Courses Charging a 5 year old to play???

[pianoman0123]

So my normal course was closed today for some maintenance and I wanted to take my little man out to play a few holes... however, to my dismay I called a few of the other courses in the area and they all wanted around $30 bucks for him to play... is this normal??? I know when I was living in Myrtle we used to NEVER charge a Junior under the age of 12... guess times have changed???

[TheBoomer]

That is not normal and pretty ridiculous.


MB

[jswaykos]

Ridiculous. And people wonder why golf isn't popular with the younger crowds. When I was in high school in Monterey, some VERY nice courses allowed FREE junior play after twilight. Junior being under 18, of course. To charge for a five year old is silly.

[skinny99]

Ridiculous. And they wonder their badly run golf courses are failing!

[Shipwreck]

At the local muni's here they charge juniors like $3 for 9 holes. Next to free, you can't beat that.

[Mizgoodie]

To be honest i don't see the problem , he is using the course the same as an adult.... then you have to come up with arbitrary number at which you start charging.. why do you think he should get to play for free?

[mhk5000]

Did you say multiple courses wanted to charge? Where is this? I say not normal at all. I guess with today's kids earning millions on tour some courses want to cash in some way or another!

[skinny99]

[quote name='Mizgoodie' timestamp='1311875983' post='3431756']
To be honest i don't see the problem , he is using the course the same as an adult.... then you have to come up with arbitrary number at which you start charging.. why do you think he should get to play for free?
[/quote]
I will take a shot. I might look like a fool though.

OP did you play golf at any of these courses? Did you take you son and pay for him?

[Br1an02;]

I don't really see the problem either. All the courses around me charge juniors as well. Granted, it's next to nothing but still golf is a business. Courses need to make money, and last time I checked, Congo River isn't free for juniors, either.

[bazinky]

That leaves me a bit speechless. I just got back from a week at Sea Pines in Hilton Head, and kids under 12 played for free at both the ocean Course and Heron Point, as long as there was an accompanying paid adult. The only course where kids couldn't play for free was Harbour Town, but I think that's just cause they don't want any kids playing there.

BTW, I think there is a big difference between a five year-old hitting a few balls with Dad, than a 14-year-old junior who's probably playing a full 18 ...

[mikpga]

Most courses will have junior rates...

[dk10]

It would be ridiculous any other month but last time i checked this month is still family golf month......

[pianoman0123]

[quote name='skinny99' timestamp='1311876614' post='3431787']
[quote name='Mizgoodie' timestamp='1311875983' post='3431756']
To be honest i don't see the problem , he is using the course the same as an adult.... then you have to come up with arbitrary number at which you start charging.. why do you think he should get to play for free?
[/quote]
I will take a shot. I might look like a fool though.

OP did you play golf at any of these courses? Did you take you son and pay for him?
[/quote]

I have played these course before... but NO, I did not take him and Pay $30 bucks for him to hit it 60 yds... He enjoys it and is starting to hit it pretty well, but I'm not going to pay for him to play when the best course in the area NEVER charges him... I think he should play for free because it's great for the game to allow Juniors to get started... as stated earlier, I have no problem paying when he's 12 or so and actually understands the game. Certainly not looking for a free ride... I just found this odd since as I stated above, when I worked in the business in Myrtle Beach, kids under 12 played nearly, if not ALL of the courses for free...

[Rich]

My local courses will charge me a junior rate on my 7 year old, but my 4 year old is free. She just rides around in the cart mostly anyway.

[pianoman0123]

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1311878650' post='3431900']
My local courses will charge me a junior rate on my 7 year old, but my 4 year old is free. She just rides around in the cart mostly anyway.
[/quote]

Junior Rate I can kinda understand too... but they were wanting the same rate that I pay at two of the three I called...

[albatrosser]

maybe that course has had some dads out there with their young children like we used to have at my local course....

Dad's that don't make their kids pick up and move on and allow them to "play the hole out", slowing down the course for everyone else.

I'm all for kids playing golf, but when they're under say 8-10 years old, have some common courtesy and remember the etiquette that golf was founded on. I have no problem with kids on the course as long as they're keeping up the pace of play (and that would be DAD's responsibility).

[skinny99]

[quote name='pianoman0123' timestamp='1311878473' post='3431889']
[quote name='skinny99' timestamp='1311876614' post='3431787']
[quote name='Mizgoodie' timestamp='1311875983' post='3431756']
To be honest i don't see the problem , he is using the course the same as an adult.... then you have to come up with arbitrary number at which you start charging.. why do you think he should get to play for free?
[/quote]
I will take a shot. I might look like a fool though.

OP did you play golf at any of these courses? Did you take you son and pay for him?
[/quote]

I have played these course before... but NO, I did not take him and Pay $30 bucks for him to hit it 60 yds... He enjoys it and is starting to hit it pretty well, but I'm not going to pay for him to play when the best course in the area NEVER charges him... I think he should play for free because it's great for the game to allow Juniors to get started... as stated earlier, I have no problem paying when he's 12 or so and actually understands the game. Certainly not looking for a free ride... I just found this odd since as I stated above, when I worked in the business in Myrtle Beach, kids under 12 played nearly, if not ALL of the courses for free...
[/quote]

I rest my case. So instead of spending his $30 green fee plus the treat he was gonna have to buy his son in the snack bar he kept his money in his checking account. Who won this this battle? Who is winning the war?

