Overall spring conditions & the $ we're paying
My golf season has always started the first or second weekend that courses start opening, and this year was no exception. I played Iroquois on Friday and Casselview today, and I have to say that IN GENERAL course conditions were the worst I have ever seen for April golf.
It's not the fault of the golf course owner. As Mr. Shank noted, this winter has obviously been very tough on course conditions, with the deep frost and VERY slow spring thaw. Compared to previous years at this time, I think ALL of the courses are in worse shape. But hey, it's April and you're golfing - everything else is gravy. You can't control the weather.
But you can control what you charge people to play. Frankly, it ticks me off when I hear people saying they were dinged $30+ for the kind of course conditions they were playing in.
At $18, Iroquois was worth the price. Casselview was worth the OGC price of $20, and I'm sure Cedar Glen was worth the $23 price. Even the 2-for-1 deal at Nation seems fair to me. But to charge full price or almost full price in April - especially THIS April - seems like highway robbery to me.
IMHO, if you want to charge full price then you should wait the course conditions are better - like Stonebridge, Meadows, etc. The snow is gone, but they're not open. If you open as soon is the snow is gone, then you should discount the price to make up for the poor course conditions. IMHO, Full price + April course conditions = price gouging.
ever wonder.................
Ever wonder what golfers in Calgary are thinking??????
My guess would be they would play on ANY greens and in ANY conditions at this point.:D
Just enjoy the golf. As for overpriced courses at this time of year, dont play them until they are in good conditions. Your $$$ = your choice of courses.
Btw.....Meadows is in great condition for this time of year with green greens that actually roll (albeit a little slow).:bigcheek
Manderley is looking and playing real good
Maybe I've been lucky so far this year, but I played Manderley for the first time this year and its looking AND playing real nice for this time of year. Greens were mostly green but again very puttable. Fairways were "damp" in some areas but also green. Not quite as nice as Meadows was on Monday but then again very nice for the end of april and only a week from being under snow.:bigcheek