Doral Blue Monster new rate$$$$ $495.00

RichieHunt · February 20, 2014

[quote name='cristphoto' timestamp='1392404951' post='8668621']
So 100 golfers a day gets the course $50,000. Trump doesn't care about the 2500 golfers a day that would like to play there, he only needs 100 golfers that are willing to spend the money. To me some of the most overpriced golf in the country is in Las Vegas. I'm not trying to be offensive, just my opinion. Vegas seems to have the Trump (successful) business mentality of just pull in 100 high rollers daily and the masses can play elsewhere.
[/quote]

You're more confined when it comes to golf in Vegas than you are in South Florida.

I believe initially this will work, but it will be a financial bust in the end. If somebody is capable of paying that much for Doral, then they can play just as many great courses in South Florida or pay for a short plane trip (or if they have a helicopter) to play elsewhere in the state.

I can see what Donald is trying to do in the sense if you make Doral feel special enough, you can start getting those rates. That's not too far off from what Sawgrass charges. But Sawgrass has the 17th hole and a much bigger annual tournament than Doral. When I think of Doral, I more or less think of #18 and that is it.

So I think Trump is trying to limit the golfers to give that exclusive feel to it. I just don't know if he really has the course and facilities for it. Depending on the time of year, I could play Streamsong 2-3 times at that price. It won't be the first time Trump takes a bath on investing in a course.

RH

dasbill · February 20, 2014

I've never played a trump course. Other than the nice golf course what is involved in the trump experience?

mringwelski · February 20, 2014

Trump - Land Rapist. He's the king of rape and shape.

scottvw13 · February 20, 2014

[quote name='RichieHunt' timestamp='1392908961' post='8708479']
[quote name='cristphoto' timestamp='1392404951' post='8668621']
So 100 golfers a day gets the course $50,000. Trump doesn't care about the 2500 golfers a day that would like to play there, he only needs 100 golfers that are willing to spend the money. To me some of the most overpriced golf in the country is in Las Vegas. I'm not trying to be offensive, just my opinion. Vegas seems to have the Trump (successful) business mentality of just pull in 100 high rollers daily and the masses can play elsewhere.
[/quote]

You're more confined when it comes to golf in Vegas than you are in South Florida.

I believe initially this will work, but it will be a financial bust in the end. If somebody is capable of paying that much for Doral, then they can play just as many great courses in South Florida or pay for a short plane trip (or if they have a helicopter) to play elsewhere in the state.

I can see what Donald is trying to do in the sense if you make Doral feel special enough, you can start getting those rates. That's not too far off from what Sawgrass charges. But Sawgrass has the 17th hole and a much bigger annual tournament than Doral. When I think of Doral, I more or less think of #18 and that is it.

So I think Trump is trying to limit the golfers to give that exclusive feel to it. I just don't know if he really has the course and facilities for it. Depending on the time of year, I could play Streamsong 2-3 times at that price. It won't be the first time Trump takes a bath on investing in a course.

RH
[/quote]

I agree with you to some degree, however Doral is in Miami, only 15 min from South Beach.

Sawgrass is in Jacksonville.

Its proximity to South Beach, along with the access from Miami airport (it's about 3 miles) gives Doral advantages over many other destinations.

And remember, $495 is full rack rate. I am certain that there will be packages and other discounts available to bring the price more in line.

FairwaysToHeaven · February 20, 2014

Stop blaming Trump. Whether its overpriced or not, the free market will set the price. This is whats so great about private busines. If its overpriced no one will show up and trump will be forced to lower prices. if he gets enough business to rake in profit, then he's smarter than you and it shows that people are willing to pay that price. to call trump arrogant for setting prices that high, whether he is or isn't, he's free to set prices however high he thinks people are willing to pay. its nobody's decision but his own. he runs the course to eventually turn a profit, not to run a nonprofit charity course. I'm sure he's done enough research to have a pretty good idea of what the market in that area will pay. i have no doubt that Trump feels he will get a better return on his money than if he were to charge $90/round. If thats the case, how can you fault Trump? Your home course is doing no different, its just that the course + market bears a lower price.

Trump could've very easily turned this into a private club. i'd rather see high prices for courses rather than private courses that keep even those willing to pay a high amount for one round.

Bubb · February 20, 2014

[quote name='HoosierMizuno' timestamp='1392919971' post='8709581']
Stop blaming Trump. Whether its overpriced or not, the free market will set the price. This is whats so great about private busines. If its overpriced no one will show up and trump will be forced to lower prices. if he gets enough business to rake in profit, then he's smarter than you and it shows that people are willing to pay that price. to call trump arrogant for setting prices that high, whether he is or isn't, he's free to set prices however high he thinks people are willing to pay. its nobody's decision but his own. he runs the course to eventually turn a profit, not to run a nonprofit charity course. I'm sure he's done enough research to have a pretty good idea of what the market in that area will pay. i have no doubt that Trump feels he will get a better return on his money than if he were to charge $90/round. If thats the case, how can you fault Trump? Your home course is doing no different, its just that the course + market bears a lower price.

Trump could've very easily turned this into a private club. i'd rather see high prices for courses rather than private courses that keep even those willing to pay a high amount for one round.
[/quote]
You nailed it. I do, however, believe that once the newness wears off, the market will drive Doral to reduce prices after a couple years. People who can afford to pay $500 for a round will have better options. Doral doesn't have enough going for it to command that price long-term.

