Everyone reading this will be all too aware of the fact the world has become a very expensive place over the last few years. A combination of economic uncertainty post-covid, inflation, war and other factors has pushed up the price of goods and services to unprecedented levels.
Golf is no different. The boom in the sport’s popularity since the Covid 19 pandemic has also contributed to tee times, club memberships and golf equipment becoming more expensive than ever before.
The principle of supply and demand – on top of wider economic price drivers – explains why golf has become an even pricier pastime. But is this sustainable, and do we risk losing existing golfers and alienating prospective ones because of short-term thinking?
It’s a complex issue. Ask anyone in the industry and they will say their costs have increased, whether it’s the price of raw materials for manufacturing, fuel for lawnmowers, food for the clubhouse bar or sustainable alternatives to traditional greenkeeping practices.
An economic reality is these costs are often, if not always, passed on to the consumer. But have recent price rises been proportional? Are some sectors of the industry hiking costs too much to capitalise on the current interest in the game?
The latter question comes into sharp focus in the realm of green fees, which have risen significantly since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. I know membership dues have also increased in recent times, but as a nomadic golfer, I’m focussed on visitor green fees here.
In my experience, I’m increasingly forced to shell out what I deem to be too much money to play courses that simply aren’t worth what they’re charging, but it’s becoming harder and harder to find courses that offer value or even balance.
This leaves nomadic golfers with four main choices: accept reality and budget more for golf – which can be hard to justify given price increases in other spheres – join a club (which isn’t financially/circumstantially viable for a number of itinerant golfers), play less golf or stop playing golf altogether.
There’s no question the game has become more expensive
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‘I can’t fathom how expensive it is’
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