[ian]

"What would you pay to play Pine Valley/Augusta/Cypress Point/etc. We ended up with the conversation origionally watching the Masters. I said two thousand only if I could play with my Dad, otherwise it would be much less.
  The topic returned when I got a tentative invite to Pine Valley, it made me realize the cost for a one day visit would still be a thousand with airfare etc. I will go, to state the obvious, but what is your threshold for the place you always wanted to play.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Ian,

That may be an uncomfortable question.

[ian]

Patrick,

Its funny we talk about it so freely at work, that I never thought it to be an uncomfortable question.

[Tim_Weiman]

Ian Andrew:

I'm not sure why Pat Muci considers it an uncomfortable question, but my threshold would probably be in the $3000-$5000 range and I intend to spend it before too long.

I figure that is what it would take to enjoy Royal Melbourne and the rest of the Sandbelt, including a hop over to Barnbougle Dunes when it finally becomes a reality.

I'd like to spend less, but Cleveland isn't real close to Melbourne and I'm not going that far without seeing most of the good stuff.

By the way, for my local muni I'd prefer to keep the tab under twenty dollars.

[John_Conley]

I think I understand the question and I think I know the answer.  We actually have an Economics Ph.D. from the University of Chicago who can probably come up with the terms for it.

I'm pretty sure no matter how much we say we'd spend on the golf, dollars spent getting there are looked at in a different light.

Example - if the Guest Rate for Sand Hills were $1000 and you were in Mullen, many would say that is too much for a round of golf.  However, if you were invited for free golf - and all you had to cover was car rental, airfare, lodging, and food - most would jump at the chance.

[Slag_Bandoon]

Night vision goggles, a ninja costume and a good muffler.  Time to hit eBay.

 (Stolen idea)

So, my answer is, I would risk one week in the Mullen Jail to play Sand Hills.

[Joel_Stewart]

Its all relative.  Anyone ever figure out how much money they spend on golf per year?   Collectively the amount of money (hourly wage) doctors and lawyers and all of us spend logging into this web site would be mind blowing.

To spend a few thousand playing the best of the best doesn't really matter.  Its the memories that count.

[Bob_Huntley]

Ian asks a simple question but the reponses are not wholly enthusiastic.

Supposing, just supposing, that a genie in a bottle could get four members on, say CP or  PV, at the unaccompanied rate of $150.00 plus caddie fee of $70.00., no club-house admittance or stuff, but pure golf, who would make the trip if given a months notice?

[Peter Galea]

Why Bob...that's less than a round at Pebble.

When we're considering these devotees (read students) and the venerable clubs mentioned. It can't be about the money, unless you have to skip a mortgage payment to get there.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Bob,

        I wouldn't need a months notice, heck its only a 17 hour drive from Seattle to Cypress.  

To answer the original question, about $500.00 for greens fee after travel costs would be about the max for me.

[ed_getka]

Bob,
 Who in their right mind wouldn't jump at that offer!

Ian,
  I think the answer depends on ones background and connections and what the probability of ever being invited is. For instance I have no connection or passing acquaintance with anyone who might invite me to Pine Valley, so if the invite came I would beg/borrow from family/friends up to probably $1500 for that opportunity.

I had the good fortune to be invited to play Cypress, but it was short notice in the winter (when rain was highly probable). I was scheduled to work and would have called in sick for the opportunity, but I was so worried about it raining that I didn't want to screw up my karma. So I worked in the ICU from 7pm to 7am, drove 2 hours down to Cypress and had the thrill of a lifetime in a semi-comatose state. That is an example of a "price" that I paid (gladly). The member was so cool that when he learned of my sleep deprived state, he invited me back to play again when I had some sleep.

[John Foley]

Acess to the Hallowed Grounds seems to be a very touchy subject here in cyber -space. No one wants to offend and all would be greatfull for the chance. The way the passionate people talk about these special places will bring up envy in all of us. The whole Sand Hills policy was a great thing to those who love the field of Architecture and not just the game.

In the end, it ain't about the money, it aint about the bag-tag, it aint about the ability to say "I played xyz". It's the exprience and the memories it brings.

I can be having a miserable day in the office, getting beaten up by a pissed off customer, knowing the family ain't happy cause I've got to go out of town again, sitting hear in rain & snow when spring should be hear and all I have to do is recall one of those memories.

We all have them and we'll all have more of them in the days/weeks/years to come!!

[Todd_Eckenrode]

Bob.  As I've told anyone I know who has anything at all to do with CPC, just give me 6 hrs. notice (my drive time), and feel free to call in the middle of the night.  Anytime, anytime, anytime.

[THuckaby2]

Bob - very touchy subject for me here, as I have the reputation as America's Guest (2nd to Cirba!   ) and I live in amazement and gratitude.

In any case, I believe young Todd hit the nail on the head here - if one receives an invite to Cypress, for example, "how much is it gonna cost" is about #1000 on the 1000 list of thoughts that race through one's head.  Your quote was nearly exactly what I paid (I think), and I never thought of that at all until right now - and I may even have it wrong as I write this today.

John F. nailed this also.  The price is completely secondary to the memories one receives from a round at the great clubs like this.  I'm just like John F - I can live forever off the memories of my tee shot on 16 Cypress.  The fact some damn cool people were there to share it made it all the better....

I know this doesn't answer Ian's seemingly simple question.  But places like Cypress, Pine Valley, etc. are just such a treat, it's really hard to quantify.  One's financial status factors into this greatly also... Let's just say for me, I'd pay any amount that my wife would allow without castrating me.  And luckily, she has a very good sense of the importance of golf in my life!

