Pay Per Hole

[dsc123]

I just got the following email from a local muni:

 

Quote

Needwood Golf Course will be testing a Pay by Hole program for a few weeks starting September 26, 2016. If you've ever wanted to take a break from work and just played 3 holes or if there is only enough sunlight left to get in 6 holes, then this is for you.  Please click the link, pick how many holes you would like to play, and bring your confirmation to Needwood.  It's that simple!

It looks like its limited to afternoons.  Prices seem to range from $1.11/per hole to about $1.66/hole, or $1.38/$2.22 w/cart, during the week.  That's pretty much their normal price, pro rated.

Has anyone else seen something like this?  How did it work out?  Would you be interested in such an arrangement?

It seems like an interesting idea for twilight, but I'm no so sure about the 3 hole "rounds" at 2pm.  I imagine it would present problems for pace of play and starters.

 

 

[RussUK]

Never heard on this here in the UK. Could see this working here with the limited daylight hours especially in winter.

[phillyk]

I've seen pay per hole for re-rounds, but not as a normal round.

[dennyjones]

A couple courses around my house, in the fall, will use this promotion.   

[iacas]

I'd have thought there would be a sliding scale, akin to a volume discount. Not just $x/18 = per-hole cost.

Or if there are obvious points where it's not terrible to get back to the clubhouse, make 3-hole, 7-hole, 11-hole, 15-hole, and 18-hole rates. Then you could even consider the par of the holes. Heck, if the course started par 5, 4, 5 I'd be tempted to just play the first three holes three times.  I'd get more for my money than playing holes 4, 5, and 6 which are pars 3, 4, 3.

[dennyjones]

The ones I'm familiar with, using this promotion, usually charge $1 / hole.   This is usually when daylight is limited.

[RussUK]

Like i said earlier, id really like to see the courses near me trial this. Thye normally offer either the full 18 or 9 (one course does 10) holes. There are those times when 9 just isnt enough but im not in the mood/dont have time for the full 18

[Hacker James]

how would it be enforced?  Without constant monitoring, it would have to be on an honor system, Did that group play three or five? 

[davechen]

Hey I got that same email.  I clicked on the link to try out the web site but got database errors.

Do you play Needwood a lot?  It's probably the course I play the most.  I play Falls Road too, since it's closer, but it's much busier and harder to get on.

[dsc123]

3 minutes ago, davechen said:

Hey I got that same email.  I clicked on the link to try out the web site but got database errors.

Do you play Needwood a lot?  It's probably the course I play the most.  I play Falls Road too, since it's closer, but it's much busier and harder to get on.

I did when I lived in Rockville.  But I moved closer to college park about 2 years ago and now tend to play Northwest or non-MCG courses more often.  

The link worked for me, though.

53 minutes ago, iacas said:

I'd have thought there would be a sliding scale, akin to a volume discount. Not just $x/18 = per-hole cost.

Or if there are obvious points where it's not terrible to get back to the clubhouse, make 3-hole, 7-hole, 11-hole, 15-hole, and 18-hole rates. Then you could even consider the par of the holes. Heck, if the course started par 5, 4, 5 I'd be tempted to just play the first three holes three times.  I'd get more for my money than playing holes 4, 5, and 6 which are pars 3, 4, 3.

Perhaps they'll explore that if there's interest in this trial run.  I agree it makes more sense to package it. 

I'd also wonder whether they make you start at either 1 or 10, or just throw you on wherever there's an opening.  Or maybe you get to choose?  I'd assume 1/10.

14 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

how would it be enforced?  Without constant monitoring, it would have to be on an honor system, Did that group play three or five? 

I was wondering the same thing.  My guess is the honor system.  These aren't courses that have many marshalls out in the afternoon.

 

Maybe you leave your card and pay when you're done based on the number of holes you played?  I mean, its kind of a shot in the dark to figure out how many holes you can squeeze in before the sun goes down.

[CarlSpackler]

I've never heard of this. I can see people taking advantage of this though. 

[nevets88]

Interesting concept, would think there are a lot of logistical issues to iron out though and getting it widely adopted has more to do w/social engineering than policy, economics and tech.

There is this:

http://news.hospitality-1st.com/Quikgolf-092016.html

https://quick.golf/joinus

I did a search for the course mentioned in Minnesota which adopted this, but no hit, probably an empty database.

[newtogolf]

Makes sense for golfers, I'm not sure it will for the course.  If everyone starts out on 1st hole that's a lot of wear and tear on that part of the course compared to the rest.  If they don't start out at 1, I see potential for issues with golfers playing 18 watching a carts driving passed them worrying that they were going to slow up the course.  

[bm85]

Not a bad idea. Twilight rates can be great, but sometimes I can only arrive with 30 mins of daylight left which isn't much of a deal. If I could throw down a few dollars to play a couple holes, I'd definitely be tempted. Maybe I'd buy a candy bar, or some golf balls too.

Even just a handful of guys doing this over a year could add up.

I don't know. I don't run any businesses really, so I'm probably missing something. Though I am jealous now knowing my courses don't offer this.
 

[jsgolfer]

I didn't get the email, but there was a flyer at Musket Ridge about this.  Interesting concept.  Although if you are walking or riding, how would they know how many holes you played?  Honor system?

[Patch]

Where I regularly play it's usually $0.75 per hole in the afternoons for walkers. They do have a $5.00 minimum for late arrivals.  Almost every evening the club house and cart barn will be closed up, but walkers will still be on the course. 

 Not sure how they do their cart fees for those who want to ride. 

[Kalnoky]

I like this idea or "pay per hole"! I would definitely take advantage of it... Sometimes you just wanna to test something in a "live" golf situation, i.e., no need to play a full round. Especially now as the days get shorter I'm more or less resigned to practice until Spring.

I've never seen this kind of offer out here where I live. 

 

Edited October 27, 2016 by Kalnoky

[iacas]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-time-for-18-holes-of-golf-lets-play-five-1501848353

Quote

 

Mike Matthews, a 39-year-old regular at Canal Shores, often plays five holes with his 10-year-old son, whereas he said they would be unlikely to play 18 or even nine holes. “With him still learning and not being able to drive the ball, five holes is enough for us,” Matthews said. But the logistics of playing five are more conducive to slower times of day, since the five-hole loop starts at the 14th hole, meaning Matthews and his son wait for gaps between groups playing 18.

Bulf, the business manager, said the response from golfers has been overwhelmingly positive. The shorter loops now account for 20% of weekday morning rounds played. But the question of whether they represent revenue gained or revenue lost remains unanswered.

Either way, Bulf said, “We definitely think this is a trend in the industry that’s not going to go away.”

 

Interesting. I could definitely see doing this when @NatalieB was younger.