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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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...

Okay $60... Happy now?

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

https://i.imgur.com/WysBf4u.jpg

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

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.:a040:

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?

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.

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. .