No surprise that courses are empty
You tell me what's wrong with this picture. I flew into Miami International Airport (insert Henny Youngman saying, "And boy, are my arms tired!") and thought I'd stop in at the Melreese Golf Course, a municipal track operated by the city of Miami. It's basically just down the street from the rental car lots in an area that is not well-off -- most of the neighborhood's homes have bars over the windows.
It's noon. It's a Monday. It's beautiful -- 82 degrees, light wind. The course looks to be in outstanding condition, especially for a muni. When I ask if I can play a few holes, I'm told, sure, the course is wide open. In fact, it is all but deserted.
The girl working the register asks if I'm a Florida resident. Nope. She rings up my greens fee. That'll be $158. What, I say? State residents play for $78, non-residents are $158. Do you have a nine-hole rate, I ask? No. I totally understand trying to keep a public course available for use by local golfers. They should get a big discount. It's their course. But this isn't a local discount, it's statewide? What good does that do? You think anybody is going to fly down from Jacksonville to golf Melreese when there are 1,200 other courses in the state? City residents should get the golf discount.
So I settle on hitting a bag of 60 range balls (that's what the sign in the shop says) for $6. When I dump the bag out on the practice range, it doesn't look like 60 balls. I count them. There are 47. I'm 13 short. That's more than 20 percent I've been shortchanged. And while many of the balls looked white and shiny, too many of them just didn't get up in the air and go, no matter how well I hit them. Mushy range balls are a fact of life in golf. Getting 20 percent less product than I was promised, that's something else.
After I hit balls, I chipped and putted on the practice green (which was in very nice shape) for more than an hour. A couple of German guys who'd been hitting on the range did the same. They eventually left. So did I. I spent less than $10 at the course -- I bought range balls, plus a drink and crackers. I gladly would have paid $80 to play, but not $158. So due to excessive pricing, the course got zero.
Melreese used to be an example of how to run a muni. Improved conditions usually brings more play, more golfers. I was there for 90 minutes and saw no one tee off. I saw a couple of twosomes, a threesome and a single already on the course. The old parking lot was closed due to construction of a new clubhouse and, I presume, a new cart barn.
Somebody has to pay for that. But it's not going to be my $158.
What's wrong with golf? Gee, I can't imagine.
Posted by: Jay Miller | Mar 17, 2009 4:11:41 PM
Having also recenty played International Links ( Mel Reese) I concur it is in great shape. As for the fee structure one must also mention that the course has undergone recent course renovation and is currently in a multi million dollar capital improvements campaign to construct not only a new club house but also a First Tee Miami-Family learning center that will house not only golf technologies but serve as an educational facility for the kids as well. These costs are borne by both tax payer and user alike. Once the contruction is complete it will justify the expense for a round. Had you mentioned the shortage of balls in your bag I am confident that you would have been more than compensated. Please visit the course again, witness the ongoing youth programs, the involvement with Special Olympics and handicapped citizens, and that special something that makes Miami the "Magic City".
Posted by: Jennifer Pang | Mar 17, 2009 4:39:24 AM
For anyone living in Northern California (more specifically, the East Bay), Tilden Park in Berkeley has a fantastic walking rate of $7 after 6:30 (it used to be 4:00 up until a week ago, when daylight savings time kicked in). As the days get longer, you'll definitely be able to get in around 9 holes before it gets too dark. Now THAT'S a pretty good deal you can't really argue with.
Posted by: Ted Cahill | Mar 16, 2009 7:54:42 PM
Thanks for this piece. Muni courses that charge this high should be called out. There are deals to be had. If you are fortunate enough to live in the Northern California area- you can join the Dukes Club- 285/yr and you get to play Del Monte Golf Club (in the Pebble Beach family of courses) for 42 bucks on a weekday. The condition of the course is great. The time I spent in Florida- I found the courses charging far too much for a so so product.
Posted by: Judge Smails | Mar 16, 2009 5:56:59 PM
The high prices helps keep re-etards, like the people who have commented above, hopefully away from golf and into bowling or jarts. Please know your place in society, and go luck at the poultry plant...
