Would you pay £350 to play Royal Lytham?

[evemccc]

Some of the courses I've played in Spain have housing right in the slicer zone. I always assume that a golfer would never buy one of those properties.

There's no chance of hitting houses at Lytham. Thick rough and trees before you get to the boundary. Although I've heard it's possible to slice it on to the railway on the first few holes.

The only thing I could think of - in terms of hitting a house - is possibly blading an iron into the newish flats (I think they are) right behind the 9th green

All of the Open venues I’ve played have something unique to commend them, above the rest, and Lytham’s a ‘fiddly’ golf course and the tightness of it and the railway line and houses where it gets tightest (7th to 10th) are part of its charm

I’m childlesss but I imagine choosing Open rota (or ex-Open rota) courses in an order of preference is akin to choosing the order in which you love your children In my eyes they’re all bloomin’ marvellous and I love them all

 

[SteveJay]

A quick google on the local paper suggests it is still an option but they do not have the spare space required for the tented village that accompanies an Open now. Spectator space is also 'tight'. Not ruled out, but there are other options that offer more, seems to be the feeling.

Yes, the surrounding land is considered inadequate to accommodate all the TV and media equipment and all the paraphernalia that goes with hosting an Open. I understand that the club are actively looking at improving the range area and doing something to overcome these challenges, but think it isn't going to be anytime soon.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Its the beauty of Golf though we get to play at the equivilent of Wembley, Lords or Wimbledon if we want to, and i bet if you asked a football fan if they wanted to play their sunday league game at wembley for £350 they would bite your hand off.

£350 for Wembley, or any other top ground, divided by 22 of us maybe.
But 22 x £350 for the privilege - absolutely not.
Every team I played for would have thought of something better to do with £3,850
But then amateur footballers, on the whole, are not footballing tourists/holiday makers in the way that a lot of golfers are.

 

[JT.]

Yes - but then I am slowly working my way through open venues past and present and am yet to play Lytham

 

[sunshine]

£350 for Wembley, or any other top ground, divided by 22 of us maybe.
But 22 x £350 for the privilege - absolutely not.
Every team I played for would have thought of something better to do with £3,850
But then amateur footballers, on the whole, are not footballing tourists/holiday makers in the way that a lot of golfers are.

Must cost tens of thousands to hire Wembley. Not sure where you are going with your post.

 

[SteveJay]

Must cost tens of thousands to hire Wembley. Not sure where you are going with your post.

Absolutely! though in fairness, as i mentioned i have played at Lytham a couple times for a green fee less than a typical muni course.

i have also played football at Wembley .

However, only due to the fact that i was representing my employer Nationwide Building Society, in the days when they sponsored England. Hell of an experience though, even though it was practically empty

 

[Voyager EMH]

Must cost tens of thousands to hire Wembley. Not sure where you are going with your post.

The idea that 11 or more geezers playing local Sunday League would all cough up £350 a head just to play on the Wembley pitch. And find another 11 to do the same.
£7,700 is a lot of money to disappear just for a kick about.

I thought about the teams I played for and concluded that there would not be anywhere near 100% enthusiasm for this.

The mentality is so different from golfers. That level of amateur footballers do not go to Turkey or Portugal for a week just to play football. They are not footballing tourists or footballing holidaymakers.
They would rather go to Wembley and watch very good footballers than try to pretend that they are the same.
They do not boast about the "great" pitches they have played on or have a list of pitches they want to play on.

11x£350 might be better spent on other things.

I did not think that I was required to "go anywhere" with my comment. I just made my comment. You have prompted me to elaborate, though.

 

[Backache]

They do not boast about the "great" pitches they have played on or have a list of pitches they want to play on.

Whereas I kind of agree, I think the whole premise is slightly different. Football pitches are meant to be about the same, whereas crowds is some stadia add atmosphere. Golf is a little different and golf courses are meant to be different from each other.

I would always actively choose a golf course or ski resort for instance to visit/play, whereas a tennis court/football pitch etc it doesn't matter which I play though I may have a preference of where to watch.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Whereas I kind of agree, I think the whole premise is slightly different. Football pitches are meant to be about the same, whereas crowds is some stadia add atmosphere. Golf is a little different and golf courses are meant to be different from each other.

I would always actively choose a golf course or ski resort for instance to visit/play, whereas a tennis court/football pitch etc it doesn't matter which I play though I may have a preference of where to watch.

As a boy in the 1970s I got to play rugby at St Helens, Swansea for one game. It was the game I remember greatly - the pitch hardly made a difference.
Then, in the 1980s I got to play soccer at Kenilworth Road, Luton for one game.
Both times, it felt like it was an inconvenience for me, compared with playing at a more suitable club and pitch for my level.

 

[sunshine]

The idea that 11 or more geezers playing local Sunday League would all cough up £350 a head just to play on the Wembley pitch. And find another 11 to do the same.
£7,700 is a lot of money to disappear just for a kick about.

I thought about the teams I played for and concluded that there would not be anywhere near 100% enthusiasm for this.

The mentality is so different from golfers. That level of amateur footballers do not go to Turkey or Portugal for a week just to play football. They are not footballing tourists or footballing holidaymakers.
They would rather go to Wembley and watch very good footballers than try to pretend that they are the same.
They do not boast about the "great" pitches they have played on or have a list of pitches they want to play on.

