Price of round with punched greens

[WestCoastGolf]

What is your take on playing a course with punched greens, specifically the course charging full price for the round? Played a course over the weekend that had punched there greens that week. Didn't notice it at first, but then came to the realization they charged regular price to play the course with greens that had been punched only a few days prior.

[golfpramparo]

Good topic, I hate when that happens. And much more when they don't tell you while booking your tee time.

My opinion is that golf courses with punched greens should charge at least half price and/or warn you ahead so you can make a decision.

 

It happened to me many times that they didn't even warn me before paying the green fee and found out on the first green.... 😠

 

 

 

[Abh159]

Courses can do whatever they want, but my opinion is that they shouldn't charge full price for at least the 2-week period after they punch the greens. Part of the responsibility is on the course to make players aware of the greens, but part is also on the golfer.

 

If I ever make a tee time for at another course I make sure to ask about their aeration schedule if I know its that time of year. 

[dugue4]

All of the courses I've played put the green punching schedule on their website.  If the info is out there, I think they have done their part, but it doesn't take much for the guy in the pro shop to remind the player.

[caniac6]

I used to be a member at a semi private club, and I heard the pro tell guys about punched greens many times. 

[MtlJeff]

it's annoying but this is something that at least around here has been happening forever. Courses i think just want your business and go with the age old "take your money and ask for forgiveness later" theory

 

I've been told maybe 1-2 times in 15 years by a course that they had either punched greens or otherwise problematic stuff (like temporary greens after winter etc)

 

Yup, it sucks.

 

 

[vbb]

I think they should notify people when the tee time is booked, or at the bare minimum, when you check in for the day. As far as offering a "punched green discount" I believe economics will take care of that...if they are having trouble filling the tee sheet, offering a discount to entice more people to play is a good way to earn revenue. However, at least in my area, due to the influx of play post March 2020 (Covid) courses have not offered discounts on barely anything because they are getting full price customers.

 

For me, it gives me another thing to blame my poor play on, haha.

[dropkicked]

The tracks I frequent and my club also post there aeration dates in advance.. I avoid playing when this happens..  🙂

[Ghostwedge]

That's poor PR  in my book. A course of staff person should always let players know about punched greens before they pay the green fee.

How about driving 60 miles to play a course you played the week before and then going back the next week to find an all day scramble tournament going ?

 

Nothing was posted prior. Lesson learned, call ahead EVERY time.

[cgasucks]

The courses that I play at don't really announce punching of greens on their website or social media.  I usually find out when I pay my green fee at the pro shop and almost always get a discount before I tee off.

[Dbigman501]

Gents, forgive me, but if only to add a couple degrees of separation in terms of view point, am I the only one who secretly says "Score!!" When told - Hello Sir, there's 50% off green fees today due to punching of the greens.

 

Agree with the previous posts of course, but maybe there is room to discuss what is the sweet spot between sneakily charging 100% and 50% for the next 14 days. Peace out.

[PJE]

I think I'm in the minority. I play a lot of muni courses and their viability is partially dependent upon at least breaking even.  In my area, City Council persons whine about water use and urging alternative uses for expensive real estate occupied by golf courses.  It's expensive to maintain a course so if the fees are not changed for maintenance like aeration, I am okay with it. 

I agree it is nice when notice of aeration is posted on the course's website or at least on the front door of the pro shop. 

[LBB]

I feel that golf courses should publish their aeration schedules anytime they take a tee time reservation.  Whether it's posted online before selecting your dates, or when you call, the pro shop should remind you if you're making a time during the aeration or recovery period.  

 

I know in reality, some courses will post their schedule online, and some pro shop workers will mention something...but not all websites or pro shop workers will...so I always ask when in doubt.  I always prefer to get the actual date of aeration rather than asking a yes/no question of "did you recently aerate?"  I rather make my own determination of whether or not the greens have "recovered" and whether that particular course is still "worth it" if it was 1, 2, 3 weeks ago.

 

Whether a course offers a discount is up the them.  So long as they disclose to me that there will be aeration, it is up to me to decide whether I need a discount or not to continue with the reservation at that course.  Some courses use the slicing (not sure if that's the right term) method and the greens are sandy, but still roll well within a week.  Others the greens are still bumpy nearly 4 weeks later.

 

I think asking for, or expecting a discount the day you show up is only valid if the pro shop or online schedule told you there wouldn't be aeration and they changed it without notifying you.

[lefthack]

The courses I frequent post it on the site usually and the fees are reduced. That would be a bit of a shock to roll up to after paying full price.

[jdl]

I've learned to check the web site or ask when booking when it gets to the green punching time of year. It also depends on the type of "punch" used, some of the smaller punch types will recover really quickly but the full core sample types with dressing will definitely take a few weeks. Just avoid those courses....

[mallrat]

We put the punching info on our website and list the rounds for full price. Now once you get to the course they only charge you half price. Listing the rounds at full price keeps play down a bit and keeps some of the guys who beat the snot out of the course away. 

[smashdn]

22 hours ago, dugue4 said:

All of the courses I've played put the green punching schedule on their website.  If the info is out there, I think they have done their part, but it doesn't take much for the guy in the pro shop to remind the player.

 

That has been my experience as well.  They are going to charge the normal rack rate.  Website/facebooks have the aeration schedule.  Even the big marker board, two month calendar has it for the regulars to see it in the pro shop.