Posted by: Steven T. | Mar 16, 2009 8:33:09 AM
Same high fees in peak season(to April 30) for non residents apply to the Miami Beach munis- Miami Beach GC($200) and Normandy Shores GC ($160)
However, a resident can buy a single membership at Normandy Shores, Flynn design recently modernized by A. Hills, for $1875
Further up the road, I recently played Boca Raton GC, Boynton Beach GC, Park Ridge GC &Lake Worth GC all munis, for about $50 as a non resident. Miami & Miami Beach must have the "soak the tourists" mentality. Hopefully, this will change.
Posted by: Will | Mar 11, 2009 10:41:38 AM
To the gentleman that asid to charge less when overseeding. Overseading does not disrupt the playing conditions of a golf course in anyway or than you get seeds on your ball. Why should a golf course discount the fee when the playing surface is in good condition? Should they discount the fee when the grass clippings clump up because they couldn't mow for a few days? No I do agree though that every golf course in the world should let you know when they are doing any kind of arration to any part of the course, but only discount the fee when it is on the greens and affects the playing suface.
Posted by: Jim Lord | Mar 11, 2009 9:28:11 AM
There is a nice, 27-hole course in Grand Prairie, Texas called Prairie Lakes, where we play every week. Weekday fees are $17, weekends are $23. But you want to know the best part? You can use a pull cart or push cart, which sadly, a lot of courses have banned. Their reason? "They cause damage to the course." Actually, the REAL reason is they cause damage to the bottom line. I know a bunch of golfers who won't play a course unless they can use their push/pull carts.
Posted by: howard | Mar 11, 2009 12:16:17 AM
Gary Van Sickle:
Okay, why do courses have an obligation to charge local residents less? I could never figure this one out nor have anyone explain it to me.
If I go to Florida I drop 2,000 to 3,000 on a holiday to shops, hotels, bars, golf courses, pro shops, food stores etc. Don't I contribute
as much to the local economy as residents. Meanwhile the person working in the pro shop complains that local residents don't spend more than coffee money at their course over and above the subsized green fee.
Please explain to me the logic of charging non residents double or triple the local green fees.
P.S. their is some canadian courses
that charge 20.00 more to non residents than locals and although I
am embarassed by this it still isn't
double or triple.
I call the practice of charging double or triple the local green fees " Golf Apartheid "
Respectfully,
Howard
Posted by: Johnnie Watkins | Mar 10, 2009 8:53:02 PM
I know this is about the high cost of green fees and I agree some courses are far too proud of their facilities. But one of my big gripes about golf courses is the way the folks behind the counter in the pro shop treat their CUSTOMERS. They act as thought they are doing you a favor allowing you to play. I'm real tired of surley, grumpy, and rude pro shop help. I will complain in a heartbeat when I feel the man or woman behind the counter has the personality of a slug. More peopple need top speak out when treated baddly. Also when they overseed and or ariate(sic) the greens, they should tell you up front and be willing to discount the round too!! -
Posted by: rick | Mar 10, 2009 6:34:22 PM
33.00 for a single or 28.00 per person for doubles.that includes greens fees,cart,and unlimited golf for the day.that is the mon-thur special in moberly,mo.65.00 and a member to get you in will get you greensfee/cart for 18 holes on the stunning old hawthorne course in columbia,mo.muni courses will run 33.00 for cart/fees on the weekend.and there are plenty of other values elsewhere in mid missouri.and i thought we had it bad.its all about perspective i guess.
Posted by: howard | Mar 10, 2009 6:17:08 PM
The argument has always been that
as non residents we don't pay taxes.
Let's see. hotel room, pay taxes...
rent car.... pay taxes...buy meals
and clothes at local stores... pay taxes.
It's just greed and the nice thing
is we can put our wallet back in
our pockets and go find a course
that will treat us more fairly.
and there is lots of courses in Florida and Texas that will treat non residents fairly.
Posted by: howard | Mar 10, 2009 6:04:27 PM
If you think this is bad, try Hawaii.
