[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

I just checked the price for the best public courses in Georgia and in Alabama - two nearby states.

In Georgia, the course is The Lakes at Laura S. Walker. During the week, the standard rate is $15 for 18 holes ($12 for 62 and older) plus $20 for a cart. On weekends, it is $20 for 18 holes. There are specials right now that you can play for $22.99 for 18 holes including a cart!

The best course in Alabama is Ol' Colony Golf Complex. The green fees for Monday to Thursday are $65 with a cart – $40 walking. Weekends the price is $75 with a cart - $50 walking. And for golfers over 62, the price (Monday to Friday is $55 with a cart and $35 walking).

They aren’t accessible for golf cart from The Villages but they were the highest rated public courses in Georgia and Alabama. I saw an article from Golf Digest which ranked the top 75 public courses in Florida. None of the Championship courses were listed.

Many of the public courses listed on the Golf Digest list of greatest public courses are funded in part by local municipalities. For example, Bethpage in NY is part of the NY State Park system.
The "Ol Colony Complex" you referred to is part of the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority.
It's not really a fair comparison to compare a privately funded and operated course to a course that getting money from a municipality, when comparing greens fees.

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by Laker14

OK, OK, we get it.
Subsistute "already paid for" for "free" and you get the idea.

Executive course = no money out of pocket beyond trail fee
Championship course= greens fee out of pocket, around $50...

I think we all know that the executive courses aren't technically free.

Get off the $50 figure you are using for comparison; that is priority rate and doesn’t apply to most golfers

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Once again, WHERE "Up North"? It's a pretty big area...

I know what prices are in MY area "Up North"... Pretty much double your $35 fee when you add in the cart...

UpNorth should be able to answer where up north is because that is his user name. Expert

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by GpaVader

Just got back from a long weekend playing golf in Phoenix, we played 3 rounds and all were under $100 including cart. We could have spent a lot more money, but we played on a budget. Out of the 3 courses, there was only 1 I'd never play again, 6 hour round, so it got a lot of traffic but it was in terrible shape. The rest were in nice shape and I'd happily play them again.

In comparison, I have not had any issues playing the Championship courses here, although I've only played at two, Southern Oaks and Belle Glade. Both were nice courses and seemed fairly priced. On the other hand I've played at Continental Country Club and paid $40/w cart and that was a nice course as well.

It seems to be seasonal, so I mainly stick to the Executive courses on the weekends since I work during the week....

I was reading along and agreeing with you until you stated Continental was a nice course. It may have been in the 1960’s

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Most other courses don't provide a free cart. It's an added expense and a moneymaker for the course...

When booking almost any course online the green fee includes cart to simplify things. There is a little cart icon by the 9 or 18 hole choice. Many courses will not allow walkers until after a certain hour anyway

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Get off the $50 figure you are using for comparison; that is priority rate and doesn’t apply to most golfers

It's $50 plus $750/# rounds played per year.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Get off the $50 figure you are using for comparison; that is priority rate and doesn’t apply to most golfers

Fair enough. You are correct. My point is that every time someone says executive courses are "free", someone feels obligated to make the lame point that they aren't free.
They are paid for via amenity fees. However, to play or not to play an executive course involves no money out of pocket (other than a trail fee if you ride), so in effect, it is free.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Some can’t get pass the koolaid.

No, I'm someone who understands what is and isn't included in the amenity fees and who doesn't get caught up in semantics about free golf...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Get off the $50 figure you are using for comparison; that is priority rate and doesn’t apply to most golfers

Okay $60... Happy now?

[ElDiabloJoe]

Here's the course fees for a community "up north" that has three 18-hole courses, FWIW:



PS- Yes, they are courses open to the public, but "members" means residents/owners in the community.

[MrFlorida]

Executive courses are included in you amenity fees, so they are not really free, plus you have to pay a trail fee for each person.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

Executive courses are included in you amenity fees, so they are not really free, plus you have to pay a trail fee for each person.

thank you for the new information. It really helps.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

Here's the course fees for a community "up north" that has three 18-hole courses, FWIW:



PS- Yes, they are courses open to the public, but "members" means residents/owners in the community.

Have you played the courses? Can you report on conditions? What "community up north"? Are we not allowed to mention other communities on this forum?

[Papa_lecki]

If it’s on top of the world -

The course is 6100 yards from the tips
Vs, say Bonifay, thats 6800 or 7000 yards

And a 70.3 vs 72.9 rating
And 118 vs 131 slope.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Shaker Hills, Ayer, MA public course, not municipal.
Cart included

In-Season Golf Rates: May 6th - October 16th

Monday – Thursday (18 holes / 9 holes posted if available)

Open - 12:00 ($89 / $59)
12:00 - 2:00 ($79 / $55)
2:00 - 4:00 ($69 / $49)
4:00 - 5:00 ($59 / $49)
After 5:00 ($49)


Friday (18 holes / 9 holes available after 2:00PM)

Open - 1:00 ($105)
1:00 - 3:00 ($85 / $59 after 2:00pm)
3:00 - 4:00 ($75 / $55)
4:00 - 5:00 ($66 / $49)
After 5:00 ($49)


Saturday, Sunday & Holidays (18 holes / 9 holes available after 2:00PM)

Open - 11:00 ($119)
11:00 - 1:00 ($105)
1:00 - 3:00 ($90 / $59 after 2:00pm)
3:00 - 4:00 ($78 / $55)
4:00 - 5:00 ($66 / $49)
After 5:00 ($49)

Shaker Hills, Ayer, MA public course, not municipal.
Cart included.

Compare non municipal to non municipal for apples to apples.
and note that in season has different pricing by time, so everyone can argue about their ability to pay via income level.

Working stiffs have to play on weekends with everyone else who works. .