Have green fees increased in your area?

[bgdubba]

In my area green fees for even average courses are over $50 for morning tee times. There are no real deals to be found. All of the courses are packed. I’m wondering if the limitations due to COVID are encouraging more people to play more rounds of golf. Anyone else noticing higher prices and limited availability on your local courses?

[Bonneville85308]

The courses in my area are generally busier than last year (and this is our off-season). Rates are up just about everywhere here, anywhere from a dollar or two at the low end courses to $10-15+ at the high end courses. I tend to book my tee times 1-2 weeks out or whenever the tee sheet opens at a particular course so I am not having any trouble with availability. I know if you try to book a last minute (1-2 days out) weekend morning tee time at many courses now, there isn't anything left unless you are a single, and that used to not be the case. Last year I played a lot during the week at 3-4pm when it's 105-110 degrees out and the courses were absolutely empty and I could fly around not waiting once, the few times I tried it this summer I caught foursomes.

[DavePelz4]

In the Chicago area, green fees are up probably 5-10% but what I've also noticed is that ranges are generally full. Driving home I go past 2 ranges with 20-30 hitting areas and they are filled.

[cristphoto]

I'm at a private club so dues have remained the same but I have noticed our course is much busier than normal. Possibly because people are working from home so its easier to incorporate a round of golf in their day.

 

Edit:  The couple times I've gone with friend to play public courses they tell me many courses raised their rates the amount of one cart fee to offset the single-player carts.

Edited September 23, 2020 by cristphoto

[blitzgolf]

Green fees about the same. Cart fees are now per person as they charge by the cart and allow 1 rider most places. 

[garyt]

Golf is booming here in Mi. Rates are up about 10%. I'm retired and play with a 4some on Thursday mornings. We used to get to the course and there might be two cars in the lot. We'd tee off around 8:30 and not see any other people. Even at the turn, the lot was pretty empty. Now , groups are lined up before ius at 8:30 and the places are packed all day.

[ScottF]

At one of the courses I’ve been playing in Northwest Indiana, the fall rates have kicked in and a senior, riding a cart on a weekday, is only $21. Played there yesterday, course was pretty full but we had no problem booking the 10:15 tee time just the afternoon before.

[golfandtennisfan]

Courses are definitely busier but no real price increases. A few courses charge extra if you want a single cart but most are back to two per cart. That could surcharge could be more widespread if this event lasts into next summer though fingers crossed. 

[Sean2]

Fortunately, the greens fees have remained the same on the courses I play. 

[Warrior42111]

About to go up in in FL for prime season 😭

 

But during the spring and summer most courses were the same prices as before. I think I'm lucky to have about 8-9 courses within a 30min drive so they have to compete among themselves

[Roody]

I'm at a private club, so the price is what it is. But we previously had a no tee times system before this year. You just showed up when you wanted, and if there was a line you waited. 

Now with Covid, they had to implement a tee time system this year. And the tee sheet has been jammed every single day this summer. They release the tee sheet 6 days in advance at 8:00 am, and it's a mad rush to get early tee times. I'm always on there at 7:59 am spamming up the refresh button. If I forget to get my tee time right as the sheet opens (like, say I get on there at 8:10), I'm usually looking at a 10:30 or later tee time. 

Edited October 8, 2020 by Roody

[zachillusions]

My home club is actually struggling right now so greens fees have decreased for members. Its a private club but COVID has really hit them hard and as a result they're struggling financially and have opened up to the public this past month for around $36.

 

The local public course prices have increased slightly. Not really a whole lot busier than usual though.

[FlyingAce]

I belong to a private club and dues have stayed the same. The tee sheet is full everyday and almost impossible to get a morning tee time on weekends unless you are buddies with the club pro. I used to be able to walk on anytime during the week but not anymore. I quit this club because of the crowds and joined another club 30mins away that I can walk on anytime and play as a single during the week. I still need a tee time on the weekends but I am able to secure the first tee time every weekend for the rest of the season.

[lefty1978]

I belong to a private club, green fees are included in monthly. If you want a cart its $19. Membership is up and fairly busy on the weekends. I can still get out, nothing like the public courses around me. There is a nice semi private/public close by that has been slammed since covid, all tee times booked in the weekends and weekdays are really busy as well. Prices have seemed to go up on prime times for publics. 

Edited October 11, 2020 by lefty1978

[fly44]

I've played around a bunch of places around Chicago this year. A few courses have really spiked their rates but I think most have generally stayed around the same. I think most courses could have raised their prices a little and gotten away with it easily. Last week it was tough to find tee times at an above average course during the week and especially on weekends. 

Edited October 14, 2020 by fly44