Most courses charge international
residents triple, that's right, triple
what non residents pay.
By and large I have been treated more
than fairly by golf courses in Florida
who are sympathetic to Canadian seniors. But Hawaii takes no prisoners!
Posted by: John Luce | Mar 10, 2009 5:12:10 PM
Wow, do I agree. I was paying $45 including cart in NC on a public fee course on weekends. I moved to San Jose and found muni's charging $60-85 to WALK and $27 for an 18-hole cart-per person. A course near me was once a $25 per round that got Nicklaus'sname put on it, upgraded the grass but didn't change the layout now a 'bargain' at $105. Did I mention San Jose has a MUNI that costs $105... and this in the south valley where land is plentiful.
So, rather than pay $75 w/ cart and play twice a month (where I used to play 4 times per month in NC) I now play 2-3 times per YEAR. Nice economic model there :-)
Posted by: ray | Mar 10, 2009 4:31:24 PM
Nice article. Another golf course similiar to the one you mentioned is in South Orange County, Strawberry Farms, Irvine, California. This "fairly priced" golf course is over 90 dollars during the week and 125 dollars on the week end. I recenlty was given a gift certificate for that golf course and arrived on a Tuesday morning at 8 am. NOONE was on the range only one car in the parking lot. The only person I saw was a college lad who took my bag, and the starter. I asked the college kid about players I might encounter on the course, me being a single. He smiled and said there was only a single out there and he went off an hour ago. He said that the whole week is like this and that they slightly fill up on weekends. I don't know how this golf course is able to pay its employees or the rent on the buildings or property. I would rather have a full golf course with 65 dollar patrons, that a empty golf course. My wife also plays, so if we both play during the week, the green fees are over 200 dollars. So we won't play there. All golf courses, during this economic climate, need to lower their rates. Golfers want to play, we are going to find lower fees golf courses, and take our money elsewhere.
Posted by: Matt | Mar 10, 2009 3:41:52 PM
Our current economic situation only magnifies this issue. For a long time, greens fees have been climbing to ridiculous levels. As many have already stated, paying a premium for a high end resort or the occasional "country-club" for a day is understandable. However, every course is not a "country-club" for a day. I live in the Chicago area and you can rarely find a course (regardless of quality) to play for less than $60 (with cart), except for extreme twilight rates or coupon specials. It seems golf rates have suffered the same mystery appreciation that has plagued such investments as real estate, and the 14,000 DOW. I applaud Mr. Van Sickle for his criticisms and feel that more should be said regarding this issue.
As an aside, I do have some criticisms for this site as well as some of your competitors. In your travel and course review sections, your writers will often comment on courses that are good values. These "value" courses often have green fees of $80 or more. I understand that they are only commenting on the industry as it is, and an $80-$100 green fee may be a value in comparison with competitors. However, I wish your contributors would refrain from using the v-word so loosely.
Posted by: gary van sickle | Mar 10, 2009 3:04:09 PM
Sounds like we're all preaching to the choir. Municipal courses have an obligation to be reasonably priced for local residents. That's why I would've been happy to pay $80 as an outsider. In today's golf-fee market, sad to say, that isn't outlandish. Clearly, $78 for locals is way, way too high. But as a government-run muny, it would probably take seven council meetings to get any price changed enacted.
Golf courses pay for themselves through user fees, not taxes, if they're run halfway decent. I don't know when the prices went up at Melreese in Miami but the last few years when I've stopped there to play, it's always been packed. Seeing an empty course was almost as shocking as being told I owed $158.
Golf needs fast play, low maintenance, inexpensive golf and it needs it yesterday.
Posted by: Richard | Mar 10, 2009 2:54:17 PM
I'm still trying to understand the thinking that says if people aren't playing the course then raise the price so those who play pay....or go to another course.
