What is Affordable Golf?

Watching Destination Golf (and Lauren Thompson) on GC today, as they visited with the staff at the various courses, they all mentioned how the course was affordable. Well, the cheapest green fee listed was "starting at $125". I know affordability is going to be pretty relative from person to person and depending on the area you live. I would like to hear some thoughts on what would generally be considered as an affordable green fee. Here in Houston, golf is IMO very affordable. Typically for weekend golf, fees on most public courses run anywhere from $40-$75. You can play very nice courses here for $75-$100. For me, its very rare that I even end up paying over $50 to play. I play a lot of twilight rounds during the week for $20. When I play on the weekends, we usually bring a group of 30 to 40 guys and end up with a discounted rate. What is considered as affordable fees in your area?

Here in Omaha, NE (prices w/o carts - I walk 99% of the time):

Good Muni's - $25-$30 (some decent courses in this range)
"Okay" Public Courses - $25-$30
"Nicer" Public Courses - $30-$40
"Higher End" Public Courses - $40-$60

Twilight (for courses that offer it): $10

In the Baltimore/DC area you can expect the following:


Muni 30-35 weekday 45-55 weekend

daily fee 40-50 weekday 65-75 weekend

upscale 65-75 95 + topping out $130'ish weekend


I play most of mine in the daily fee weekday range, with an occasional weekend upscale.

How about the [b]annual[/b] fee of £170 which residents of St Andrews pay to the Links Trust to get to play all 7 St Andrews courses for a year. That's probably less than one visitor's green fee on the Old Course!

Senior Rate most courses around me are
$20.00 for 18 holes and a cart. Palmer course
is $29.00 for everyone till 12:00 noon.

I live in the Bay Area and saw that show. I don't consider those fees affordable. More like 35-50, I'd say, which is about the going rate for courses around here a step down. Beware of Bodega. Not a whole lot going for it other than great views. Just hope it is not fogged in, which it often is.

In my opinion, paying more than $30 to play golf (walking) is ridiculous, aside from that once every month or two round at the nicest place around, or for example, the TPC at Deere Run, which is $60- $70 twilight with cart. Currently I have a pass at a decent local muni here (6900 yds, nice shape bent fairways, 73.4 rating) for $250 a year...but the tee boxes are sloped...so there is always a trade off.

I do believe that simple consumer surplus is at play, though. People who play once a week, or who just play for fun, rather than competitively or with a purpose, will pay more to play golf.

I just think that charging anywhere above $50, unless it is a tour or tour caliber golf course, is not worth it, to me.

To answer the question: Affordable golf is being able to play a challenging (for you) golf course, walking, for under $25, at some time on the weekend (being able to finish!)

Under $50 to walk it is affordable.

IMO there aren't ANY public courses in the Portland area worth paying more than $75 to play(Reserve and Pumpkin Ridge included). If I'm paying more than $75 in Oregon it is either on the Coast or in Bend, where the courses are world-class.

"What is Affordable Golf?"

An oxymoron?

I hate paying over $50.

[quote name='swbyps' date='17 June 2010 - 09:49 AM' timestamp='1276793399' post='2515555']
Watching Destination Golf (and Lauren Thompson) on GC today, as they visited with the staff at the various courses, they all mentioned how the course was affordable. Well, the cheapest green fee listed was "starting at $125". I know affordability is going to be pretty relative from person to person and depending on the area you live. I would like to hear some thoughts on what would generally be considered as an affordable green fee. Here in Houston, golf is IMO very affordable. Typically for weekend golf, fees on most public courses run anywhere from $40-$75. You can play very nice courses here for $75-$100. For me, its very rare that I even end up paying over $50 to play. I play a lot of twilight rounds during the week for $20. When I play on the weekends, we usually bring a group of 30 to 40 guys and end up with a discounted rate. [b]What is considered as affordable fees[/b] in your area?
[/quote]

I love the game of golf but seldom will pay more than 30 bucks for 18.

When the guy I went to high school with works in the pro shop...and let's me play for free.

[quote name='jewofgolf' date='17 June 2010 - 07:24 PM' timestamp='1276827867' post='2516648']
[b]In my opinion, paying more than $30 to play golf (walking) is ridiculous[/b], aside from that once every month or two round at the nicest place around, or for example, the TPC at Deere Run, which is $60- $70 twilight with cart. Currently I have a pass at a decent local muni here (6900 yds, nice shape bent fairways, 73.4 rating) for $250 a year...but the tee boxes are sloped...so there is always a trade off.

I do believe that simple consumer surplus is at play, though. People who play once a week, or who just play for fun, rather than competitively or with a purpose, will pay more to play golf.

I just think that charging anywhere above $50, unless it is a tour or tour caliber golf course, is not worth it, to me.

To answer the question: Affordable golf is being able to play a challenging (for you) golf course, walking, for under $25, at some time on the weekend (being able to finish!)
[/quote]

I'm with ya!

Affordable golf is deciding to live somewhere that is not considred a major golf destination.

Scottsdale prices peak season for residents

Elite courses
$100-$175
Very good courses
$45-$125 mostly in the $65-$100 range.
Bad to average courses with proud rates there are a whole bunch of these "tourist traps"
$50-$100
Worst courses out here
$35-$50

Divide everything by two and you get your summer rates.

You have to really pay attention to the websites and emails to get good golf at an affordable price out here during the peak season.

There are plenty of good deals for very good courses, but you can also end up paying the same green fee to go play a dog track. There are so many bad courses that charge way to much and if your a first timer to the area you can really get taken or miss out on playing a much better course for the same price.

I've always had the mentality that I'd rather play twice at a lower end course over once at a better one. I rarely have played courses that cost more than $40. As long as they're in decent shape I'm happy. Heck, even my club that includes two courses is only $135 a month including ranges, pools, tennis, etc.

I've also always been disappointed with high end courses. Sure the grass is in great shape and they may have been designed by a high end guy, but I just don't see a ton of difference. Maybe I'm just not good enough to enjoy the subtle differences

Golf is Central Oregon is a total rip IMO. There are some decent twighlights and a couple of munis that are affordable but for the most part it is $75 and up for a good round after it is all said and done......

[color=#1C2837][quote]Here in Omaha, NE (prices w/o carts - I walk 99% of the time):

Good Muni's - $25-$30 (some decent courses in this range)
"Okay" Public Courses - $25-$30
"Nicer" Public Courses - $30-$40
"Higher End" Public Courses - $40-$60

Twilight (for courses that offer it): $10[/quote][/color]
[color="#1C2837"]
[/color]
[color="#1C2837"]I do love the affordability of golf in Omaha. The winter always seems too long though.[/color]

[quote] What is Affordable Golf?[/quote]
Mini.

I think the answer to the OP's question is entirely related to age, and station in life. Courses that seem affordable to me , at this time, I most likely would have thought to be too expensive 10 or 15 years ago, and with todays economic turbulence, may again think are too costly in the future. It's all relative, and price alone does not make the golf better, as some of my best memories are playing on goat tracks, 20 years ago, when I first started to take up this game.