I can't play at my own course...

[Bravo]

Well it's Member/Guest weekend!!

That annual event where you get a client or buddy and go play golf for three days and tear up the golf course.

All for the itty bitty price of $475 per team. For this, you get three rounds of golf, a goodie bag, two parties (with food, but you have to buy your alcohol), and three lunches. And of course, there are prizes.

They can Take That Job and Shove It...I Ain't Workin' There No More. 475 effing dollars.

Nobody (and I mean not a single player) in my regular Sunday group is playing in it. Everybody says it is ridiculously expensive.

I think we are going to band together and go play somewhere else.

If it will only stop raining.

[DaveE]

No way I'd be doing that either. Of course I should mention that $475.00 is more than I pay for a year's dues at our neighborhood course.

[Bravo]

No way I'd be doing that either. Of course I should mention that $475.00 is more than I pay for a year's dues at our neighborhood course.

You are making me sick!!

[DaveE]

You are making me sick!!

I guess that was mean, sorry. Over 50% of our members are retired and they volunteer to do everything. Two of our guys are up there mowing everyday for no pay. Last year they replaced almost half of our cart pathes and all it cost the club was the price of materials.

We don't the kind of services that a club like yours would have though. No restaurant or bar. You can get snack food and a beer and that's about it.

[obagain]

I have never paid more than $100 for a tourney. Anything above that is never any fun anyway, just a bunch of stuffy old guys.

[Rockford35]

We don't the kind of services that a club like yours would have though. No restaurant or bar. You can get snack food and a beer and that's about it.

What the hell else do you need?

R35

[DaveE]

What the hell else do you need?

R35

A cute cart girl would be nice.

[Rockford35]

"Cute" and "retired" never go hand in hand.

R35

[Bravo]

I have never paid more than $100 for a tourney. Anything above that is never any fun anyway, just a bunch of stuffy old guys.

I agree with much of what you said...I think $100 per player would be about right. (I Would enjoy going to the parties as the food is really good and they have bands etc).

The thing that makes the prices of these tournaments keep going up is the "goodie bag phenomenon". Each guest (in this case) is paying approximately $240. And the goodie bags are usually very nice and it is this that gives the tournament its "reputation" for being first class.

When you and your guest register for these tournaments - they ask you all of your clothing measurements: shirt size, shoe size, glove size, etc.

I remember about ten years ago - the goodie bag included a brand new pair of Foot Joy shoes - in addition to a nice Cutter and Buck golf shirt, a dozen balls and a monogrammed golf towel. Oh yeah - you will always remember that goodie bag.

But the fact of the matter is - I don't need new shoes now - or shirts, gloves and a dozen balls of a brand that I don't play. I am convinced that these tourneys are a "merchandizing bonanza" for the pro where he can get special wholesale deals on clothing and equipment items and "sell it" at inflated prices to members and guests.

This is the main reason why nobody in my group is willing to play in it. By and large, the members who are inviting guests are having clients/customers - where their employer is paying for all of it. In the meantime about 65% of the day to day golfers could care less about it...

[DaveE]

"Cute" and "retired" never go hand in hand.

R35

Considering that I'm one of the younger members, a cart girl would definately need to be an import.

[Rosmo]

And you have to PAY FOR YOUR OWN BOOZE!

I say NO SIR!!!!

[Bravo]

And you have to PAY FOR YOUR OWN BOOZE!

I say NO SIR!!!!

Damn Straight Rosmo. I couldn't agree with you more...

They provide all beverages including beer while you are on the course and around the outdoor activities - such as the Calcutta and post round stuff. They will have large containers of iced down beer so I am sure that over the course of the day - you could slog down a few...

But at the parties at night - you are paying for your own booze...so I couldn't agree more. I am a vodka man myself...To pay $240 and then have a big bar tab on top of that kinda stinks.

[obagain]

Being in the retail end of things, we try to talk the guys into buying good stuff for the goodie bag but they normally just want the cheap stuff.

[bdcrowe]

Damn Straight Rosmo. I couldn't agree with you more...

They provide all beverages including beer while you are on the course and around the outdoor activities - such as the Calcutta and post round stuff. They will have large containers of iced down beer so I am sure that over the course of the day - you could slog down a few...

But at the parties at night - you are paying for your own booze...so I couldn't agree more. I am a vodka man myself...To pay $240 and then have a big bar tab on top of that kinda stinks.

Not to mention that you have already paid for green fees through membership dues?

Hello?

Nosireebubba....

[Bravo]

Not to mention that you have already paid for green fees through membership dues?

Hello?

Nosireebubba....

You really nailed it there.

Think about the really hard core guys who play every Saturday and every Sunday. (I play either/or - not both).

Some of these guys actually walk every round - so their cost of playing the 36 holes is zero. My Saturday group walks every time and some of them walk 54 holes every weekend.

My Sunday group plays on Saturday also - so they play at least 36 holes per weekend too, but they always ride. So their cost per weekend is $14 x 2= $28.

None of these guys need new shirts, shoes, balls or shit or shineola. And suddenly they need to put up $240 for something that usually costs somewhere between 0 - $28??

Good analysis...that nailed it to the floor for most of us...