Mike Davis from USGA just said average 18-hole round cost $26

[duffer888]

I'd agree, water and environmental sustainability are the biggest threats to golf. Even more so here in SoCal nowadays with the multi-year drought and all.

[Startzel]

I pay $11 to walk 18.

[The Arsenal]

My local municipal course is $40 for 18 walking, but the course is fantastic.

[The Arsenal]

[quote name='Startzel' timestamp='1431319684' post='11536254']
I pay $11 to walk 18.
[/quote]Startzel, you have my sympathies...Liverpool will bounce back into the CL next year.

[marmooskapaul]

Golf is cheap in E.C. Indiana. I have a dual membership at two courses...400$ for both and walk for free or ride $14. All other courses within 1/2 hour can be had for 30$ or less. These are not top golf courses in the state..by any means..but are well taken care of and very playable. If a person can't afford 20$ for 18 holes..golf probably isn't for you...at this time.
Paul

[winnddyy]

[quote name='ATAlxndr' timestamp='1430928410' post='11510155']
With all the deals floating around I haven't paid over $30 for a round in over a year. Even $70/$80 dollar rounds can be found for less than $30 at the right times. In the DFW area, 90% of the courses can be played for under $30. The course I frequent the most is about $28 everytime.
[/quote]
I live and play in DFW area too and weekend golf generally cost about $65-$70 with cart; walking will be about $20 less. Dust fee is cheaper but still in the $40 range, with cart.
Which course do you play most frequently?

[CosmosMpower]

DFW, TX I'd say average round at a decent course is 30-45 around 11 AM onwards. If you're talking weekend before noon more like 50-80.

If anything will kill golf it's idiots with no etiquette and 5+ hour rounds.

[TMBob]

It's clear that he has visited more than just Chambers Bay while in the state of Washington.

$26 will get you a bucket of balls and a 1/2 Cart.

Have another puff Mike

[tjumper78]

$26 sounds unreal to me.
i am in north new jersey and the county courses cost me $35 to walk on weekends. a gast cart would cost me another $24. the cheapest would be $25 or $28 for weekday twilights. other courses cost $50 on average.

[Startzel]

[quote name='tjumper78' timestamp='1431354534' post='11537430']
$26 sounds unreal to me.
i am in north new jersey and the county courses cost me $35 to walk on weekends. a gast cart would cost me another $24. the cheapest would be $25 or $28 for weekday twilights. other courses cost $50 on average.
[/quote]

$35 is only $9 more per round. The northeast will be one of the most expensive regions so that difference is easily balanced out. That's how averages work.

[CrabDaddy]

[quote name='Startzel' timestamp='1431361878' post='11538386']
[quote name='tjumper78' timestamp='1431354534' post='11537430']
$26 sounds unreal to me.
i am in north new jersey and the county courses cost me $35 to walk on weekends. a gast cart would cost me another $24. the cheapest would be $25 or $28 for weekday twilights. other courses cost $50 on average.
[/quote]

$35 is only $9 more per round. The northeast will be one of the most expensive regions so that difference is easily balanced out. That's how averages work.
[/quote]
You [i]could[/i] balance out a $35 round if you could find a $17 round somewhere. How about the $50 round? Not too many $2 greens fees out there. Most of the [i]lower[/i] prices presented in this thread are close to Mike Davis' [i]average[/i]. There would have to be a disproportionately huge number of cheap courses for Davis' math to work out.
For every $100 round, there needs to be 12 $20 rounds to average out to $26. Does that sound like reality?

I just quickly looked on a booking site for Myrtle Beach - 66 courses listed, $43 - $194. Thirteen courses > $100. How many $15-$20 rounds does it take to average that out to $26?

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='CrabDaddy' timestamp='1431373221' post='11539644']
You [i]could[/i] balance out a $35 round if you could find a $17 round somewhere. How about the $50 round? Not too many $2 greens fees out there. Most of the [i]lower[/i] prices presented in this thread are close to Mike Davis' [i]average[/i]. There would have to be a disproportionately huge number of cheap courses for Davis' math to work out.
For every $100 round, there needs to be 12 $20 rounds to average out to $26. Does that sound like reality?

I just quickly looked on a booking site for Myrtle Beach - 66 courses listed, $43 - $194. Thirteen courses > $100. How many $15-$20 rounds does it take to average that out to $26?
[/quote]

You may want to consider that most areas around this country are not tourist destinations or major metros with higher prices.

While $26 is perhaps a few dollars to low for an average in my region, $30 gives you plenty of good quality choices in western New York without a cart.
During the week $26 or even a bit less is easy without a cart.

[Argonne69]

$20 (w/ cart) to play at 12:50 pm tomorrow at Mystic Hills in Culver, IN. The course is on the Pete Dye Trail in Indiana. As many have noted, if you venture away from the heavily populated areas, and play mid-week, and there are plenty of value-oriented rounds to be had. Mike Davis never said one was going to find $26 rounds in Scottsdale in January.

