Same rate to walk or ride??

[PopeofTexas]

I've started walking golf courses with my push cart the past couple of years as opposed to my previous 25 years of golf spent riding 99% of the time. Love the exercise and I also love to save the money on the cart. Called up one of the public courses in town and asked what their twilight walking rate was and they said "Same price as riding." Huh. Am I crazy or is that unusual? Please let me know if I'm being a baby for letting that get under my skin.

[North Butte]

It costs what it costs. If it costs you 30 bucks to play walking, why does it matter to you whether a cart riders pays $30 or $300? Doesn’t affect you either way.

[PopeofTexas]

> @"North Butte" said:

> It costs what it costs. If it costs you 30 bucks to play walking, why does it matter to you whether a cart riders pays $30 or $300? Doesn’t affect you either way.

 

True, I kind of assumed though that the price of the cart is baked into the rate. My main question though is, is this common practice?

[jvincent]

I wouldn't say it's common, but it's not uncommon to see that.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Sometimes I’ve found a course will have a twilight special (or just regular twilight rate) that’s $20 with cart. The way they advertise it is $20 to play w/ free cart after X:00. So you can take the “special” at $20 or pay normal twilight walk rate of $30. (And it is expected that everyone take the cart rate and then just opt to leave the cart.

 

In my area (Sf bay-East bay), it’s pretty common.

[davep043]

I've seen a number of different ways to handle this. Some places charge per rider, some charge per cart, no matter if its one or two riders, and some have a single rate that includes a cart, whether you choose to use one or not. At my home club, members are charged per person, but the guest fee includes a cart whether you use it or now. I know at MidPines in NC you're allowed to walk, even to borrow one of their 3-wheel trolleys, but there's no discount for not using a cart. My suggestion, don't worry about anyone else, just look at the price for you to play, and decide if its worth it.

[gioguy21]

i've asked a local course around here the same question (i usually always walk/pushcart). the response i got was this (paraphrased of course): "during twilight/super-twilight we tend to get less golfers b/c there is less of a chance of getting all 18 holes in. In order to help them get more holes in, we offer the cart at no cost. helps us get more people out and on the course and doesn't leave them stranded on out holes if it gets dark"

[PopeofTexas]

Appreciate the responses gents. I'm really just trying to play the maximum amount of golf for my money, I don't have anything against the riders paying the same rate at all, just felt to me the course was either trying to discourage walking or maximize profits, nothing wrong with either necessarily.

[el_b00t]

Most of the public courses near me offer free carts on certain days. For instance, Wednesday and Thursday at our muni is only $25 for 18 + cart. Tuesday and Thursday is the same at a course a few minutes away. These rates usually start after 1pm.

[jacob7071]

OP, I'm with you. I'd rather walk with my push cart. I get the exercise, and it doesn't hurt my knees like running does. As for courses charging the same rate for walking and riding, it seems more prevalent now that it used to. The frugal accountant in me doesn't like it. It's like courses started to realize if they give you the option, some people won't pay for the cart. All I can do about it is support the courses that still give me the option.

 

Oh, and Sic 'Em Bears!

[PopeofTexas]

> @jacob7071 said:

> OP, I'm with you. I'd rather walk with my push cart. I get the exercise, and it doesn't hurt my knees like running does. As for courses charging the same rate for walking and riding, it seems more prevalent now that it used to. The frugal accountant in me doesn't like it. It's like courses started to realize if they give you the option, some people won't pay for the cart. All I can do about it is support the courses that still give me the option.

>

> Oh, and Sic 'Em Bears!

 

Right there with you on all fronts dude! Sic 'Em!

[sprcoop]

Follow the money, it's all about profit one way or another or the bean counters aren't doing their job. And that's fine. I'd rather that than have them closing.

 

Carl's Junior used to have the Famous Star for x amount and add some change if you want cheese. I hate cheese on my burger. A few years ago they raised the price and cheese was standard so you have to specify no cheese but costs the same. So basically they only sell burgers at the cheese burger price. What really torques me is when I end up with cheese anyway, inedible.

[lookylookitzadam]

Almost all the courses I play in SoCal offer no discount if you opt to walk instead of ride; the exception being Torrey.

[Bonneville85308]

Within the past 5-6 years, I can think of at least 3 public courses within 25 miles that have gone from having separate walk/ride rates on weekends to having just one higher rate that includes a cart, whether you want to use it or not. At least they allow you to still walk at the higher rate and don't force you to take the cart.

[el_b00t]

I misread the OP and thought he was talking about courses having lowered cart rates. I don’t think any of ours have the same walking or riding rates, unless it’s those free cart days I mentioned. Seems crazy because the price is usually green fee + cart. You would think that you’d never have to pay more than the green fee when walking.

[CMCSGolf]

I have found this to be true in Texas more than any other state I've played a lot in. I've seen it at 5 or so courses in TX this year and maybe 5 time total before in Ohio, Indiana, WI, IL, OR and WA, where I have played about 600 courses. My only guess is that everyone rides in the south anyways due to the heat, so they don't need to accommodate a lower number of walkers? They can squeeze a bit more revenue out of them with only as few complaining.

[PopeofTexas]

> @CMCSGolf said:

> I have found this to be true in Texas more than any other state I've played a lot in. I've seen it at 5 or so courses in TX this year and maybe 5 time total before in Ohio, Indiana, WI, IL, OR and WA, where I have played about 600 courses. My only guess is that everyone rides in the south anyways due to the heat, so they don't need to accommodate a lower number of walkers? They can squeeze a bit more revenue out of them with only as few complaining.

