Does a round of golf cost too much

[Hot Rod 71]

[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373206986' post='7402570']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373203722' post='7402370']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373041533' post='7393148']
[b]How many courses around you guys have twilight rates. [/b] I know that some in my area do not, and I wonder why. The golf course is wide open after 6:00 and they still want regular fees. Isn't 40% of the regular fee better than $0?

Maybe there is a good reason. Why do some courses have a twilight fee, and an early bird fee and some do not?
[/quote]

I work at a semi-private course part-time in the pro shop and we offer twilight rates. Our weekend rates are $57 from open to noon, $48 from noon to 3, and $39 after 3 (twilight rate). We get quite a lot of business after 3 on weekdays from the folks getting off work at 4 or 5.

In response to questions about private club memberships......There is a nice private course near by that was offering some fantastic memberships a couple of years ago. $1000 initiation fee and $300 per month for a family. They have two huge pools, tennis courts, golf, a very nice restaurant and bar, and numerous tournaments and social events each month. You can walk as many rounds as you want for that price, or pay an additional $15 for a power cart. If I wasn't working where I am, I would have jumped all over this deal.
[/quote]

OK, asstpro, would the guys who get off work still play if they had to pay regular fees?
[/quote]

I'm no assistant pro. I started out working at this course 6 years ago as a cart guy and have worked my way into the pro shop as an afternoon manager.

I was only answering the questions "how many courses around you guys have a twilight rate?" and "why don't people join private clubs?" (asked earlier on in this thread).

As far as people paying regular fees for an afternoon round after work, I think the discount rate after 3 attracts this clientele (people getting off work), which is good. I think courses that are slow in the afternoon should consider twilight rates. As someone else said, its better to make $38 per player in the afternoon than nothing at all.

Some weekdays after 3 we are slammed (dependent on weather). We have tee time intervals of 9 minutes and many days the entire 3-5 block is full. That's 13 tee times which generally equates to 30-40 players on average. Not all are scheduled, as we have a lot of walk-ins in the afternoon. I think the discount rate is attractive to many people, but I think some of the serious golf addicts would play regardless.

[Playaway]

[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373210176' post='7402730']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373206986' post='7402570']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373203722' post='7402370']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373041533' post='7393148']
[b]How many courses around you guys have twilight rates. [/b] I know that some in my area do not, and I wonder why. The golf course is wide open after 6:00 and they still want regular fees. Isn't 40% of the regular fee better than $0?

Maybe there is a good reason. Why do some courses have a twilight fee, and an early bird fee and some do not?
[/quote]

I work at a semi-private course part-time in the pro shop and we offer twilight rates. Our weekend rates are $57 from open to noon, $48 from noon to 3, and $39 after 3 (twilight rate). We get quite a lot of business after 3 on weekdays from the folks getting off work at 4 or 5.

In response to questions about private club memberships......There is a nice private course near by that was offering some fantastic memberships a couple of years ago. $1000 initiation fee and $300 per month for a family. They have two huge pools, tennis courts, golf, a very nice restaurant and bar, and numerous tournaments and social events each month. You can walk as many rounds as you want for that price, or pay an additional $15 for a power cart. If I wasn't working where I am, I would have jumped all over this deal.
[/quote]

OK, asstpro, would the guys who get off work still play if they had to pay regular fees?
[/quote]

I'm no assistant pro. I started out working at this course 6 years ago as a cart guy and have worked my way into the pro shop as an afternoon manager.

I was only answering the questions "how many courses around you guys have a twilight rate?" and "why don't people join private clubs?" (asked earlier on in this thread).

As far as people paying regular fees for an afternoon round after work, I think the discount rate after 3 attracts this clientele (people getting off work), which is good. I think courses that are slow in the afternoon should consider twilight rates. As someone else said, its better to make $38 per player in the afternoon than nothing at all.

Some weekdays after 3 we are slammed (dependent on weather). We have tee time intervals of 9 minutes and many days the entire 3-5 block is full. That's 13 tee times which generally equates to 30-40 players on average. Not all are scheduled, as we have a lot of walk-ins in the afternoon. I think the discount rate is attractive to many people, but I think some of the serious golf addicts would play regardless.
[/quote]

Thanks. That sounds logical. Don't know what some of the local courses here are thinking.

