Real Golf Opinions

[gunslinger1972]

Anyone ever think that real golf playing is for the rich and elite? It doesn’t seem to be a blue collar game

[SteelVike]

Completely disagree. There are plenty of good cheap courses out there to play. My friend lives paycheck to paycheck and still gets a membership every year at his local course and plays it off in a month or two.

[simonlunge]

Where I live in Illinois it is usually $90 to $130 for golf on the weekends. And for many that is pretty pricey to hit a white ball around. I’ve played all over the country. And I would say my area is the average. Some are lower .. some higher

I would say it isn’t the cost that is bad for people. It is the time factor. Our weekends are packed. And in average it is 5-7 hour rounds

[randysruns]

Jan 22, 2023 21:48:25 GMT -5 simonlunge said:

Where I live in Illinois it is usually $90 to $130 for golf on the weekends. And for many that is pretty pricey to hit a white ball around. I’ve played all over the country. And I would say my area is the average. Some are lower .. some higher

I would say it isn’t the cost that is bad for people. It is the time factor. Our weekends are packed. And in average it is 5-7 hour rounds

Seven-hour rounds? Dear god.

[greenlightning]

I have 2 courses within 10 minutes of my house. Decent courses. I can walk and carry for less than 20 bucks.

[Brenelan]

Most of my trashy friends (and I) play golf. I'd agree with you if we're talking about country club golfing. But you can find cheap rates if you try.

And yeah, for a lot of us it's less about expense as it is finding the time. In my area, a round at a decent course goes 5 to 6 hours. Seems like most of these courses are saving costs on marshals. 

[mrohde4]

Interesting topic and always a lightning rod question, and probably the best answer begins with, “Well it depends…”

If you’re talking about the occasional casual round, then I’d agree that most regions have affordable muni options allowing access to the sport for everyone. Of course it could be better, but golf has done a great job the last several decades emphasizing this.

But if you’re talking within the youth development context, then yes absolutely it’s much more rich and elite. Getting consistent access just for practice can be very expensive, not to mention the equipment costs. When you factor the tournament fees and travel requirements, the odds get more and more stacked against the less fortunate. Youth development in golf usually requires access to a complex facility, whereas other sports it’s much easier.

Perhaps the same trend is true for all sports with the travel and training emphasis. Everyone thinks they’re getting a scholarship, and many travel sport organizations use shady tactics to take money from parents. Our son just turned three and I’m absolutely terrified of trying to navigate youth sports in the coming years. 😔

[bubbadave]

I live in the SF Bay Area and most courses here average around $40-60 without cart on the weekend. Most of the expensive courses are membership only. However, because I belong to an athletic club that has ties to the hoity-toity Berkeley Golf Club, I get 6 rounds a year there. There is a lot of golf to be played in ultra-expensive California that won't break the bank.

And holy moly, simonlunge! 5-7 hours? Three friends and I used to blitz a local course during twilight hours (5-dark) in 2 hours, lol.

[simonlunge]

Yes, 5-7 hour rounds on the weekends.I’m retired.So I can do it occasionally.The problem is golf really boomed here in the last 10 years.Way more golfers and less courses available for them to hack it up at.All munis live off of outings and leagues, men’s and women’s clubs.And sadly they take up about 70% or I would even say 80% of the play board daily.You have to sign up a few weeks in advance to just squeeze in on the tee sheet

[sroel908]

I have a muni near me where you can play all holes you can walking before dark after a certain time (I usually get 10-11 holes in), plus you get a sleeve of golf balls and 2 beers/sodas/Gatorades for less than $25, and it was a course that hosted a PGA Tour event for about 15 years. No tee time required. You can find deals and find ways to play without mixing up with with the slow play crowd.

[Demonondalinks]

Golf is for anyone. Time for me is the biggest problem. Top tier courses and private courses price most people out. However there are plenty of cheap pubilc courses.

[greenlightning]

Jan 23, 2023 12:40:55 GMT -5 mrohde4 said:

Interesting topic and always a lightning rod question, and probably the best answer begins with, “Well it depends…”

If you’re talking about the occasional casual round, then I’d agree that most regions have affordable muni options allowing access to the sport for everyone. Of course it could be better, but golf has done a great job the last several decades emphasizing this.

But if you’re talking within the youth development context, then yes absolutely it’s much more rich and elite. Getting consistent access just for practice can be very expensive, not to mention the equipment costs. When you factor the tournament fees and travel requirements, the odds get more and more stacked against the less fortunate. Youth development in golf usually requires access to a complex facility, whereas other sports it’s much easier.

Perhaps the same trend is true for all sports with the travel and training emphasis. Everyone thinks they’re getting a scholarship, and many travel sport organizations use shady tactics to take money from parents. Our son just turned three and I’m absolutely terrified of trying to navigate youth sports in the coming years. 😔

My kid played AAA hockey in NJ for many years. Real expensive traveled  lot even up to Canada a few times. Great experience for the kids. The coach was an ex pro as was his brother. He told the kids just have fun there ain't a bus outside gonna take you to the Garden.

[bubbadave]

Jan 23, 2023 15:05:43 GMT -5 sroel908 said:

I have a muni near me where you can play all holes you can walking before dark after a certain time (I usually get 10-11 holes in), plus you get a sleeve of golf balls and 2 beers/sodas/Gatorades for less than $25, and it was a course that hosted a PGA Tour event for about 15 years. No tee time required. You can find deals and find ways to play without mixing up with with the slow play crowd.

Indeed. Those are, at least out here, called twilight rounds. I don't know if I could still squeeze a full 18 in these days, but back when I was in my 20s, it was easy while walking in about 2 hours.

[twofor22]

As a blanket statement, no. Where I live in Australia there are numerous courses that are pretty decent and have reasonable membership fees, one of which I am a member of, and the visitor fees aren't bad either. I've played a few daily competitions over my time off at different courses and paid about $35 on average for the round, walking. At my own course it's free outside of competition fee ($15), green fees are included in the membership. I'm normally playing there about 6-8 times a month so the $150 or so is good value. There are of course the more expensive and exclusive clubs like there are anywhere, but a fair few of them allow visitors as well, I like to play them once or twice a year for a bit of a novelty.

As for the time to play, the majority of competitions are Stableford here, so most rounds don't exceed about 4½ hours. Occasionally it might get to 5 hours, but it's not very often. Usually happens on monthly medals or other stroke play rounds.

[mrwhite1972]

We used to get on the local course for nothing due to me caddying for the owner Bob Bilton who formed the stores american golf discount in the UK, good times in the late 80s were chris Evans the tv person also worked in the Warrington shop of American golf discount, that all stopped when he sold the shops for 16 mil....course is now closed were we got free golf from....funny how time changes for the better and worse.

We carry on.....