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A Rich Man's Game???

Discussion in 'Sports Forum' started by Jude, Apr 12, 2004.

  1. Jude

    Jude <img src=/scott3.jpg>

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    I've played golf since I was very-young. When playing regularly, I usually have an 8 handicap. But I've noticed a very-alarming trend. Green-fees are out-of-sight. ( In my community, where there's only one course, the green fees are around $30, and the closest is 40 miles away (in Mammoth, a resort town where the green fees are even higher)or 60 miles away, where the green fees are more reasonable.) When I was in high school and college, I could afford to play golf every day. Today, I can no-longer afford to play. Last year, I played one round. And I've not had new clubs since '85. Given what they cost today, these too are out of my price range. How about those of you who golf? Are green fees and golf equipment prices keeping you off the course, or am I the only one?
     
  2. mark

    mark <img src =/mark.gif>

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    I was complaining about this earlier. Our membership in the club in this small town is about $2000 for a family. Fortunately 17 minles away is another course that has family annual dues of $200. That is doable for us, so we play.
     
  3. Dan Todd

    Dan Todd Active Member

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    As a young man - I thought I'd take up the sport. I played exactly 6 rounds of nine holes each.

    My dear wife decided that if I was going to be able to "play" - she too wanted to "play" (not golf). I said that would be fine - but she decided that her time out - away from the children would be the same time that I was playing golf. We would have to hire a baby sitter - in addition to what it cost me to play golf - in addition to what ever she would need to have outings with her friends.

    That cured me! The girls were babies at the time - less than a year old. They are now 31!
     
  4. Jimmy C

    Jimmy C New Member

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    You can buy good used golf equipment on E Bay, the technology may be a few years old but still far advanced from what it was when I was a kid.

    If you live in a metropolitan area golf can still be played fairly cheaply, check out golfq.com for some of their specials, I play alot of twilight golf - Mansfield National in Mansfield,TX is a very nice golf course that I can play for about $20 after 4:00, alot of the public courses around here have some great twilight specials. I also like to walk, but it is a bit tough in the dog days of summer - also saves $$
     
  5. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    Golf around here is pretty expensive and obscenely slow. I have a membership at a course and usually play twice a week during the season, early in the morning when I can walk 18 in just over 2 hours ... That is about as long as I want to take to play ...
     
  6. Jimmy C

    Jimmy C New Member

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    Pastor Larry

    I will play golf with you anytime - the quicker the better - but 18 holes in two hours!! I like to walk a course not sprint it!
     
  7. Jude

    Jude <img src=/scott3.jpg>

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    Jimmy, $20 is still too high. When I was in college/high school, I played M-F! Every weekday! And I paid for it by myself. If I played M-F, even at $20 a round, that would be $400 a month for golf! It is NUTS. Golf has become a rich man's game. It is my favorite sport, but it is pricing itself beyond my ability to pay.
     
  8. Jimmy C

    Jimmy C New Member

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    Jude,

    judging from your picture you werent exactly born yesterday. If you factor in inflation, what were you paying for golf back in your HS and college days?. You are correct though, 400/month is alot of $$. Around here you can join a club for with monthly dues ranging from 150 - 250/month if you play as often as 5 times/week they can be a real value. Grand Prairie country club charges 500 to join and monthly dues are $150, shady valley in arlington charges about 250 /month for dues. Both are nice courses. Some of the daily fee courses/ public will also sell memberships that let you play all the golf you can, the only charge is for the cart.

    Of course we do have some expensive ones as well, the new Dallas National boasts among others as A Rod as members, the cost to join is now about $50,000 - $100,000, who knows what the dues are.

    Looks like to me you need to move down here to God's country - reasonable golf, you can play all year round (except perhaps august) and you can watch God's team play football!
     
  9. Pennsylvania Jim

    Pennsylvania Jim New Member

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    Well, my definition of a rich man is not one who can afford $20-30 for a round of golf, it's a man who has time to play M-F.

    As to equipment, a complete, new, decent set of "copies" plus a nice bag can be had for less than the cost of a "big brand" driver.

    And, IMO if you have 20-year old woods, keep them. I like some of the new irons, but the new drivers are like trying to swing a five-gallon bucket on the end of a hickory stick.
     
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    I played the game for a while and really stunk at it. Being 6'5" and no extra-long clubs, it was tough.

    And golf was just unfair. They kept mowing the grass where others hit the ball and not where I hit it. :eek:
     
  11. Jude

    Jude <img src=/scott3.jpg>

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    Yep! I can join AARP this October!!! :eek:
     
  12. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    A ruddy youth, Jude. 50 is just beginning!

    Speaking of Golf - Out here, we have many folks START playing golf as they get to our age. Good exercise and our public courses (when you chase the antelope off) are very inexpensive.

    Good hobby, so they tell me.
     
  13. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    It is expensive! The best time to play down here is during the summer (non-peak times when the tourists are gone, but it sure is hot then). I played last week for the first time in months. Thankfully it was a business outing, so I didn't have to pick up the cost (over $150/person). On a personal basis, I normally play at a public course where it is much more reasonable.
     
  14. TWade

    TWade New Member

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    Good one. [​IMG]
     
  15. Jude

    Jude <img src=/scott3.jpg>

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    I'm actually thinking of taking up bowling again. It might be cheaper. I'm also going to resume my interest/play in chess. And of course, the mountain snow is melting, and I'm going to start doing some serious hiking this summer.
     
  16. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Now if you go to Yuma in the summer it is quite inexpensive.
     
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