Pay By The Hour Green Fee

[jsgolfer]

I hadn't seen this before or even thought of it, interesting concept. Not sure how you would time your group especially if your behind a slow group.

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/a-pay-by-the-hour-greens-fee-is-genius-and-slightly-diabolical?mbid=social_twitter

[CarlSpackler]

This would take frustration with slow play to a whole new level. It's one thing to waste my time, but wasting my money is another thing.

[iacas]

9 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

This would take frustration with slow play to a whole new level. It's one thing to waste my time, but wasting my money is another thing.

I'm inclined to agree, but by chunking it down to the hour, it does a good bit to minimize this. If you're on a 3:15 pace, you won't care if it ends up taking 3:30 or 3:40. He's already into the fourth hour.

They could even say there's a minimum of $30 to play 18 holes, so you don't get anyone out there expecting to zip around and play speed golf.

It could work. People generally aren't massive assholes.

[CarlSpackler]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

I'm inclined to agree, but by chunking it down to the hour, it does a good bit to minimize this. If you're on a 3:15 pace, you won't care if it ends up taking 3:30 or 3:40. He's already into the fourth hour.

They could even say there's a minimum of $30 to play 18 holes, so you don't get anyone out there expecting to zip around and play speed golf.

It could work. People generally aren't massive assholes.

What do you do if you're on the 18th tee at 3:53 into your round and the foursome in front of you is driving to each players ball and swigging beer? I would love this if it was an option for late in the day to get a little practice in if the course is empty, but I see this being more useful in a simulator/indoor facility or for time on a range.

[Golfingdad]

Perhaps warn players as they check in that if they are over a certain time and distance behind the group in front that the rate goes up?

So, say if it's $10 an hour perhaps you could tell everybody that if they go over 4:15 and the group ahead of them was under 4, then they pay $12 (or $13) an hour instead of $10.  That could "cover" the groups unfortunate enough to be stuck behind them.

Agree with @iacas ... seems like something like this COULD work.

[dennyjones]

For me, this would be expensive.   If I play by myself, I play about 2:45.   I usually pay less than $30 to pay even when I play with others.   Golf outside of Michigan must be expensive.    

I do have a membership at a local public course but when we play away from that course, I use Group Golfer or Golfnow and play cheap.  I would estimate about $25 / round. 

[Ernest Jones]

Wear a helmet and prepare to be hit into. 

[jsgolfer]

I almost think that it would be better if you pay a set price and get a refund or some kind of voucher to play later at a reduced rate if you play in under 4 hours? 

[iacas]

34 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

What do you do if you're on the 18th tee at 3:53 into your round and the foursome in front of you is driving to each players ball and swigging beer? I would love this if it was an option for late in the day to get a little practice in if the course is empty, but I see this being more useful in a simulator/indoor facility or for time on a range.

Either do what @Golfingdad said, or… consider that the previous group is at least 3:53 into their round as well, so why are they playing it so slowly?

You can be super cynical and make up all sorts of things, but like I said, generally people aren't assholes. This could work.

[saevel25]

45 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Perhaps warn players as they check in that if they are over a certain time and distance behind the group in front that the rate goes up?

So, say if it's $10 an hour perhaps you could tell everybody that if they go over 4:15 and the group ahead of them was under 4, then they pay $12 (or $13) an hour instead of $10.  That could "cover" the groups unfortunate enough to be stuck behind them.

Agree with @iacas ... seems like something like this COULD work.

I was thinking the same thing as an alternative to just docking everyone who was over 4 hours. It could easily be done with math to show that a group kept up with the SLOW group in front of them. 

[DaveP043]

In reading the article, it seems like their goal is to cater to the folks who don't have the time to play a full 18, or even a full 9.  I may just be an old curmudgeon, but I'm not interested in playing just 2 or 3 holes.  Perhaps there's a market for this approach, but I'm not in the target group.

[CarlSpackler]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

Perhaps warn players as they check in that if they are over a certain time and distance behind the group in front that the rate goes up?

So, say if it's $10 an hour perhaps you could tell everybody that if they go over 4:15 and the group ahead of them was under 4, then they pay $12 (or $13) an hour instead of $10.  That could "cover" the groups unfortunate enough to be stuck behind them.

Agree with @iacas ... seems like something like this COULD work.

It COULD, but I see no problem with the current method. 

14 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

In reading the article, it seems like their goal is to cater to the folks who don't have the time to play a full 18, or even a full 9.  I may just be an old curmudgeon, but I'm not interested in playing just 2 or 3 holes.  Perhaps there's a market for this approach, but I'm not in the target group.

