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We have toyed with the idea of taking a couple of weeks off and heading down to California ( taking the clubs of course ). My wife suggested that if we do go I should try to play some of the better courses " where the pros. play ". I did play some of these courses a number of years ago, had a fabulous time, but now these courses are becoming ( in my opinion ) to pricey for the average working guy who enjoys a round of golf. Torrey Pines, south course, $ 240.00, La Costa, $ 230.00, Pebble Beach, $ 540.00, Spyglass, $ 360.00. We enjoyed six weeks back in Scotland last year and I managed to get a bit of golf in, I was invited to play Royal Troon by a member, that was delightful, if I had to pay the green fee it would have cost $ 235.00. Turnberry ( Ailsa course ) was also $ 235.00 and the " Old Course " at St Andrews was $ 265.00. I guess the old saying applies here " if you want to play, your going to pay " what I did find about golf in Scotland is that there are so many hidden gems, every little town had a golf course and some of them were quite spectacular averaging around $ 45.00 for a day ticket ( play as much as you want ). I guess its' likewise in California, I'm sure they have a great deal of golf courses down there that do not rape your wallet, I am going to check it out, suggestions guys, thanks buteman. ( prices quoted are in Can. funds )

Like all things in life, you get what you pay for. I played Pebble ten years ago and I regard it as the best $500 I will ever spend on golf. I booked a night in the hotel and got the last slot nine months before I went.

I would search on the PGA web site for courses that are not as expensive but worth the cash.

I understand that saying, but to me, $500 for 18 holes is insane.. put in place for those in the "higher Class". I've been to Pebble beach...I've been to Pinehurst.... neither are worth the $$..you're paying for vanity. Beautiful courses, but intentionally overpriced for a reason....just like Rolls Royce..it's a statement...and one that I personally feel should be removed from our vocabulary.
golf is a game...not a lifestyle(or shouldn't be)...That old dude on "johnBoy & Billy" radio show was saying how golf has turned into a Beer-guzzling,ragged-sweats players' game.... I dis-agree... for too long was the game been held for the upper class...a Gentleman's sport(like Bird hunting with dogs?)...and these places are putting a Death grip on that attitude.
Move over Yo..... playin' thru........:nodsmiley

...I rec'd an Email that showed where Private clubs are fighting for their biz lives....................................wonder why?

The get what you pay for concept is true, but only up to a point. Recently I spent £55 for TWO rounds at East Sussex National, a Tour quality layout (well, two tracks). That included lunch. I was blown away by the quality of the course and the club. It could have been more spectacular in terms of scenery and history, but I personally doubt that Wentworth (for example) at nearly £200 a round is that much better.

$500+ for Pebble Beach would have me choking. I would have to have visited a lot of top class venues before I could see myself digging that deep.

When is a "public" course not "public" anymore? Probably when the majority of the golfing "public" can't afford to play there.

Just my opinion.

Wentworth is better than East Sussex,I've played both , and I agree that East Sussex is a classy course. I also watched the European open there about 12 years ago.

East Sussex was built at a time when there was a shortage of courses in UK. At the same time too many were built ,leaving a lot of courses to struggle to find income. That's why the price is lower now than twelve years ago. Other courses, such as Collingtree, went bust.

If you want to play part of history, like the Pebble and Wentworth, you pay a premium. That's your call. There are plenty of tournament standard courses, like East Sussex, that do not have history and are bleeding , that are great fun to play but cost less.

For example,, if you go to Woburn , they have three courses, two have had full Tour events, one has had a Ladies tour event. The smaller course, Duchess, is half the price of the other two. It is my favourite .

It's your choice. I try to play a new tournament standard course every year. I've played over 100 courses in 13 different countries, some cheap courses were fansastic, some expensive courses were over rated ,but generally, you get what you pay for.

Isn't it likely that these prices are so high for a reason? My guess is these courses are willing to accept a little less than a 100% booked for any given week. Probably something in the neighborhood of 90% or so is more than acceptable to them. Gives them some wiggle room for concierges and large sponsers. If they were priced at $100, everyone would play there every chance they get. Probably most vacationers wouldn't blink at $150 either. What the heck, they could splurge for one round. I'm guessing $200 to $250, is the point some people start looking for better value. Maybe two rounds down the road. As long as people are willing to pay the price, why would they charge less?