Posted by: BostonGolfer | Mar 10, 2009 1:22:35 PM
Let me make a perfect comparison that perfectly illustrates Mr. VanSickle's point (which I fully agree with): Tennis. This is a sport where equipment is available in all price ranges but never too extravagant, and both municipal and private places to play are made available. The difference is, the municipal options are usually available at little or no cost so more people can be introduced to the game which is why it has become more widespread and received more viewing on TV (Agassi/Sampras drew more attention than Tiger/Mickelson). $75 for a round of golf on anything less than a resort-level, flawless course is obscene. Period.
Golf being a premium, exclusive sport through price fixing, country club membership requirements, and similar barriers of entry has hurt it more than helped it. Greedy course managers charge more, thinking they'll pull more of a profit overall, then less people play. The response? They up the charge more to maintain their ridiculous profit margin and even less people play. The result? A course no one plays and less interest for the sport. Also, less traffic in their pro shop which leads to them overcharging too.
Posted by: Sean | Mar 10, 2009 1:18:06 PM
It seems to me that part of the problem is the astronomical cost of building a golf course. I've heard $1 million or more PER HOLE is not uncommon. It will take a long time for $50, $150, or even $200 green fees to cover that expense and the common maintenance costs, even for courses that are open year round. Another part is that we, generally, want to play on a course that is manicured to perfection. That comes at a high cost (water, equipment, fertilizer, etc.) Is it possible that greens fees would drop some with lower maintenance golf courses?
Posted by: DJ | Mar 10, 2009 1:14:50 PM
Here in California we almost got hit with that "golf tax". They'll try to bring that back again when they need more money. City courses (I've only played two) are increasing the fee by a dollar or two a year. It'll never stop. The privately owned yet public courses vary widely in their green fees. It's a lot like hitting the local slopes - less crowded and cheaper during the week, RIDICULOUS on the weekends. No matter how good or bad the conditions are.
Posted by: Dan in Luxembourg | Mar 10, 2009 12:25:35 PM
Good for you Gary. I had the same experience at Melreese. I did play it once as a local friend had made the teetime. Never again. As mentioned elsewhere here, Miami Springs is a decently priced alternative. I would also recommend the Biltmore course which isn't too far away and was $25 for a far superior course to Melreese in my opinion.
Posted by: BenSeattle | Mar 10, 2009 12:14:53 PM
The subject of this article needs to be repeated again and again and again. A lifelong golfer, I used to play three or four times a week but today the obligations of family and business simply take prescedence. What's more, even though I can afford to pay those 50-dollars-and-up greens fees, I simply choose NOT to. I'm a good player and have loved the game since I was in my mid-teens, but I refused to be gouged. Like Van Sickle, I'm content to take my shag bag and work on my short game for 90 minutes several times a week. I might hit a $7 bucket of balls once a week. Even on vacation, I'll search out twi-light rates and scour an area for the best deal. The Nicklaus course at Whistler, B.C. for example, is $200 but I played it for $90. And that's my very high end. More than one hundred dollars for a ROUND OF GOLF? You must be dreaming!
And good luck "growing the game." Many golf courses of today will become the 'affordable housing' developments of tomorrow. Mark my words... sad but true.
Happy golfing.
Posted by: Bobby | Mar 10, 2009 10:53:58 AM
Firstly, you were there on a Monday afternoon, probably the least played time anywhere. Its actually the best time to play if you don't have to work. You can play in 2-3 hours. Thats the good news.
I live in Miami and am disgusted at the green fees some of these courses charge. With the exception of Miami Beach golf course( which is in near perfect condition) The rest of the courses should pay me to play on them. I don't care how much money you have, paying more than $50 bucks to play golf is just not justified.. You can still hack your way around a high priced golf course just as easy as a high priced golf course.
Don't get me wrong I love golf, but If I was Bill Gates, I would still not pay $600 or more to pay Pebble Beach.
Posted by: Christopher Goins | Mar 10, 2009 10:16:03 AM
I don't think you're taking your argument far enough. "I gladly would have paid $80 to play . . . ." Are you crazy? Let's come up with a reasonable number here. Anything over $25 should be reserved for private courses, or resort-level courses with tons of amenities.