11x£350 might be better spent on other things.

I did not think that I was required to "go anywhere" with my comment. I just made my comment. You have prompted me to elaborate, though.

It’s more to do with age and disposable income I think.

When I played football I would have jumped at the chance to play at Wembley for £350. I reckon most of my teammates would too. Once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

[Voyager EMH]

It’s more to do with age and disposable income I think.

When I played football I would have jumped at the chance to play at Wembley for £350. I reckon most of my teammates would too. Once in a lifetime opportunity.

My experience was different.
One or two of my teammates might have thought like that, but the majority would have thought it daft to be ripped off like that for the experience of just "being there".
If it was a club that ran 3 teams that managed to get 12 out of 40 to go, the other 28 would be calling them, "more money than sense."
It would be a pretence. A pretentious activity.
Trying to "buy" a Wembley experience won't work for those who play football to play football.
They see the "getting to Wembley" by playing football makes the experience real and not pretence.
You can't bypass that with money.

Golfers are very different on the whole. There is a massive culture of being a golfing tourist or golfing holidaymaker. A completely different way of looking at locations to play.
And it is not pretentious to test yourself on any golf course.

 

[The Lion]

A guy I play with is on the board of a pretty famous place, that do not charge anything like £350 a round.

The conversation they are having is that they need to charge more to put off stag dos and folk who are "less proficient" as he put it. Last summer there were some really slow rounds. So expect a price hike and more active management of the handicap limit.

American visitors etc has nothing to do with it. They actively look at their visitor capacity, and set a price to fill those times. Although they are leaning towards "fewer visitors, paying more" as its is similar revenue with less impact

Other places will have a range of priorities.

I'm sure Bryan will confirm that Kingsbarns charge top prices and sell the majority with ease. I paid it last year, and would do so again without hesitation.

That said. I've come away from some places feeling I've been fleeced!

Porthcawl I bet. Or maybe B&B. Hope not though.

 

[Robin Hood]

£350 to play Lytham (or any course)
not a chance………

 

[KenL]

£350 to play Lytham (or any course)
not a chance………

Not even Pebble Beach, Augusta?

 

[Mandofred]

Not even Pebble Beach, Augusta?

Nope. I wouldn't pay £350 to play golf.....it's just golf.

 

[KenL]

Nope. I wouldn't pay £350 to play golf.....it's just golf.

What’s your ceiling?
Most I have ever paid was £175 for the old course 9 years ago. Well, actually my wife paid for it as a bday gift.

 

[D-S]

What’s your ceiling?

Perhaps this is the better question. Difficult to guess what my ceiling for Augusta would be but certainly a lot more than Lytham.
My wife and I paid a lot to play Kiawah Island (although the USD/£ was better at the time) - still great value. We’ve certainly paid too much for some of the Dubai courses with the exception of the Emirates, but most really expensive rounds have been worth it for the experience - (like Pinehurst, PGA West courses, Leopard Creek, Sentosa Singapore, Open Rota courses etc.).
I have also paid a lot less sometimes for some great courses abroad and at home but perhaps without the name, but wonderful golfing experiences
Having said that I have often paid a small amount but it hasn’t been good value.

 

[3 jabber]

What’s your ceiling?
Most I have ever paid was £175 for the old course 9 years ago. Well, actually my wife paid for it as a bday gift.

I used to play with a reasonably wealthy guy years ago. For his 40th his wife contacted Augusta and offered £10k for him to play. Rather naïve but nice thought. She didn't get a reply.

 

[Mandofred]

What’s your ceiling?
Most I have ever paid was £175 for the old course 9 years ago. Well, actually my wife paid for it as a bday gift.

That's a loaded question......many different ways of looking at it. I have paid up around £50 for an away day with a rollup group...that included something to eat. But....you have to understand my twisted brain.....if it is a "fancy" golf course, I would likely not go even if it were free. Kind of like a ritzy restaurant.....I'd just feel uncomfortable going. The only reason I play golf regularly is because I can fork up a bunch of money up front and then play as much as I want to which brings the price of each round down to a reasonable level. If I were not a member at a course I would not be playing golf and I would get rid of my clubs. I won't pay £50 to play a round of golf once in a while. Now.....I am a member at 2 courses, so I kind of break my rule a little bit....but again, if you play enough it brings the average price down. It boils down to what YOU would be willing to pay for something. Some will pay a lot more than others. Would I buy a pint of beer for £2?....sure. £3?...yes......then it starts getting iffy. I'm not paying £6 for a pint of beer....unless I was dying of thirst. Then again, I waste money on things you likely wouldn't even consider.

I don't have the urge to check off golf courses like some people do. If people want to do that...fine with me. I've been back in Harrogate for 10 years...I don't know if you are familiar with the courses in the area, but I've been a member at Knaresborough, Oakdale and Ripon. I played a pay+play at Spofforth a number of times when I was still working. I've not played Harrogate, Panal, Rudding, Weatherby, Thirsk, Masham, Richmond. Because of being thrown off our course at times through Opens etc I've played Scarcroft and Moor Allerton since they were reciprocals. I've been at a few others courses that are also reciprocals.