I would love to play Pebble Beach once. However my wife loves Disney, and doesn't share my passion for golf. So one round at Pebble would probably cost me a month at mickey town some other time.

But, honestly, is Wentworth (West Course green fee is £190 I think), 8 times better than the East Sussex courses? Is Wentworth West even twice as good as Walton Heath Old - where the green fee is $85? Not played either but I'm betting not, and the Golf Monthly Top 100 list agrees. I know golfers that have been to Wentworth and said they wouldn't bother going back if they had the chance.

VERY broadly speaking, your adage holds true, but that is up to a limit. A £50 green fee is quite likely to be significantly better than a £25 one, and probably £100 to £50. After that I imagine it is all pretty much of a muchness. For £100 you would expect top-class experiences from driving in to driving out. Whatever you paid on top of £100 would probably be for intangibles - being able to say "I played Pebble Beach once".

You sure hit the nail right on the head GenErr, probably the most famous " public golf course in the world " the Old Course at St Andrews is for the most part out of reach for the average guy, I have played it twice in the past but certainly not at the rates they charge today for 18 holes ( $ 265.00 Can. ). If I am right in thinking these famous links were taken over a few years ago and it certainly was not by hard earned " Scottish money " or English for that matter. But after your round you can always trot over to the grill at the Old Course Hotel and grab a quick burger and chips ( previously frozen fries ) for a mere $ 19.00. But St Andrews is a beautiful place away from the golf links, steeped in history and folklore, nothing quite like a stroll through the old town and a pint of wonderful Scottish ale at a local pub.

Play Pasatiempo. It is a great course, and not nearly expensive as the courses in the Pebble Beach area. Before you play though, ask them if they are done with the renovation of hole number 11. I played there in July, and hole 11 green was being reconstructed.

Places like Pebble ,StAndrews and Wentworth are an 'experience ' , when you watch the pro's play the course on TV five years later, you rememeber the shot you played into that green , or that downhill left to right putt you holed as well (yours was for bogey not birdie ,but who cares).

I would not play Wentworth every week at that price, and would happily play East Sussex or Walton Heath again (either course) ,but just once in a while, I like to blow big bucks on a top course.If I won the lottery (unlikely as I never waste money on tickets) ,I'd still enjoy East Sussex and Walton Heath ,and I would stay a memberr of my club (I might also join Woburn or the Oxfordshire)

I think Lefty is right... you're paying a premium for an "experience", not just "vanity" as 81custom indicates. However, 81 is right in that you're not getting what you pay for (e.g. 5x higher fees don't equate to 5x better course).

It's just a personal choice whether you're willing to trade 5 normal rounds for 1 round at one of these "big" courses.

If not, like OSUDan shares, there are plenty of other great (and more affordable) courses on the California Central Coast, including his recommendation for Pasatiempo. If you find your way a couple hours south of Pebble Beach, I highly suggest you play Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles and Cypress Ridge in Arroyo Grande (both are $55-65/round during peak times and rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest). Even cheaper is Morro Bay Golf Course - considered by many as the "poor man's Pebble Beach".

You'll be amazed how much less expensive the golf is if you're willing to drive a little north of Santa Barbara or a little south of the bay area!

Interestingly, San Luis Obispo County was rated #1 for golf in California in the August issue of Golf Digest Magazine - rated on access to golf, weather, value of golf, and quality of golf.

Agree about SL Obispo, especially Morro Bay . If you like chess,play the big board at Morro. Also, stay at Apple Farm or if you love pink , Madonna Inn.

Peter Jacobsen designed a good course around there, I've forgotten its name.

I played all the course you listed for $26.95.....Tiger Woods 2005 on Xbox.

I agree with your comments on the average golfer being priced out of some of the "big courses" around the world and in particular those courses in Scotland that have a tradition of letting locals play for less.
Carnoustie still does good deals at certain times of the year and I,ve played most of the rest but at their present prices I will not going back.
Those courses don,t even want real golfers playing just anybody who is rich enough to pay for the hotel/catering and all the other mad priced nonsense like a dozen prov1s for 40 gbps (around $75) that the 28 h/cap casual golfer thought were a good idea in the pro shop and still thinks its a good idea at the 11th when he sends the caddie back for another dozen because he,s ran out!