloth on Solway which is No 46 in GM top 100 is £455 for the current season. Small increase planned for 2017 but still incredible value.

It is in the middle of nowhere so most members have to travel a fair few miles which is probably a factor in prices. Attracts a significant number of visitors so this enables the club to keep subs low for members.

Itt is still in the same position as many other clubs in that the average age of members is very high and not many younger golfers despite the low prices.

The club offers a great winter only membership that attracts a fair few golfers from other clubs.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Here in the North East my home club (Whickham GC) has held it's 7 day full membership at £594 for the last three years, and the club is doing well with around 600 members, travel a sort distance inland to Close House and I believe the membership there has just gone up from £1,800 to £2,200, so not all courses in the UK or close to Scotland are cheaper than the south.

To be fair Close House is a freak in this area. No other course charges anything like that. In Northumberland most parkland courses are around the £570 mark, some courses go up to £670 but they are rare. Some around Gosforth/Newcastle may be more but that is due to location. Close House is targetting corporate members and rich people. It is not reliant on members in the way most other clubs are. They are totally out of sync with everything else up here.

 

[golfcitydweller]

I think its a historical thing as golf was always a working mans game up here clubs were never that expensive to play at, maybe against your newer club 30-40 years old. St Andrews has the best deal for residents i think they can play all 7 courses for roughly £350

205 for residents ticket and golf club 145 spot steve don`t hate people ..lol

 

[stevek1969]

205 for residents ticket and golf club 145 spot steve don`t hate people ..lol

I dont hate i want haha

 

[Jimaroid]

Not sure greed comes into it as most clubs are non-profit making members clubs.

I take your point but to be clear, I didn't mean greed in a modern context. I meant in a historical case, if you follow where the money went, it's landowners that have taken most of the money over the years. Someone always profits.

 

[delc]

Obvious answer hasn't been mentioned yet. Golf is cheaper in Scotland because it winds the English up.

More likely that land is cheaper North of the Border! Also Courses in and close to London charge the Earth because they can get away with it and people are prepared and can afford to pay!

 

[Deleted member 21784]

More likely that land is cheaper North of the Border! Also Courses in and close to London charge the Earth because they can get away with it and people are prepared and can afford to pay!

teeofftimes is brilliant for this

played a decent course in barnet today for £16 normally £25 midweek in the winter £35 in the summer

my boss commutes from ireland now. he has a membership at Khan golf course (apparently top course out there) cost him like 500 euros or something

 

[delc]

I take your point but to be clear, I didn't mean greed in a modern context. I meant in a historical case, if you follow where the money went, it's landowners that have taken most of the money over the years. Someone always profits.

Again in the South-East of England, land owners can make a fortune by getting planning permission to close down a golf course and then building a housing estate on it. Certainly the case with the Blue Mountain course in Bracknell. A consultation exercise produced 2 replies in favour of the re-development and several hundred against the scheme, but it still went ahead anyway. Consultation exercise done, box ticked, so carry on. I am pretty sure that some hefty back handers must have been paid to the councillors on the Local Authority planning committee (allegedly)!