[See The Line]

[quote name='WalleyeDave' timestamp='1370233807' post='7157994']
I was just wondering if anyone other than myself believes that the price of a round of golf is just getting too pricey ? I don't mind paying $ 30 to $ 50 for a round of golf, but come on $ 100, $ 200 or more. IMO more than $ 50 is way too much money. I know all you guys will expound on what great courses you can play for $ 200 but I really get the same enjoyment out of a $ 50 course ( only four times instead of one ).
[/quote]

I agree that playing a round of golf is getting too pricey. Golf memberships/shares and today's green fees to decent courses are so high that it makes golf impossible to play for some people.
We hear more and more discussion about how golf is losing players and that we need to encourage youth to play, etc... but with the high price to play the game golf continues to be seen as a sport that is exclusive to the wealthy.
I realize that there are courses out there that are designed to cater to the wealthy but for the average family it is more economical to have children, and adults, play other sports/games.

[Matt_Monty]

[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373221485' post='7403442']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373210176' post='7402730']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373206986' post='7402570']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373203722' post='7402370']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373041533' post='7393148']
[b]How many courses around you guys have twilight rates. [/b] I know that some in my area do not, and I wonder why. The golf course is wide open after 6:00 and they still want regular fees. Isn't 40% of the regular fee better than $0?

Maybe there is a good reason. Why do some courses have a twilight fee, and an early bird fee and some do not?
[/quote]

I work at a semi-private course part-time in the pro shop and we offer twilight rates. Our weekend rates are $57 from open to noon, $48 from noon to 3, and $39 after 3 (twilight rate). We get quite a lot of business after 3 on weekdays from the folks getting off work at 4 or 5.

In response to questions about private club memberships......There is a nice private course near by that was offering some fantastic memberships a couple of years ago. $1000 initiation fee and $300 per month for a family. They have two huge pools, tennis courts, golf, a very nice restaurant and bar, and numerous tournaments and social events each month. You can walk as many rounds as you want for that price, or pay an additional $15 for a power cart. If I wasn't working where I am, I would have jumped all over this deal.
[/quote]

OK, asstpro, would the guys who get off work still play if they had to pay regular fees?
[/quote]

I'm no assistant pro. I started out working at this course 6 years ago as a cart guy and have worked my way into the pro shop as an afternoon manager.

I was only answering the questions "how many courses around you guys have a twilight rate?" and "why don't people join private clubs?" (asked earlier on in this thread).

As far as people paying regular fees for an afternoon round after work, I think the discount rate after 3 attracts this clientele (people getting off work), which is good. I think courses that are slow in the afternoon should consider twilight rates. As someone else said, its better to make $38 per player in the afternoon than nothing at all.

Some weekdays after 3 we are slammed (dependent on weather). We have tee time intervals of 9 minutes and many days the entire 3-5 block is full. That's 13 tee times which generally equates to 30-40 players on average. Not all are scheduled, as we have a lot of walk-ins in the afternoon. I think the discount rate is attractive to many people, but I think some of the serious golf addicts would play regardless.
[/quote]

Thanks. That sounds logical. Don't know what some of the local courses here are thinking.
[/quote]

I'm an assistant pro at a local course. (Just for reference, not sure if that came off arrogant) We are a public course and offer a variety of twilight rates.
We drop our weekend rate by $5 for 18 holes after 2 PM ($27-$22) and after 5PM we offer a twilight rate, all you can play for $8 walking and $15 riding. It's a decent business model. Unfortunately, much of your havic on the golf course comes from twilight golfers. I shouldn't make such a broad statement, maybe more like twilight drinkers who are golfing. A lot of courses do not let out play after leagues for this very reason. It also keeps workers on the time longer. Although it's a grey area, I have been asking all golfers to have their carts in by 8:30PM.

As far as golf becoming too pricey, I don't think courses in this area (Rochester, N.Y) can afford to overprice golfers. Times are tough, competition is greater, and the expensive-niche courses are going out of business. With that being said, golf will always seem too pricey!

[Hot Rod 71]

[quote name='Matt_Monty' timestamp='1373229353' post='7403964']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373221485' post='7403442']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373210176' post='7402730']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373206986' post='7402570']
[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1373203722' post='7402370']
[quote name='Playaway' timestamp='1373041533' post='7393148']
[b]How many courses around you guys have twilight rates. [/b] I know that some in my area do not, and I wonder why. The golf course is wide open after 6:00 and they still want regular fees. Isn't 40% of the regular fee better than $0?