OrlandoSean · February 20, 2014

Kohler is a crook, people pay thousands to stay and play there and the employees and caddies get squat. The Straits is very gimmicky and its in Wisconsin. Also the Kohler forced off their land by buying all the land around turned it into a 4 year construction site until they couldn't stand it anymore. They also take more than half of the "caddie fee" and have more than 70 percent of the employees are interns. At least trump pays his people well. I wouldn't want to support someone that.

snookybusby · February 22, 2014

I was just posting on another thread about augusta that it was a shame it was so exclusive because people couldn't play it. But that is totally different because you have to know someone. In this case it is just very expensive. I wouldn't pay that to play the Blue Monster, but that is how much it is apparently worth. Trump is into a lot of things, but losing money isn't one. So they are making money on less players. I can respect that. I am not going to pay that much, but I can respect that at least we are all given the opportunity to play it if we wanted to. And before I get blowback about "not everyone can afford that," consider a set of golf clubs cost around that or more and that I am sure most of you spend more than that on golf in a single season. So every golfer CAN afford it...it just may be the ONLY round of golf they play that season...lol.

Desert Golf · February 22, 2014

I am the antithesis of the Trump consumer. I live in a golf mecca (Palm Springs) and play the lower end courses in season (winter). In the summer, when everyone leaves, I'll play the nice tracks for 20-30% of the winter rate and my buddies and I have the courses to ourselves.

I can play at least 10 rounds for $500 at courses that are likely just as good as Doral. I'm pretty confident that the "Trump Experience" isn't going to be worth the price for me.

Desert Golf · February 22, 2014

[quote name='dasbill' timestamp='1392909727' post='8708551']
I've never played a trump course. Other than the nice golf course what is involved in the trump experience?
[/quote]

A lighter wallet

duffer987 · February 22, 2014

[quote name='OrlandoSean' timestamp='1392941560' post='8711631']
Kohler is a crook, people pay thousands to stay and play there and the employees and caddies get squat. The Straits is very gimmicky and its in Wisconsin. Also the Kohler forced off their land by buying all the land around turned it into a 4 year construction site until they couldn't stand it anymore. They also take more than half of the "caddie fee" and have more than 70 percent of the employees are interns. At least trump pays his people well. I wouldn't want to support someone that.
[/quote]

What does this have to do with the Blue course at Doral now being $500?
I like to play different courses, but I cannot say Doral has ever appealed. It has always struck me as a typical Florida water park golf course, that happens to be a tour stop. Not unlike some of the less remarkably TPC courses that host PGA events, it seems characterless - bar the 18th.

But anyways if you want to throw personal attacks in, ask the folks in Aberdeen what they think of the way Trump builds golf courses. And also feel free to read up on his opposition to wind turbines.
Also can you provide links to information regarding how much of the caddie fee is kept by The American Club resort. It's just internet chatter past off as a defacto truth until then. Also Caddiemaster - like happens at lots of resorts - manages the caddy services there, whatever deal has been struck has been struck by them and surely the caddies know it going in.

67VIP · February 22, 2014

When I played Doral Blue Monster, it was in fantastic shape...despite the unbelievable heat and humidity of August in Miami. I immediately liked the fact it was an old school/classic Florida golf course. I have played a lot of new age courses, and most of them are very faddish...chocolate drop mounds, remember when they were all the rage and how ridiculous they are now? Classic never goes out of style...flavor of the week does. That's one of the reason's i adore Harbour Town Golf Links and despise TPC Sawgrass...one is a classic for the ages, the other is entirely artificial/superficial...yet both have the same designer. The possible trap for Trump's business model is that the customers he's after are not golf's bread and butter, these folks are very fickle--I doubt loyalty is a word in their vocabulary. Should our economy tank again and corporate entertainment take a serious nose dive, then what? How many exclusive clubs had to waive initiation fees and let the riff raff in to survive over the past few years? Streamsong seems to be after the same sort of clients and they're out in the middle of BFU, does anybody think they'll survive a major recession? Pebble Beach is Pebble Beach, $500 for one round there, or $500 for rounds at Spyglass Hill, Pacific Grove, & Bayonet/Blackhorse at the old Ft Ord club now owned by the city...I'd have to think about that one myself.

OrlandoSean · February 22, 2014

[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1393055626' post='8720868']
[quote name='OrlandoSean' timestamp='1392941560' post='8711631']
Kohler is a crook, people pay thousands to stay and play there and the employees and caddies get squat. The Straits is very gimmicky and its in Wisconsin. Also the Kohler forced off their land by buying all the land around turned it into a 4 year construction site until they couldn't stand it anymore. They also take more than half of the "caddie fee" and have more than 70 percent of the employees are interns. At least trump pays his people well. I wouldn't want to support someone that.
[/quote]

What does this have to do with the Blue course at Doral now being $500?
I like to play different courses, but I cannot say Doral has ever appealed. It has always struck me as a typical Florida water park golf course, that happens to be a tour stop. Not unlike some of the less remarkably TPC courses that host PGA events, it seems characterless - bar the 18th.

But anyways if you want to throw personal attacks in, ask the folks in Aberdeen what they think of the way Trump builds golf courses. And also feel free to read up on his opposition to wind turbines.
Also can you provide links to information regarding how much of the caddie fee is kept by The American Club resort. It's just internet chatter past off as a defacto truth until then. Also Caddiemaster - like happens at lots of resorts - manages the caddy services there, whatever deal has been struck has been struck by them and surely the caddies know it going in.
[/quote]
I've looped at Whistling and still have friends that work there so I know exactly how much they make and the club takes. I was mislead by the caddie company and found out the hard way.