The Rising Costs of Playing

[colin007]

So 3 local courses have rates of $24, $25, and $26 to play 9 holes. Previously (2020ish), these courses charged between $17 and $20 to play 9 holes. They're jacking the rates up because they can get away with it, they're just aren't that many decent courses in my area, and they are using the excuse of inflation to justify these rate increases, which do not reflect the actual rate of inflation.

Is it this way everywhere?

[boogielicious]

It’s gone up a bit here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island where I play in the summer. Even the 9 hole courses went up. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, colin007 said:

So 3 local courses have rates of $24, $25, and $26 to play 9 holes. Previously (2020ish), these courses charged between $17 and $20 to play 9 holes. They're jacking the rates up because they can get away with it, they're just aren't that many decent courses in my area, and they are using the excuse of inflation to justify these rate increases, which do not reflect the actual rate of inflation.

Is it this way everywhere?

That's not that far off of inflation prices, though. Plus, supply and demand.

The local course here went from about $55 to $65 for adults on weekends. That's an 18% increase. Gas is higher. Fertilizer costs a good bit more.

[billchao]

1 hour ago, colin007 said:

So 3 local courses have rates of $24, $25, and $26 to play 9 holes. Previously (2020ish), these courses charged between $17 and $20 to play 9 holes. They're jacking the rates up because they can get away with it, they're just aren't that many decent courses in my area, and they are using the excuse of inflation to justify these rate increases, which do not reflect the actual rate of inflation.

Is it this way everywhere?

Are you factoring in the years they didn’t change their rates?

The county rates went up this year where I play. For 18 holes walking, it’s $35 on weekends instead of $31. It’s the first rate increase I’ve seen since I started registering at those courses. This is my ninth year.

[iacas]

36 minutes ago, billchao said:

Are you factoring in the years they didn’t change their rates?

The county rates went up this year where I play. For 18 holes walking, it’s $35 on weekends instead of $31. It’s the first rate increase I’ve seen since I started registering at those courses. This is my ninth year.

Yeah. Whispering Woods raised their rates like 15% the last year, maybe a bit more. But they haven't raised their rates in a LOOOOONG time.

[mohearn]

3 hours ago, colin007 said:

So 3 local courses have rates of $24, $25, and $26 to play 9 holes

Is it this way everywhere?

Do you have any of the NYS Park Courses near you? I pay $23 walking on weekdays for 18 at one course, and $20 walking 18 at the other.  Nice courses, prices up 10% from last year, but they are plenty busy so caan't fault them I guess.

 

[WillieT]

The local courses I play here have all raised their prices, however two of them have had significant updates done and it is worth paying a little more.  Still it’s only $22 to walk 9 as a guest.  M-Th rates are lower than the weekend by about 25% and one even offers all-you-care to play after 2 for $29.  

[phillyk]

My course raises price about 5% per year. Still best value around as we have similar conditions as those who charge $30 more than we do. 

[dennyjones]

I can't complain.  The rates have gone up from 25 to 40% but I'm still playing under $50 for senior rates during the week.  Today I played a very nice course for $35.  The weekends are almost double that rates.  I'm averaging about $30 / round this year. That is up about 27%

[TourSpoon]

My wife sent me to the grocery store the other day to pick up a few items after work. That shocked the hell out of me. Golf in the area is in demand (South Florida) and prices are inline with what others are reporting. 

[DeadMan]

Yeah, prices here have increased about $10 a round since 2019 or so. I was paying around $40-$50 for 18 holes then. It's now up to $50-$60. 

That's just the price of actually playing, too. Clubs have gotten more expensive, too. I bought a new driver this year for $600. Last time I bought a new driver, it was $400. Wedges have increased by about $50 a club. The used market is also way more expensive than it used to be. About 7 years ago, I bought a year-old used driver for under $200. Year-old used clubs now are barely cheaper than a new club, at least around me. 

All in all, golf is an expensive hobby, and I'm fortunate that I'm able to afford it.

[mcanadiens]

At least the courses right around me seem to have kept things pretty affordable. With a probable move on the horizon, I didn't get my usual membership, so rack rates are once again a point of interest.

The home course is a pretty good bargain at $14 for nine holes after 1 p.m. The other area courses aren't much worse. Nine-walking rates are generally in teens and 18-walking are in the twenties. The horseless carriage still costs a pretty penny.

 

[coachjimsc]

Prices in my area have gone up with inflation. But not too crazy. Still paying around $40 or less for 18 holes with a cart during the week in the afternoon.

What has gone up significantly is our golf trip to Talamore in Pinehurst. In 2020 our 3 nights stay with 3 rounds of golf in August was $398 and this year the same trip is $649.

 
We have discussed if it goes up again next year we may go back to Myrtle Beach.
 

[colin007]

So it seems like there are conflicting reports, some are reporting that rates have increased along inflation, whilst others are reporting that rates are far outpacing inflation.

16 hours ago, mohearn said:

Do you have any of the NYS Park Courses near you? I pay $23 walking on weekdays for 18 at one course, and $20 walking 18 at the other.  Nice courses, prices up 10% from last year, but they are plenty busy so caan't fault them I guess.

 

Yeah, one of my favorite courses in the area is the state park course in Saratoga. They charge $49 on the weekend, but like you said it's jam packed so they can gouge all they want and we'll still show up

[Elmer]

8 minutes ago, colin007 said:

So it seems like there are conflicting reports, some are reporting that rates have increased along inflation, whilst others are reporting that rates are far outpacing inflation.

Yeah, one of my favorite courses in the area is the state park course in Saratoga. They charge $49 on the weekend, but like you said it's jam packed so they can gouge all they want and we'll still show up

Spa park is $42 on weekday with $17 cart.
Eagle crest used to be $35 for week day and last time I was there they charged me $50

Like someone said, supply and demand. 

Which is why I try to go find that off the path courses, because they tend to be less expensive.
you can always go out to Amsterdam or Coobleskill, they have munis that last time I was there are reasonable.

[Jrwatkins7]

The Muni I play at every weekend was $40 to walk.  just went up to $46 May 1 and will go up to $51 June 1 and will add "surge pricing" as well to increase another $5 here and there.

[ghalfaire]

It is really a mixed bag around here for green fees.  This Winter some of the resort courses were near $300/round.  City/County courses in the neighborhood of $50- $70 green fees.  Some of the 9 hole courses I frequent here are in the range of $25 for green fees, about the same as last year.  City/county courses are up 30%-40% over last year's Winter prices.  Not sure about the Resort courses as I seldom play them because of the price.   But looks like a 25% increase over last year's average.  

Weather is warming and prices are dropping, but I am leaving for my mountain home as are many ohthers.

[colin007]

2 hours ago, Jrwatkins7 said:

 will add "surge pricing" as well to increase another $5 here and there.

Wtf is that??? If that's not price gouging then idk what is jfc

2 hours ago, Elmer said:

Spa park is $42 on weekday with $17 cart.
Eagle crest used to be $35 for week day and last time I was there they charged me $50

Like someone said, supply and demand. 

Which is why I try to go find that off the path courses, because they tend to be less expensive.
you can always go out to Amsterdam or Coobleskill, they have munis that last time I was there are reasonable.

You ride at Spa? It's flatter than a pool table

Yeah I just feel like we don't have all that many nice courses around here, actually we don't have that many courses period. They are charging what the market is bearing