I used to enjoy very well-kept muni courses in the Wichita, KS area for $10-15. Now I live in Dallas and suffer with fees in the $25-30 range (weekdays, walking). Why is it called a "green" fee anyway? Doesn't that imply that the greens ought to be in good shape?
Posted by: Jiovanne | Mar 10, 2009 10:02:36 AM
Gary, I'm glad you wrote about this. I live in the Miami-Dade county area and am sick to death of the greens fees even residents have to pay to play here. Even $78 is too much to play golf for crying out loud. Courses are overpriced and hopefully this economic situation will require all courses to reevaluate their prices. This is the reason more people don't take up the game and I hope it turns for the better.
Posted by: Ray Solinski | Mar 10, 2009 9:23:15 AM
Unfortunately in these times most municipalities are grasping at any straw they can EXCEPT taxing their residents which would mean they would be voted out. If you dig around these taxes are starting to border on the ludicrous. I have no problem paying to my local school, town or state since I live here and I want it to be as nice as it can be. Charging visitors ridiculous taxes on hotels, rental cars and even occupation taxes strikes me as taxation without representation since we have no voice in the process. Wasn't their a famous revolution fought over these premises? Golf will slowly regress back to what it was in the 60's when caddy programs died (greed) and it was too expensive for kids to play. A rich old man's game. And just 10 years ago we had so much promise. This is what you get when golf falls into the hands of greedy developers and politicians.
Posted by: Bill | Mar 10, 2009 8:41:28 AM
Finally! Living in Oklahoma pays off. $15 will get you a nice round on a well-kept muni, no out-of-state "tuition".
Posted by: John | Mar 10, 2009 4:32:25 AM
Just got back from Corpus Christi, TX. Played the 2 munis there for $15 a piece, walking. The new Newport Dunes course in Port Aransas, Tx. is a great new Arnold Palmer design and is the most expensive course in the area at $65 with cart.
I'm rethinking my fall trip to Florida, Texas sounds better all the time.
Posted by: dpd901 | Mar 10, 2009 1:03:28 AM
Not only does it keep people away, it also prevents kids from taking up the game. There are very few places where it's affordable for kids to play golf. In my town of (30,000), there is no driving range and one dinky 9 hole course that costs over $35 to play. Why not have a junior rate of $5-$10 for kids during weekdays? There is nobody out there.
Posted by: Jack the Ripper | Mar 9, 2009 10:05:55 PM
This shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Have you ever rented a car down in God's waiting room? Here's a thought, levy some stinking taxes on your population!
Posted by: andyh | Mar 9, 2009 9:36:22 PM
That's ridiculous. In this economy only the strong will survive and the companies that don't provide true value to their customers will collapse, I guarantee it. They'll get what they deserve in due time
Posted by: JP | Mar 9, 2009 9:15:09 PM
a muni should never be more than 50 bux with cart included.
Posted by: Rick | Mar 9, 2009 8:06:01 PM
I agree, the folks who run Melreese have parked their heads somewhere the sun don't shine, even in Florida—and I don't mean "in the sand." But what about the muni on the other side of the airport--Miami Springs? A weekday, non-resident round costs about $40, and it seems like a nice course as well.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 9, 2009 6:37:13 PM
It happens to 'locals' too. I live in Ft. Lauderdale and recently wanted to play the Crandon course on Key Biscayne. Because I lived out of Dade county the greens fee would have been $160. In-county players pay $80. So, I stayed and played north of the county line.
Posted by: Jeff | Mar 9, 2009 5:29:29 PM
Had a similar experience recently. Hoped to play the newly-refurbished "Miami Beach Golf Club" -- formerly known as Bayshore. Non-Florida residents on this muni: $200.
Posted by: ronald montesano | Mar 9, 2009 5:29:00 PM
Bravo, GVS. Keep your cash in your pocket. Reminds me of hotels that will let the room sit empty, rather than lower the price at 10 PM.
Posted by: ronald montesano | Mar 9, 2009 5:28:54 PM
Bravo, GVS. Keep your cash in your pocket. Reminds me of hotels that will let the room sit empty, rather than lower the price at 10 PM.