[PooN]

I have played 100's of rounds in the past couple of years of quality golf for >$30

I play for an average of $26 per round (18 riding) using GolfNow's "Hot Deals"... but there are usually only 1 or 2 teetimes in the mid-to-late afternoon timeslot per course, so you have to be flexible with your time. I am self-employed so I can usually get out when needed during the week to golf these teetimes.

[CrabDaddy]

[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1431374187' post='11539742'][quote name='CrabDaddy' timestamp='1431373221' post='11539644']
You [i]could[/i] balance out a $35 round if you could find a $17 round somewhere. How about the $50 round? Not too many $2 greens fees out there. Most of the [i]lower[/i] prices presented in this thread are close to Mike Davis' [i]average[/i]. There would have to be a disproportionately huge number of cheap courses for Davis' math to work out.
For every $100 round, there needs to be 12 $20 rounds to average out to $26. Does that sound like reality?

I just quickly looked on a booking site for Myrtle Beach - 66 courses listed, $43 - $194. Thirteen courses > $100. How many $15-$20 rounds does it take to average that out to $26?
[/quote]

You may want to consider that most areas around this country are not tourist destinations or major metros with higher prices.

While $26 is perhaps a few dollars to low for an average in my region, $30 gives you plenty of good quality choices in western New York without a cart.
During the week $26 or even a bit less is easy without a cart.[/quote]
I used MB just because it was quick. But, those are real prices that have to be factored into the average. For many areas of the country, ~$26 would be a legitimate figure, but not for a national average. My point was to illustrate how skewed a distribution would have to be for that $26 to truly be the mean price/round.
And, to the larger point, the USGA loses credibility, if they're going to say that with a straight face.

[golfcarte]

well, believe it or not, today i played 18 holes w/cart for $20, with a hotdog, bag of chips, and a pepsi at the turn...

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='CrabDaddy' timestamp='1431382230' post='11540636']
[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1431374187' post='11539742'][quote name='CrabDaddy' timestamp='1431373221' post='11539644']
You [i]could[/i] balance out a $35 round if you could find a $17 round somewhere. How about the $50 round? Not too many $2 greens fees out there. Most of the [i]lower[/i] prices presented in this thread are close to Mike Davis' [i]average[/i]. There would have to be a disproportionately huge number of cheap courses for Davis' math to work out.
For every $100 round, there needs to be 12 $20 rounds to average out to $26. Does that sound like reality?

I just quickly looked on a booking site for Myrtle Beach - 66 courses listed, $43 - $194. Thirteen courses > $100. How many $15-$20 rounds does it take to average that out to $26?
[/quote]

You may want to consider that most areas around this country are not tourist destinations or major metros with higher prices.

While $26 is perhaps a few dollars to low for an average in my region, $30 gives you plenty of good quality choices in western New York without a cart.
During the week $26 or even a bit less is easy without a cart.[/quote]
I used MB just because it was quick. But, those are real prices that have to be factored into the average. For many areas of the country, ~$26 would be a legitimate figure, but not for a national average. My point was to illustrate how skewed a distribution would have to be for that $26 to truly be the mean price/round.
And, to the larger point, the USGA loses credibility, if they're going to say that with a straight face.
[/quote]

But don't you think the USGA has access to all the data to determine an average?

I was looking at a muni in my city, a Robert Trent Jones track, and the max for 18 is $17.

Outside of the pricey NE coast, California, Scottsdale, Florida resort areas, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, Myrtle Beach etc,there is much more reasonable pricing. It's a big Country with some 20k courses, most of which aren't in these areas.

[castellar]

My home course (south central PA) is about in line with that. Problem is there is a MANDATORY 20 dollar cart fee. No walking allowed.

[CrabDaddy]

[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1431384176' post='11540814']
[quote name='CrabDaddy' timestamp='1431382230' post='11540636']
[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1431374187' post='11539742'][quote name='CrabDaddy' timestamp='1431373221' post='11539644']
You [i]could[/i] balance out a $35 round if you could find a $17 round somewhere. How about the $50 round? Not too many $2 greens fees out there. Most of the [i]lower[/i] prices presented in this thread are close to Mike Davis' [i]average[/i]. There would have to be a disproportionately huge number of cheap courses for Davis' math to work out.
For every $100 round, there needs to be 12 $20 rounds to average out to $26. Does that sound like reality?

I just quickly looked on a booking site for Myrtle Beach - 66 courses listed, $43 - $194. Thirteen courses > $100. How many $15-$20 rounds does it take to average that out to $26?
[/quote]

You may want to consider that most areas around this country are not tourist destinations or major metros with higher prices.

While $26 is perhaps a few dollars to low for an average in my region, $30 gives you plenty of good quality choices in western New York without a cart.
During the week $26 or even a bit less is easy without a cart.[/quote]
I used MB just because it was quick. But, those are real prices that have to be factored into the average. For many areas of the country, ~$26 would be a legitimate figure, but not for a national average. My point was to illustrate how skewed a distribution would have to be for that $26 to truly be the mean price/round.
And, to the larger point, the USGA loses credibility, if they're going to say that with a straight face.
[/quote]

But don't you think the USGA has access to all the data to determine an average?

