Golf can be an expensive game. A set of new Callaway Clubs can cost as much as a used car. Golf balls push $50 a dozen and it takes a lot of time, usually five- or six-hours including travel time to get in a round. And that doesn’t count greens fees.
Last week, our regular foursome picked Old Trail as our designated course. Nobody bothered to ask about prices. It was still March, on a Wednesday, after 1 PM and we had our VSGA cards.
We should have asked. They charged us $55 each. That’s fairly significant for this time of year, and they didn’t accept our VSGA cards. You wonder what it will cost come June on a Saturday morning? $100, $200, $300?
By the way, we just about had the course to ourselves that afternoon.
In contrast, my son-in-law Brent and I played a lovely city-owned course in Jamestown, NC last Saturday morning at 11 AM. It was $36 a round and perhaps even a nicer course than Old Trail. The course was packed, foursomes teeing off each ten minutes with a marshal on hand to see to it that everything went on time.
Fewer and fewer younger players are playing golf because of the time involved and the expense, Golf courses would be wise to make things as affordable as possible.
With all the great courses in the Cville area, why should we pay $55 or more when others gladly accept VSGA cards and at half the cost.
I doubt we will play again Old Trail for a while.