Why is golf so danged expensive?

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: rh71
miniature golf is probably better exercise.

:laugh: troll +1

 

[Aharami]

how is golf good exercise?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: pontifex
probably because golf has been historically a rich man's sport and is very exclusive. probably just a hold over from those days.

Wrong-o.

Take business 101. Golf courses charge what the market will bear. The prices are fixed with two thoughts in mind:

1) What do we NEED to charge to cover expenses?
2) How much above that CAN we charge without driving away our customers?

As has been mentioned, the cost of maintaining courses is astronomical. What has not been mentioned is that golf courses take up a lot of very valuable land. Not only does the course need to cover expenses, it needs to generate enough profit to justify it remaining a golf course rather than being sold or converted to strip malls, condo complexes, etc.

Why do you think that $45 for 4 hours of entertainment is all that expensive? If you don't like the economics of golf, it's simple. Buy a couple of hundred acres of land. Go through years of environmental studies all the while paying taxes on the land. Fight off hundreds of lawsuits again all the while paying taxes on the land. Clear the land. Hire an architect to do the routing. Hire a firm to do the course construction. Wait another year for the grass to grow. Hire a superintentant and a staff. Buy another million dollars worth of specialized equipment. Built a clubhouse and parking lot. Hire clubhouse staff. Face more lawsuits.

Let's see you do it and charge $20 while getting close to breaking even financially.

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: Aharami
how is golf good exercise?

it's not. sitting in front of your computer is better exercise than walking 5k.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Aharami
how is golf good exercise?

It certainly better than nothing. And I know I've been really tired after 18 holes of golf.

 

[imported_Cameron]

Originally posted by: Aharami
how is golf good exercise?

Walking miles with 25 lbs.+ of clubs on your back...it's better than nothing, especially on those hot summer days.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Aharami
how is golf good exercise?

golf is great exercise for the majority that play. my dad and step-mother golf 2-3 times a week. for them its great!

walking 3-4miles while pulling the clubs (can't carry them anymore) and the act of actually golfing is good for them.

considering they are mid 60's its good anyway.

its easy on the joints, it helps the range of motion and gets them outside.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: pontifex
probably because golf has been historically a rich man's sport and is very exclusive. probably just a hold over from those days.

Wrong-o.

Take business 101. Golf courses charge what the market will bear. The prices are fixed with two thoughts in mind:

1) What do we NEED to charge to cover expenses?
2) How much above that CAN we charge without driving away our customers?

As has been mentioned, the cost of maintaining courses is astronomical. What has not been mentioned is that golf courses take up a lot of very valuable land. Not only does the course need to cover expenses, it needs to generate enough profit to justify it remaining a golf course rather than being sold or converted to strip malls, condo complexes, etc.

Why do you think that $45 for 4 hours of entertainment is all that expensive? If you don't like the economics of golf, it's simple. Buy a couple of hundred acres of land. Go through years of environmental studies all the while paying taxes on the land. Fight off hundreds of lawsuits again all the while paying taxes on the land. Clear the land. Hire an architect to do the routing. Hire a firm to do the course construction. Wait another year for the grass to grow. Hire a superintentant and a staff. Buy another million dollars worth of specialized equipment. Built a clubhouse and parking lot. Hire clubhouse staff. Face more lawsuits.

Let's see you do it and charge $20 while getting close to breaking even financially.

This man speaks the truth.

In general golf courses are experiencing a decline in demand, also.

<---- used to work for a golf course maintenance company.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Adaman
I like golfing. It's fun, and good exercise. I don't like paying so much to play it though. Golf courses way overcharge. Best price I found on golf520 was $45, and that was after 3 pm. F that. I think something more along the lines of $15-20 sounds right. Is there any way I can get a big discount for golfing?

I've been thinking about sneaking on a course and playing. I doubt most courses would notice, unless they were real fancy. Worth a shot?

it depends on where you live of course, but with real estate what it is in the NE and SW, if you live in either of those two areas, how do you expect them to make up the cost of real estate?

on any given average day, they can't allow more than 250 people to play an 18 hole course. that's when you are fully booked, most course are rarely fully booked even on the best of days during the week. any given year, a golf course is going to be lucky to have 30 days where they are fully booked.

based on the numbers alone, how do you expect them to charge you $15 to $20. thats less than you pay a movie theater to see 2 movies (2 movies about 4 hours, 1 round of golf about 4 hours). :roll:

and sneaking on is stealing.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Garth

In general golf courses are experiencing a decline in demand, also.

<---- used to work for a golf course maintenance company.

Part of it is a decline in demand and part of it is an oversupply. That of course is what keeps prices down. Anyone that took economics understands that as supply exceeds demand then prices drop. Golf is as competetive as any other business. Courses are fighting for the same customers based on quality of facilities as well as price. If a course is charging $45 then that's what the market will bear. If not, they're out of business. If they price themselves too high they're toast. So the question is: If a course can get $45 per round why on earth should they charge less just because one whiner thinks it should cost $20 instead? And the answer to that is simple. They shouldn't. If you can't afford to play the game, then don't play the game. I would like to race yachts and WW2 fighter planes. But I can't afford to. The difference is that I don't sit around moaning that they should drop the price of a vintage Mustang with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine down to the level where I could afford one.

 

[Gibsons]

Golf isn't cheap, but if you've got a muni nearby they'll usually have some sort of monthly or seasonal package that'll get the rate per round down a bit.

For those saying golf isn't good exercise, strap the bag to your back and walk 18 on a hilly course. It's not intense exercise, but it's over the course of 3+ hours. You'll burn some calories.