I was looking at a muni in my city, a Robert Trent Jones track, and the max for 18 is $17.

[b]Outside of the pricey NE coast, California, Scottsdale, Florida resort areas, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, Myrtle Beach[/b] [color=#ff0000]<-- isn't that where most of the rounds are played ?[/color] etc,there is much more reasonable pricing. It's a big Country with some 20k courses, most of which aren't in these areas.
[/quote]
Of course, they likely have a very comprehensive database. But, as I noted in post 99, depending on how you treat the data, you can calculate a number of different values for the mean. At an average of $26, you have a broad range of values above the mean, with not much room on the downside, i.e. - you can go as high as $300 or so, but you can't go below zero, and, realistically, you're not going below $15 (I'm sure there is an exception). So, from just a numbers perspective, you need an incredible number of values below $26 to offset even a modest number of high priced courses. I'd also like to see if the distribution of courses mirrors the population distribution. It seems intuitive that course density would be higher surrounding metropolitan areas, where greens fees are likely higher and more rounds are played.
I always reserve the right to be wrong, but I'd need to see the data before I believe $26 is a credible estimate. But, I [i]am[/i] sure of two things: I'm jealous of you guys with the <$30 greens fees, and I want whoever did the USGA's calculations as my accountant (I guess until I get audited).

[S.A. OSO]

It could be an average for each course counting as 1 in the calculation, and not weighted based on rounds played by course. If so, then courses in Myrtle Beach would count the same as a courses in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Even though Myrtle Beach courses would get a lot more rounds then Jonesboro courses.

[dadonkey]

18 holes on a cart for a non-member is $28 where I am.

[ecrugger]

I wish courses would just drop the idea of cart fees. Have one price, regardless of whether you are walking or riding.

[duffer987]

[quote name='ecrugger' timestamp='1431445245' post='11545216']
I wish courses would just drop the idea of cart fees. Have one price, regardless of whether you are walking or riding.
[/quote]

Ya no thanks. As a walker, I don't want my greenfee subsidizing cart users.

If you are disabled, wave the cart fee. If you are able bodied stump up and pay the fee, otherwise use your legs.

[ecrugger]

[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1431445736' post='11545262']
[quote name='ecrugger' timestamp='1431445245' post='11545216']
I wish courses would just drop the idea of cart fees. Have one price, regardless of whether you are walking or riding.
[/quote]

Ya no thanks. As a walker, I don't want my greenfee subsidizing cart users.

If you are disabled, wave the cart fee. If you are able bodied stump up and pay the fee, otherwise use your legs.
[/quote]

I agree with you for my personal situation, since I rarely use a cart, but in order to grow the game, let's just make it as simple as possible to understand the costs.

[KYMAR]

Because Greens fee + cart fee= X is creating chaos out there

[Argonne69]

[quote name='KYMAR' timestamp='1431449506' post='11545714']
Because Greens fee + cart fee= X is creating chaos out there
[/quote]

Lol. Well, the U.S. does rank 147th in math skills.

[legitimategolf]

Alls I know now, is that this Mike Davis character has now lost all credibility with me. $26 is a bald faced lie.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='legitimategolf' timestamp='1431450196' post='11545786']
Alls I know now, is that this Mike Davis character has now lost all credibility with me. $26 is a bald faced lie.
[/quote]

Based on what? Where do you play golf? I'd say $26 average without a cart is very realistic for Western NY if you also look at weekdays and afternoon times. The key is without a cart.

Like I've said many times this is a big country and there are far more courses well away from major metros and popular warm weather tourist destinations.

Calling the guy a liar is pretty harsh. I'm sure anyone questioning this state could write the USGA for clarification.

[ecrugger]

[quote name='KYMAR' timestamp='1431449506' post='11545714']
Because Greens fee + cart fee= X is creating chaos out there
[/quote]

It's not the basic math skills that are the problem. It's the fact that it gives the average person the feeling that they are being nickel and dimed to death. Based on my experience, most people who don't play regularly want to ride in carts. They don't understand this idea that playing golf only costs $30/round, but riding in the cart costs an additional $20. That just makes it seem like the golf course is ripping them off.

[Argonne69]

[quote name='ecrugger' timestamp='1431456365' post='11546454']
[quote name='KYMAR' timestamp='1431449506' post='11545714']
Because Greens fee + cart fee= X is creating chaos out there
[/quote]

It's not the basic math skills that are the problem. It's the fact that it gives the average person the feeling that they are being nickel and dimed to death. Based on my experience, most people who don't play regularly want to ride in carts. They don't understand this idea that playing golf only costs $30/round, but riding in the cart costs an additional $20. That just makes it seem like the golf course is ripping them off.
[/quote]

Well, the fact is that the course [i]is [/i]ripping them off. They make boatloads of money on the carts.