golfrewind.com

After Boom, Golf Isn't Out of Woods

By Greg Johnson LA Times Staff WriterSat Oct 29, 7:55 AM ET

http://www.latimes.com/sports/golf/l...track=morenews



Please use a link for this sort of thing, copyright issues.

Gotta be registered...care to copy/paste for us?

Greetings ...

Well, Golf Rewind prefers that I supply the direct link. Hopefully, it will work now.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport ... Golf Stuff Page

I know in this area (Central, Southwest Florida) most of the private clubs are hurting for members. There are so many great daily fee courses to choose from, folks don't see the sense in paying the high membership fees. Plus, as club members they are obligated to spend a certain amount in the dining room, bar, etc. People around my age (41) or younger prefer the freedom to play a variety of courses, eat out where they want to, etc. The country club is seen as a place for old guys to hang around talking about their prostrates, and for blue-haired women to play nine holes and then sit around playing bridge.

I don't know about everyone else, but personally I hate playing courses where houses line the fairways, and if you're 10 yards off the fairway you're in someone's yard, out of bounds. We have a LOT of courses like that here, and I don't play them. Funny thing is, most of the folks that live in these golf communities don't even play golf, or if they do they don't play on the course they live on.

Greetings ...

Yo, Inconstistent!

That's comparable to building grocery stores and shopping malls. After a few years, nobody wants to buy at a given location, so they build new ones, leaving the old ones to sit and rot. Shame!

For those having trouble with LA Times Link --
Here's the same story thru YAHOO!

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

Inconsistent described the golf situation in my area too. Lots of courses to choose from and I don't have to buy a house or join a club to play most of them. I also don't need to know what people are cooking for dinner, or what toys their kids own, when I'm trying to play golf.........if you get my drift.

We have a nearby "golf community" here in San Luis Obispo County - Cypress Ridge Golf Course - where the developer made his fortune selling the homes and never needs to make a cent from the golf course. In many golf communities, the course's main purpose is to help sell homes. In this particular community, only a fraction of the homeowners even play golf. Fortunately, the developer is building his own home on the 18th fairway and plans to keep the course in immaculate shape. It's a great course!

Another new golf community is under construction in San Luis Obispo County, designed by Damian Pascuzzo, a well known proponent of affordable golf. Pascuzzo believes that "long-ball" technology threatens the growth of golf, as courses are required to add length (and acreage and expenses) to accommodate longer drives. This results in longer rounds and increased green fees - discouraging new golfers. Pascuzzo's new course - Monarch Dunes - is designed with an emphasis on strategy over length. I can't wait to play it.

I am 44 yrs old and I just started playing golf, I went to golf because the sports I love to play basketball, running and other physical activity are just too hard on my body. The problem I have found with golf is two fold the time it takes and the expense. To become a competitive golfer you are looking at several thousand dollar investment, then you have the cost of a round of golf, I live in southern Riverside County in CA and 80 to 100 for peak hours is fairly common. When you compare this to other sports and what it would cost you to participate you realize why golf is where it is. Golf has always been perceived as a rich mans sport I have seen noting in my young golf outings too dispel that notion. With the cost of real estate and water and maintenance I don't see how that will change.

Reading this made me wonder about why I actually play this game.
To be honest, I'm just as happy playing in a park for weeks, chipping, practicing my swing and then seeing the results on a real course months later.
Originally I considered the money spent, as an investment, since I had to play anyway. <work and business related>
Now that work no longer "requires" me to play, I play because I'm competitive and I want to see how far <or low> I can go with it. Currently I compete in a couple of work involved leagues. I like to stay competitive because it's a way to get money back out of it. (prizes for pots, closest to pins, etc.)
I next want to go to some of the mini tours nearbye. Same reason. I want the opportunity to win back some of what I invested.
But when I think about it, if I "max out", I also probably wouldn't pay for the high cost of this game as much as I do now.
If I played for fun, it would be to spend time with my family members that play or close friends. I surely would never buy as much equipment as I do now.
Well, I guess it's good I don't see that day coming for quite a while!!!!!

Exactly!

it was also disheartening to learn that there are even courses being closed for housing development. With today's real estate prices, the land has simply become too valueable for owners to justify the relatively small income generated from golf.

as far as the game being expensive goes, I honestly think there are still plenty of good courses available with reasonable green fees. Here on the CA Central Coast (California is known for a high cost of living), we have 3 quality county courses (subsidized by local tax dollars) which you can play for under $30/round. We have some excellent executive courses. And even the top-notch courses are reasonable if you play during the week or twilight hours. I just avoid peak hours on weekends and buy any available discount cards (10-play, county card, etc.).

I also never take a cart... that's adds up to huge savings, and prevents me from spending money on a fitness club membership.

Golf can be affordable... if you want to play and money is an issue for you, you just have to avoid the high-end courses and peak hours.

Time, on the other hand, is harder to come by... That just depends on what stage of life you're in.

Myrtle Beach golf courses are dropping like flies.....can't speak for elsewhere in the country. Here @ home, no new courses, and old ones being morphed into home communities. I see alot of Hispanics as workers on many courses...maybe 'cuz they can't pay 10-15 bucks @hr for local help? If the market is that tight for this biz, then it can only get worse.

Golf is not necessarily a rich man's sport. It's just like anything else. If you have expensive and elegant tastes, and prefer the finer things, prepare to shell out some dough for it. But you can also get a good used set of clubs for about 100 for irons and maybe 200 more for the rest (buy used, look at pawn shops, garage sales, etc. you'll be amazed at some of the deals you could find). Also most towns have at least one decent muny course that is challenging, fairly well maintained, fun, and above all you should be able to walk 18 at one of these for about 15bucks (my only qualm are the slow greens which can get frustrating). If you have to play the nice courses, call and inquire about early bird specials, or matinee prices, also look for 2 for 1 (pay one greens fee and get one free=1/2price!!!) books at most golf shops. The papers always seem to have deals on some of the nicer courses. Another idea is to look for great courses that are in their first year of operation. The rates for the opening season at a new course are considerabley lower thank they will be in the 2nd year they're open. And if you dont have the $$$ to go to the range and practice go buy some old shag balls and go to your local park. You can practice putting and chipping for free at the practice green. I think part of the problem with getting new people to take up golf is that it is percieved as a rich man's game. But it doesn't have to be. It's just like anything else. If all you go to are 5 star restaurants, then you will spend a lot of money on food.

Yeah, but where I live I can play a round for about $20.00 or $10.00 on the par 3 course (to go around twice). I could play golf for a week straight with $100.00 here. And what this guy above me said made a lot of sence. I practice everyday for free with a net in the yard. A $50.00 investment.

Excellent!!!!