TH

[Gib_Papazian]

How much would you pay is a rather relative question, don't you think? How much are you willing to place on the felt in a casino?

There are some people for whom $500 is an enormous sum of money, for others it is nearly nothing.

How much would you pay to belong to Pine Valley . . . . . or NGLA? It reminds me of a piece Michael M. Thomas wrote several years ago for GD called: "How to Save Your Club." Maybe every year, each prestigious club ought to put a membership up for auction.

How does $450,000 sound? Would you pay that to belong to PV or Cypress?

Well, over a dozen memberships went for that lofty figure to join Los Altos CC in 1999. Money is relative. . . . . . oh, don't forget the $550 monthy.

There is something enormously uncomfortable about the question of  how much one would pay to play this club or that club.

Most everyone in the Treehouse could get on any track they please with a bit of research and a polite inquiry.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Bob H put is best. Call me anytime and I am on the way immediately to any of the courses noted above. I for the most part am comfortable with the membership requirement too, but that is not the question here. I am very uncomfortable with outrageous corporate outing green fees in the thousands which TOC sunk to a few years back. I would try to resist them (thousand to play augusta for example) if offered not matter how flush I felt at the moment for i think it cheapens the game.

[DMoriarty]

With any good course, one has to play them again and again to truly understand them.  So, my problem is, no matter how much I would pay for my first round at any great club, I would probably be willing to pay more for the second.

Bob, the answer to your question is easy.  I would certainly travel and pay $220 to play CP or PV.  I have traveled further and paid more, only to play less.  

[Don_Mahaffey]

Ian,
In June 2000 I traveled to Scotland. Played most of the well knowns and a few not so well knowns. I pretty much know what the entire trip cost but I have no idea what I paid to play TOC. It's not that I'm wealthy or didn't care at the time, I just don't remember, but I remember hiting 14 in two with two of the best shots I've ever hit, I remember getting the chills on the 1st tee and walking as slow as I could up 18 trying to make it last. Cost is relative and we only live once.

[Ed_Baker]

I have played Pebble Beach 10 times. The last time was fifteen years ago, I have no idea what it cost then. But I do know that I would not pay 450 dollars to play it again. If I had never played it... I probably would pay the fee because the curiosity would eat me up and only because thats what everybody else has to pay.

That said,Augusta is the only course in the states that I have wanted to play and haven't. Would I pay thousands? No. I would reimburse the member for his costs. Do ya hear that Hootie?

I'm even having trouble justifying the cost per round at my own club these days, those goddam depends are expensive!

[ian]

The most I have paid: $300 to play Pebble (was 6hrs. too)
I have travelled 10 hours on less than one days notice to play Crystal Downs (worth it)
...and I plan to fly down for one round if Pine Valley comes through.
I personally have no limit if it involves my Dad; but unfortunately he seems to have lost his interest in golf after last years problems.
As someone just said "Memories have no price tag". But redanman brought up Shadow Creek' a perfect example. My wife and I will be in Vegas this fall; I don't think I would pay $500 US(1,000,000 canadian) to play.

[Evan Fleisher]

Just wanted to echo the thought and comments of others here (like TH and Redanman).  I'm not going to get my knees dirty or pay exorbitant sums just to get on somewhere.

It is truly the experiences that count...the playing fields are just a bonus.  I too have had the good fortune of playing on some damn fine courses offered up through some of our gracious bretheren...and yet other courses by shear luck and good timing.  But laying down extra greenbacks to put another notch in my driver is not where it's at.

I have driven six hours (roundtrip) in a day just to play golf with a silly bunch of golf nuts like myself (what a day we had a Lawsonia!), and traveling just for the sake of playing golf is something I would not even blink at...hell...I once flew five flights in one day on December 30th just to retain my Gold Elite status on Northwets Airlines (but we'll save that story for another day).

So bottom line...we all put a different "price tag" on what our limits are in pursuit of our passions...it's not always money that makes the difference.

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

Ian,
You bring up a good point, I was wondering when you would chime in with Canadian dollars,  

Personally I agree with Gib's post, well written.

As for Pebble, it is $350 today, I played twice in February and both rounds were less than 4:30.

As for Shadow Creek, I have been to Vegas three time in three years and do not have intentions of going back soon, but I regret not playing Shadow Creek.  I would equate to three rounds at Glen Abbey and figure out what I would prefer.

It is like saying would you rather play Pacific Grove 10 times or Pebble once.  If I lived in Monterey, the answer might be different, but if I went down from Toronto, I would play Pebble and put my clubs away.  This has always been the indicator for me.

[A_Clay_Man]

I personally think this is a loaded question.

And the only reasonablly honest and accurate answer is:

As little as possible.

Why pay more?

I relate it to the first time someone had the bright idea to have a "pay for view" event on television. If no one paid that first time, perhaps the idea would've died a quick death, but they didn't and it didn't and now it's pay per view for almost everything and anything.

Part of the justification for me thinking it's a loaded question is the example of Bandon- Pac Dunes cost structure phenomina. These two new courses seem to have been built for the simple reason that alot of people will pay the 100+ $ fees that is their answer to this question.

The only problem is that now that a real downturn has occurred in the economy, the anticipated revenue stream will not live up to expectations.

And if golf has taught me anything it has taught me that if my expectations are too high I am vulnerable to only have disappointment.

[THuckaby2]

Wow... so MANY great thoughts here... very well said, one and all.

But to my friend redanman, er, uh, well... remember I live by Mike Cirba's teachings.  To say I've surpassed him makes me most uncomfortable.  Now who do I look up to?  

TH

[-1 (Guest)]

Why, everybody, of course!

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