[pianoman0123]

maybe that course has had some dads out there with their young children like we used to have at my local course....

 

Dad's that don't make their kids pick up and move on and allow them to "play the hole out", slowing down the course for everyone else.

 

I'm all for kids playing golf, but when they're under say 8-10 years old, have some common courtesy and remember the etiquette that golf was founded on. I have no problem with kids on the course as long as they're keeping up the pace of play (and that would be DAD's responsibility).

 

One of the courses we were going to go to probably had 20 players all day if that... it's a ranch with holes but my son wouldn't have known the difference...but I digress, it is what it is... I will just take all of my business to the course I KNOW will let him play and enjoy the game, and while there this Dad will be responsible and make sure we keep up with the groups ahead...

[szuba80]

my course charges my 4 yr old 10$ to play.........stupid

[GP300]

That is absurd, they lost alot more than $30 by having that policy. I remember a course I played had a sign that it was $1 per year old the kid was up to 16yo (with paying adult) and considering it was $50 to play 18 I thought that was fair enough deal but charging $30 for a "little man" is ludicrous.

[oneunderbogey]

I started playing when I was like 8 and if i remember correctly my dad paid something everywhere we went, usually not a lot but something for sure. Our biggest issue was some places wouldnt let you on the course till you were 13+ for liability reasons.

[TheDuckofDeath]

I went to my old course, and the head pro wondered what happened to me. I explained that I joined another course because his assistant charged me the $17"rider fee" for my then 7yr old to ride with me, and maybe play a couple of holes. My new course not only does'nt charge for under 13yr olds, they have a sixth tee box just for sub-juniors. The pro tried to explain how they needed the extra revenue, and I explained that he lost over $300 per month of my revenue because of trying to make $17.

[jwfgolfpro]

[quote name='pianoman0123' timestamp='1311874564' post='3431677']
So my normal course was closed today for some maintenance and I wanted to take my little man out to play a few holes... however, to my dismay I called a few of the other courses in the area and they all wanted around $30 bucks for him to play... is this normal??? I know when I was living in Myrtle we used to NEVER charge a Junior under the age of 12... guess times have changed???
[/quote]

We have a program called "Kids Play Free".

Weekdays after 6pm and Weekends after 4pm with a regular paying adult.

We also offer 1/2 Price Green Fees Weekdays 10am - 1pm to the kids in our Junior Golf Program

We don't allow them to play in prime times unless they are willing to pay for the spot.

We are a Semi-Private facility located in the midwest.

JWF

[pingfool]

couple things...

some might say 5yr olds dont belong @ certain golf courses.
charging $30 may just be another way of communicating the same message.

why not shop around and find a "kid-friendly" golf course?
plenty of executive (par3 courses) that cater to juniors & beginners.
pick a place thats appropriate for your son - not yourself.

btw, i have 11 & 14yr old golfers in the family and take them on the course when its appropriate -- relative to time of day & courtesy to others.

[brentk14]

I usually take my 4 year old son out once a month and I end up renting a cart for us, because 18 would just wear him out. The 3 courses I usually play have no problem with him, and don't charge me for the his share of the cart or anything. He usually takes about 15 swings the whole day. Usually every other tee shot, and usually if we are waiting for a group in front of us he'll hit a ball or two. He doesn't slow anything up at all, But a couple weeks ago, we went to another course in the area, and after 9 holes the guy from the club house says "I didn't charge you for him, so he can't be hitting balls. If he does, you'll have to pay for him." I was pretty confused, it is not like he is out playing. The more I thought about it, the more upset I got. I was not about to tell him that he couldn't hit balls while we were playing, and figured if they want to charge me, then someone higher up will have to chat with me. Probably won't be going back there again. I really don't think kids under 10 should have to pay anything. Your trying to get more people in the game, and so make it worth it to bring kids out. I also like the idea of the $1 per year old.

[MMB1500]

Outrageous. You should have told them to stick it. This is the sort of thing that gives golf a bad name and puts kids off playing. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[Rich]

re: "keeping things moving", when I take my 7 year old golfing, we both play off the forward tee and semi-scramble it. A lot of the time he shoots straighter than I do anyway!

[Greenie]

I play quite a few different courses. Back when my daughter was around 7 she showed some interest in going to the course with dad. Not to play as much as just to ride in the golf cart. Every course I played wanted to charge her the cart fee. I didn't find that to be to outrageous because I figured it would be that way. What I thought was funny was a few courses said she had to have her own clubs to go out. I figured that was so they could charge a greens fee too. I never asked.

[mikpga]

Gee... Maybe we should make all junior sports free...

Those little kids aren't going to hit that baseball too far anyways...

There is a cost, period...

Most public courses will have a junior rate, and sometimes offer a "free" opportunity with a paying adult during "NON PEAK" times...

[twgolf]

All the courses in my area just let my daughter play for free. She would just ride in the cart with me and hit some off the tee but usually just putt when we got to the green. She was 4-5 years old then and had her own US Kids golf club set.

$30 bucks for a 5 year old would equate to me never playing there again with our without my kid!!! If your kid was just along for the cart ride were they going to charge you the extra 1/2 cart for him??? Down right shameless in my opinion!!