That is very interesting you’ve had that experience in TX. I get some strange reactions when I tell them I’m walking and it’s 100 degrees outside. I think that’s the part that has bugged me, I do feel like it’s them trying to squeeze more money out of me. Then again, I could be considered cheap for wanting to save $7 I guess...

 

[Argonne69]

It's definitely a money grab, but at least the courses still allow one to walk. I hate the courses that require a cart under the crazy notion that it speeds up play, and then you're out there for 4.5+ hours. In the Chicagoland area there are only a handful of courses that charge a single rate, and even fewer that require a cart.

 

[CMCSGolf]

Yeah, I think TX can get away with it because 50% of the courses are unwalkable any time of the year because they are on a mountain or a housing development. Chicago has way fewer courses where walking isn't an option, so I think they probably get more players who ask about it. Since TX is hot and the courses are routing disasters, very few people even considers walking. This also allows them to stick to the mandatory riding and get all the cash as they lie about pace of play.

[MaxBuck]

Never fails to bemuse me when people argue about someone's business model.

 

Don't like it, don't patronize it. Simple as that.

[Warrior42111]

Most courses here in Central FL offer one rate only. In fairness it makes sense, I'm in decent shape and walk 9 on Friday's after work. I'm usually dead by the end of 9 in the summer.

[ArtMBgolf]

It is common now that there is one rate, that includes a cart. Many public courses don't allow

walking or only at certain slow periods. If they allow walking, there is no discount. The only courses I have

that are one price for walking and $15 more for a cart are average muni courses.

[wkuo3]

We have similar situation. Same rate whether you take the golf cart or not.

Most were offered on a few very hilly and distant between the greens and the next tee box. Walking is not being promoted and of course one could opt to walk but no discount on the green fees.

Twilight rate is a promotional rate and reduced already from the regular green fees plus the bonus of golf cart. If you opt to forgo the bonus of golf cart then, it'll be your choice, the golf course will not reduce the rate further if you do that.

Often times the internet special also promote with free cart ride included in the gree fee, same thing there, one pays the same rate whether one take the golf cart or not.

At one of our local golf course ( which is under 6,000 yards and flat ), I often opt to use my push cart and would be fast then my partners when the golf carts have to stay on the cart path.

I absolutely hate walking back and forth from the golf carts parked on the part path carrying several golf clubs each time.

[mcputter]

If you're playing a course that has a 'carts in by __ p.m.' policy, and you choose to walk, then you can keep playing longer. So you've got that going for you.

[CAT GOLFER]

Same in my area, some courses have same rate walking and riding at twilight.

[TheSouthernGentleman]

> @PopeofTexas said:

> I've started walking golf courses with my push cart the past couple of years as opposed to my previous 25 years of golf spent riding 99% of the time. Love the exercise and I also love to save the money on the cart. Called up one of the public courses in town and asked what their twilight walking rate was and they said "Same price as riding." Huh. Am I crazy or is that unusual? Please let me know if I'm being a baby for letting that get under my skin.

 

Well you asked.....

 

yea, you are a baby for letting this get under your skin. With all the problems in the world, people homeless, people without health care, opiate crisis, mass shootings, etc etc and you take the time to whine about something so minuscule. Wonder how you react to something really serious.

 

Golf courses will charge as they like period. Dont like it, don't play. Take up knitting, then you would probably find something to complain about with that also.

 

[PopeofTexas]

LOL. You kicked it up a notch there buddy. The irony of your screen name is lost to no one.

[TheSouthernGentleman]

> @PopeofTexas said:

> LOL. You kicked it up a notch there buddy. The irony of your screen name is lost to no one.

 

Dude, you asked. you received. BOO HOO HOO, where can we send the hanky to wipe the tears rolling down your cute rosy cheeks?

[tatertot]

> @TheSouthernGentleman said:

> > @PopeofTexas said:

> > I've started walking golf courses with my push cart the past couple of years as opposed to my previous 25 years of golf spent riding 99% of the time. Love the exercise and I also love to save the money on the cart. Called up one of the public courses in town and asked what their twilight walking rate was and they said "Same price as riding." Huh. Am I crazy or is that unusual? Please let me know if I'm being a baby for letting that get under my skin.

>

> Well you asked.....

>

> yea, you are a baby for letting this get under your skin. With all the problems in the world, people homeless, people without health care, opiate crisis, mass shootings, etc etc and you take the time to whine about something so minuscule. Wonder how you react to something really serious.

>

> Golf courses will charge as they like period. Dont like it, don't play. Take up knitting, then you would probably find something to complain about with that also.

>

 

Maybe a golf forum isn't the place for you. We talk about, you know, golf stuff, here. If you think it's below you, go somewhere else.

 

The reason some places charge like this, is many "pros" or management companies make a substantial amount of their income from cart rentals. Depending on how management is arranged, cart and green fees may not be separated for some purpose.

[tatertot]

> @TheSouthernGentleman said:

> > @PopeofTexas said:

> > LOL. You kicked it up a notch there buddy. The irony of your screen name is lost to no one.

>

> Dude, you asked. you received. BOO HOO HOO, where can we send the hanky to wipe the tears rolling down your cute rosy cheeks?

 

20 posts in? Yeah, you're a valuable addition to the GolfWRX universe.