Ditto.

[Bryan Kasper]

9 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

In reading the article, it seems like their goal is to cater to the folks who don't have the time to play a full 18, or even a full 9.  I may just be an old curmudgeon, but I'm not interested in playing just 2 or 3 holes.  Perhaps there's a market for this approach, but I'm not in the target group.

This is what i was getting from it as well.

Have to say that there have been a few times in late fall or early spring where i only have an hour or so of daylight but its not worth even paying the 9 hole rate at that point to play 3 holes, but would definitely enjoy doing so rather than hitting the range for a 3rd or 4th time that week. A per hole price would be better in that case though as opposed to the hourly rate. 

On the other hand, the extra cost for longer times would highly discourage higher handicappers from playing on the course. In the early days, and even some occasional rounds now, finding my ball or taking extra wacks would add some time over the course of 18 holes. If this would have been in place then i definitely wouldnt have started playing on the course when i did. i am all for trying to eliminate the slow play, but for the high handicappers, this would not be beneficial to add a time element to their round, and would most likely not grow the game in my opinion.

Hey Maybe you base it on handicap. 

[Wanzo]

8 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

In reading the article, it seems like their goal is to cater to the folks who don't have the time to play a full 18, or even a full 9.  I may just be an old curmudgeon, but I'm not interested in playing just 2 or 3 holes

I didn't realize until I clicked the link that this resort is pretty close to me.  I can't imagine at a lake resort type course there are going to be many people that want to play 2 or 3 holes.  But, I think there is a market for this.  Personally, my situation with a lot of family obligations with young kids, one of the main reasons I joined a local country club was so I could go over lunch and practice or play a couple holes, or try to play a handful of holes before or after work.  It's just not feasible for me  at this stage of life to block off 5 hours to play golf very often, so I have to get it in small doses.  I spend the most time practicing in my basement because I can sneak down for 15 minutes here or there. 

 

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

Perhaps warn players as they check in that if they are over a certain time and distance behind the group in front that the rate goes up?

So, say if it's $10 an hour perhaps you could tell everybody that if they go over 4:15 and the group ahead of them was under 4, then they pay $12 (or $13) an hour instead of $10.  That could "cover" the groups unfortunate enough to be stuck behind them.

Agree with @iacas ... seems like something like this COULD work.

I think it's feasible it could work, but boy it seems like a lot of hassle and I don't think it would impact pace of play noticeably.   

[Golfingdad]

20 minutes ago, Wanzo said:

Personally, my situation with a lot of family obligations with young kids, one of the main reasons I joined a local country club was so I could go over lunch and practice or play a couple holes, or try to play a handful of holes before or after work.

And this is exactly the main reason why I'd hope to join one someday.  Where I currently live, however, it's just not an option.

[jkelley9]

There's obviously some more experienced players in here saying this could potentially work... but I guess I just don't see it.

Empty course? Sure.

Saturday morning? I would be furious to be held back by the first group at a 5h+ pace. 

Managing this would be a nightmare, I would think. 

Also, it would be extremely distracting to us folks that always optimize the "value" of things. I'd be playing speed golf for sure most days lol. And then if I'm trying to improve... then what's the point?

@iacas my experience is that when people CAN cost you your own time or money, they will try. People get some sort of ego boost out of setting back other people; just to be in control. At least that's how most people are in my area. 

But again, if courses could adopt this type of thing in the less-busy times of the day, then it could work somewhat.

[Braivo]

I could see this working even better if it was on a smaller course, par 3, or one set up where the holes are near each other. Then you are paying for "hourly access" to the course and can play it any way and in any order you want. If a group in front of you is slow, but six holes are open on the back nine, just jump over and play those. The dogtrack course near my house could probably benefit from this model, it would speed up the weekend duffers and free up the regulars to bounce around the get a quick round in. His could work. 

[Golfingdad]

3 minutes ago, Braivo said:

I could see this working even better if it was on a smaller course, par 3, or one set up where the holes are near each other. Then you are paying for "hourly access" to the course and can play it any way and in any order you want. If a group in front of you is slow, but six holes are open on the back nine, just jump over and play those. The dogtrack course near my house could probably benefit from this model, it would speed up the weekend duffers and free up the regulars to bounce around the get a quick round in. His could work. 

Yeah, I like that.  Any type of course where the holes wrap towards the clubhouse a few times would work.

Not only does this work for those with a little bit of time, but it also would work for those with a lot of time.  Play a quick 18 and then just keep on trucking and maybe get in 27 for $40, or who knows.