Maybe there is a good reason. Why do some courses have a twilight fee, and an early bird fee and some do not?
[/quote]

I work at a semi-private course part-time in the pro shop and we offer twilight rates. Our weekend rates are $57 from open to noon, $48 from noon to 3, and $39 after 3 (twilight rate). We get quite a lot of business after 3 on weekdays from the folks getting off work at 4 or 5.

In response to questions about private club memberships......There is a nice private course near by that was offering some fantastic memberships a couple of years ago. $1000 initiation fee and $300 per month for a family. They have two huge pools, tennis courts, golf, a very nice restaurant and bar, and numerous tournaments and social events each month. You can walk as many rounds as you want for that price, or pay an additional $15 for a power cart. If I wasn't working where I am, I would have jumped all over this deal.
[/quote]

OK, asstpro, would the guys who get off work still play if they had to pay regular fees?
[/quote]

I'm no assistant pro. I started out working at this course 6 years ago as a cart guy and have worked my way into the pro shop as an afternoon manager.

I was only answering the questions "how many courses around you guys have a twilight rate?" and "why don't people join private clubs?" (asked earlier on in this thread).

As far as people paying regular fees for an afternoon round after work, I think the discount rate after 3 attracts this clientele (people getting off work), which is good. I think courses that are slow in the afternoon should consider twilight rates. As someone else said, its better to make $38 per player in the afternoon than nothing at all.

Some weekdays after 3 we are slammed (dependent on weather). We have tee time intervals of 9 minutes and many days the entire 3-5 block is full. That's 13 tee times which generally equates to 30-40 players on average. Not all are scheduled, as we have a lot of walk-ins in the afternoon. I think the discount rate is attractive to many people, but I think some of the serious golf addicts would play regardless.
[/quote]

Thanks. That sounds logical. Don't know what some of the local courses here are thinking.
[/quote]

I'm an assistant pro at a local course. (Just for reference, not sure if that came off arrogant) We are a public course and offer a variety of twilight rates.
We drop our weekend rate by $5 for 18 holes after 2 PM ($27-$22) and after 5PM we offer a twilight rate, all you can play for $8 walking and $15 riding. It's a decent business model. Unfortunately, [b]much of your havic on the golf course comes from twilight golfers.[/b] I shouldn't make such a broad statement, maybe more like twilight drinkers who are golfing. A lot of courses do not let out play after leagues for this very reason. It also keeps workers on the time longer. Although it's a grey area, I have been asking all golfers to have their carts in by 8:30PM.

As far as golf becoming too pricey, I don't think courses in this area (Rochester, N.Y) can afford to overprice golfers. Times are tough, competition is greater, and the expensive-niche courses are going out of business. With that being said, golf will always seem too pricey!
[/quote]

Its the same here. Some of the twilight golfers have no respect for the course (leave trash, drive carts all over the place, play extra holes they didn't pay for, etc.). I'm not saying they are all bad, because they are not. We have some really good customers that come in and play twilight. But many of the twilight players seem to have arrogant attitudes along with a rather foul sense of entitlement.

[WalleyeDave]

OK . I started this post and it's clear that there are deals to be had. I should have stated does it cost too much to golf during prime time. I do have a golf membership but I also like to golf other courses. And of course my buds can only golf on the weekends. So that kind of leaves us paying full boat for those tee times. If I truly believed golf to be too expensive I would quit and spend money on something else. ie-hunting and fishing. Thanks to all who replied.

[CassinoNorth]

Around here, there's plenty of options for under $40 that courses (and some damn good ones) have very competitive pricing. I don't think I've played any casual rounds this year that cost more than $35 or so...typically I pay $20-25 riding on some real nice courses thanks to GolfNow. There's very few courses I would pay over $100 to play in a non tournament setting.

[JDW3]

I live in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the prices aren't too bad. You can play some pretty nice courses in the $50-65 range.

[hef63303]

1) You get what you pay for.
2) You determine what you pay, not the course. If you don't like the fee, play somewhere else.
3) Most golf courses are losing money right now, no matter what they charge.