Do Golfers' Expectations Make Green Fees More Expensive?

One of the biggest problems that the golf community faces is high green fees to play what most normal golfers consider a “nice course.”

When an investor goes out to build or renovate a new course, the golf course architect can give all the opinions they want on how to build the course, but in all, they have to listen to the client. The client's needs and wants in any form of business usually comes first. In this case, the client plays the game that he or she wishes to build the playing surfaces for that game to be on. Now, what are these clients expectations when it comes to a golf course? When they go out and play golf themselves, what do they expect out of a course? Now this person is then going out to build a golf course that will hopefully meet other golfers expectations, and especially their own. 

 I then would like to ask them, what do you consider a “nice course”? Is it the conditioning? The clubhouse? Customer service? Having a lot of water hazards? Maybe having a water fall behind a green would give a normal golfer that is just looking to play a “nice course” achieve this desire. 

Most golfers who look to play a public course look to go out and have a good time. If that is the case, why would one care about whether there is a water fountain in front of the clubhouse, a high school kid coming out and taking their bag for them, or a water fall behind a green? All these things should not matter if they are looking to have a good time. The fun is on the golf course, and what happens before and after the round when they are with their group. Now, is losing golf balls (where some go for over 3 dollars a ball) on holes with a forceful carry over a water hazard that has a perfect stone or retaining wall, after hitting the ball from a perfectly manicured fairway, considered fun for them? Now that last long sentence involves a lot of money. Lots of lost golf balls, perfectly manicured fairways, and expensive water features that come into play.

Golfers are also looking for a good pace of play, and narrow fairways with lots of trouble around and forced carries over hazards that require groups looking for balls well over the 3 minute rule creates a slow pace of play, something the golfer and the course professionals don’t want. A risk reward hole or one that requires strategy and the opportunity to use different parts of the landscape to help their ball get closer to the hole creates suspense and gives golfers the ability to use creativity by using the ground. Watching the ball bounce and roll creates more fun and suspense for the golfers round, not a splash in front of the green hitting over water. This is a lot more appealing than having a force carry over something where you can lose one or more balls, get you in a bad mood, and only have one area to land your ball. That’s not the fun or a good time the everyday, normal, public, or even private golfer is looking for. Giving them options to get closer to the green using the ground game with thoughtful contours where there is risk around that won’t end in a golfer having to look for their ball will create a more enhanced golfing environment. The problem here that looms? The golfer's expectations. The solutions? Educate the everyday golfer and make them aware of the reasoning behind their expectations. 

Expose them to more facilities that show them a good time without having all these clingy things that they think they like, but in reality kill the fun. It is also very expensive for the course and business. With high golfer expectations come high operating costs. 

Per the USGA, the average maintenance budget for an 18-hole facility in 2024 was over a million dollars, with about 75% of courses in the Southwest anticipating an increase in their maintenance budget for 2025.  This is a GIANT number just for facilities to have well manicured fairways and green grass. Some private clubs are double this, by a lot. Yes, because of the economy of their location, but also because golfer expectations at these clubs are so high. The members pay the big bucks to be members at these private clubs, so they have every right to have high expectations and spend a lot of money to have perfect green grass and white perfect sand to entertain guests and satisfy needs. 

USGA Article

I then question, how much do courses with no irrigation in their fairways save a year compared to courses that do? The location, climate, age, and cart traffic when it comes the type of grass on the fairways is big to determine if there can be fairway irrigation. You know what else? The expectations of golfers when it comes to the playing surfaces of the fairways they are hitting a little white ball on. I hope to bring to you readers, soon, the numbers of golf courses that don't have irrigation in fairways, how much play they get, and their expenses and revenues compared to courses that do have fairway irrigation. 

Golfer expectations include green fairways and rough, fast greens, well manicured tee boxes, good customer service and cool golf course features to name a few. On the other hand, there are other golfer expectations that create a better experience and are less expensive. A well designed course, bold contours, the ability to use the ground game, and a good hangout spot. These expectations come from a facility with a good vision and “mental labour”, as Alister Mackenzie would say, rather than physical labor, which comes with high costs. But what if all these things weren't necessary for the golfers to have a good time at a facility? When it comes to golf, it is the company we are with that creates good times, and creating a facility that accommodates that with a well designed, fun golf course with a low green fee will keep players and guests worry free.