Golf is expensive. Are they worth it?
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/100-greatest-golf-courses/photos-most-expensive-courses#slide=1
not to they aren't. although if someone else was paying, i wouldn't refuse the invite. problem is, they ain't next door and i am not traveling across the country on my dime either.
yep, i'm cheap.
can you imagine how many rounds you could play on the cash any one of these couses get for a single round.
To those who are in that category, cost is relative and they really don't have that big an outlay. I know several people who are members of some of these high cost clubs and they use them as write-offs for business expenses. When you can take the cost as a tax deduction, the pain of the cost is nulified.
tough to spend that much money to play just one course. Some of those courses I could spend the same amount of money and play 8-10 times at a local course.
If you have to worry about the cost, you can't afford it. But all serious golfers who appreciated beauty and course design should try and play Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and Spanish Bay sometime in their lives.
Growing up in California, I've been fortunate to enjoy playing these courses dozens of times over the last 30 years. Spyglass is out of this world in beauty and challenge. No place else have I played where tame deer greet you in the fairway.
Just played it a month ago in the afternoon at twilight rate and playing alone, leisurely took 4 and a half hours, having the course to myself. It is as good as it gets in this game to play Spyglass alone with no one in front of or behind you. Perfect weather, with a great sunset coming in on 18. It is heaven for a serious golfer.
As everything this is a question of status. That is the same of buying a Porshe or a Daewoo, both are cars and can take everywhere you want but driving a Porshe give you status. Do we need status while play golf?? No, I don't and fortunately have cheaper options where I can get the same pleasure playing.
WELL, I'M KINDA TIGHT,,,,BUT,,WHEN I RETIRED MY WIFE AND I WENT TO MONTERRAY AND I GOT TO PLAY 2 OF THOSE COURSES-PEBBLE AND SPYGLASS.
EXPENSIVE,,,YES,,,BUT OH WHAT MEMORIES. MY WIFE WHO DOESN'T PLAY PAID $50 TO JUST RIDE AROUND PEBBLE,,,AND WE WOULD BOTH DO IT AGAIN IF WE EVER GOT OUT THERE AGAIN.
ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO WE SPLURGED TO GO TO CHARLESTON AND STAYED ON KIAWAH ISLAND AND I PLAYED 4 DAYS. THE OCEAN COURSE IS,,IMO,,,AS GOOD AS IT GETS BUT MY WIFE LIKED THE CALIF. PENINSULA.
ARE THEY OUTRAGEOUSLY PRICED,,,ABSOLUTELY,,BUT WHEN YOU GET TO MY AGE YOU HAVE A FEW THINGS LISTED ON YOUR BUCKET LIST AMD,,,WELL WHY NOT AT GOILF.
Definitely some expensive courses and currently I would not spend that kind of money for one round of golf. That being said, I WILL play Pebble Beach one day but not likely to be real soon. I hear it is a truly beautiful golf course and the images on TV don't do it justice.
It's all relative Bruce. After about $125 or so, there is not going to be a huge difference in course conditioning or amenities. It just comes down to memories and desires. Have you always wanted to play one of those courses? Can you afford the price? Do you have the time? If the answers are yes, then by all means, Do it!
I know that many of the rounds that I remember the fondest are the times I played at more expensive golf courses. Not because they cost more, but because they were at interesting places or fantastic playing conditions, or both. I can't wait until I have time to play some of those courses in the Golf Digest story.
I'm definitely a budget golfer, so I try to play as often as I can for as cheap as I can. Every once in a while it is nice to play a course like those listed. I've found that if you go somewhere during the off peak season (i.e. Phoenix in summer) you can get a deal or two. I also like to search out deals on golfnow.com. That being said, unless its Pebble Beach, I'm not paying $500 for a round of golf. Pebble is on my bucket list and I hope that once in the next 20-30 years I can get out there to play it.
Lusogolf: As everything this is a question of status. That is the same of buying a Porshe or a Daewoo, both are cars and can take everywhere you want but driving a Porshe give you status. Do we need status while play golf?? No, I don't and fortunately have cheaper options where I can get the same pleasure playing.
You, sir, are missing the point Big Time. While there may be a small bit of status in announcing to others you've played exclusive courses, you are NOT having the same experience on your local muni as you are in a truly beautiful setting like the Del Monte Forrest!
Just as the drive, handling, and feel are very different in high-end cars compared to a Ford, you can't imagine the difference if you haven't played a top quality course. Just as people pay for the beauty of a hotel in a great setting, you are paying for the pleasure of experiencing exquisite beauty, superior design, and the utmost challenge compared to just scrapping it around at a muni. You simply have no idea what you're talking about until you've tried it. Go play in Hawaii or the Del Monte Forrest or any great private country club course like Riviera and you will come back and eat your words.
Some courses have a pretty big ego that few of them deserve. I would only pay big bucks if they were in my Bucket List. Only Augusta National and Pine Valley are left but way out of reach. So I just enjoy the day now and happy to play my home course. Few in the area match up to it.
golfdoc1: Lusogolf: As everything this is a question of status. That is the same of buying a Porshe or a Daewoo, both are cars and can take everywhere you want but driving a Porshe give you status. Do we need status while play golf?? No, I don't and fortunately have cheaper options where I can get the same pleasure playing. You, sir, are missing the point Big Time. While there may be a small bit of status in announcing to others you've played exclusive courses, you are NOT having the same experience on your local muni as you are in a truly beautiful setting like the Del Monte Forrest! Just as the drive, handling, and feel are very different in high-end cars compared to a Ford, you can't imagine the difference if you haven't played a top quality course. Just as people pay for the beauty of a hotel in a great setting, you are paying for the pleasure of experiencing exquisite beauty, superior design, and the utmost challenge compared to just scrapping it around at a muni. You simply have no idea what you're talking about until you've tried it. Go play in Hawaii or the Del Monte Forrest or any great private country club course like Riviera and you will come back and eat your words.
In conclusion I'm not a star, I'm just someone who like golf.
We really like Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Pinehurst. Sawgrass, Kiawah, Whistiling Straits and the others don't really get us fired up. Plus, we now have some friends in Monterrey that get us a deals there now and don't pay anything close to the prices quoted. Also, if you stay at Pinehurst on the Golf Package, #2 is only $150 extra. i've played Cascata and Shadow Creek (courtesy of MGM) and thought they were really cool, but not worth the money if I had to pay that much to play them.