Senior rate green fees at age 50?

[puttingmatt]

Why don't all golf course senior rate green fees start at age 50? If 50 years old is good enough for the PGA Senior Tour, a.k.a. Champions Tour, Why the double standard? Your thoughts on this subject?

[ABT]

Municipal coursed in Dallas area start at 50.

[apprenti23]

At what age are you eligible to receive Social Security? 62 1/2? 65?

That's why most senior rates are 60+ it has NOTHING to do with the age of Senior Tour players... Senior Tour starts at age 50 because that's about the age when most professional golfers can't compete on the PGA Tour anymore.

[puttingmatt]

Exactly my point, If the PGA recognizes that 50 year olds can't compete on the regular tour, Why
don't more golf courses lower their rates for 50 plus old players. And the way the government keeps
raising the age for social security, that would mean that most players won't make it, if that is the
criteria that determines green fee rates. I know alot of 50 year old retirees that would benefit health
wise if they were able to walk and play more golf.

[KYMAR]

I'm not sure the champions tour (senior tour) age requirement is the best measure of what golf courses should charge. If the Champ tour eligibility was 65 no one would watch it.

[morganmonroe]

Most 50 year-olds are still working.

[apprenti23]

this is my point... most people who are eligible to play during the week (retirees) when most senior rates apply are 60+ years old. Most 50-55 year olds are still working which was posted above; henceforth the senior rates...


I, for one, am totally against senior discounts on golf courses. One of the reasons is because of social security which isn't their (seniors) fault but they're getting it. I'm 25 years old and have been paying in to social security for 9 years. I will pay in to it until it no longer exists. Yet, I will never see a dime from that.

The other reason I'm against senior discounts is that if i want to go play on a monday at say 9am, 10 minutes in front or 10 minutes behind a group of geriatrics, I should be able to get it for the same price regardless of my age. I find that chauvinistic and discriminatory.

[morganmonroe]

[quote name='apprenti23 ' post='2122110' date='Dec 13 2009, 09:19 AM']if i want to go play on a monday at say 9am, 10 minutes in front or 10 minutes behind a group of geriatrics, I should be able to get it for the same price regardless of my age. I find that chauvinistic and discriminatory.[/quote]

Those geriatrics might be retired and now on a fixed income. If you're 25, you can work more or maybe get some OT or maybe a promotion, a raise or even another job. All those doors are closed for them. Money might be very tight. If a course didn't offer a discount, they might not play at all and the course would sit. McDonald's does the same thing, and many places take AARP cards. I pay full price too, but I'm 50 and AARP has already found me.

That said, I'd rather be young and pay full price than be 65 and get a discount. If you don't follow that, you will.

[dannyl]

I agree with you. If not at age 50, at least, by 55.

[8thehardway]

The answer is... money. There's no benefit to incentivise golfers in their 50s - for every one a discount lures to the course owners would forgo full price on 20 who would have played anyway. The same reasoning is why NJ municipal courses only offer a senior discount on weekdays, why twilight rates don't take effect an hour earlier and why Myrtle Beach courses offer you a free round if you bring 16 golfers but not four.

[wrmiller]

Here in Tucson, AZ the munis give senior discounts starting at 55. I'm there in March next year. Won't save much, but it helps.

[wkuo3]

If I could make more $$$, I would not mind pay a little more for green fees.