With our local standard the green fee schedule you posted is in the range of affordable. We had similar schedule about a decade ago.
All of the sudden because the increase in the population and the interests peaked by the pandemics, the local municipal authorities deemed the higher price is suitable. Thus squeezed out some of the retirees. I know that I have been seeing some of them several times a week in the past, now maybe a few times a month.
Everyone’s pocket feels tight these days, so the “none-essentials” will be cut first. Not very good for the retirees, many of them start to consume alcoholic beverages more often, weight gain… all the not good for you stuff.
Of course, I did not compare the living standard between your region to mine, that does not matter a whole bunch with fixed income. I mean, one will not get a larger check because one lives in a place with higher cost of living.
What I see is, those who tried to keep this sports in their weekly routine had been going to golf courses farther away. I had been seeing carpooling golfers at the Costco gas stations with one driver and 3 other napping in the vehicle. Carpooling is fine and we had done it many times. With the cost of fuel still 65%+ more than a year ago and 300% than a decade ago. traveling is not something the average wish to do on a weekly bases.
Plus, traveling more than 2 hours round trip in traffic is not fun.
There been an increase of over 1.2 million new comers in the Puget Sound region. Of course we have people got squeezed out because of the rising cost of living and the stuff which cane with the population growth. Crime rate is higher than anytime in the past 4 decades, traffic is a mess ( getting to be like the Los Angeles gridlock ). We have more rolling and hilly terrain, and the newly arrived brought their driving habit here from a flatter plain. Pedestrians death related to traffic jumped 3000 + % even before the end of the year.
Quote one of my senior, on both age and intelligence, our life is run by the most undesirable people at this time.
Looking back into the 60s and the 70s. I’m sure we could get out of this mess, eventually. However, time does not wait for anyone.
The side effects of growing the game, had brought in more profit for the golf industry. Squeezing out the traditional golfers and most of the supposed new golfers will not hang around long.
It’s like in a restaurant business. One got famous and popular, then comes the price adjustment, then the reservation will go down, the regulars will not return as regular anymore. They can not depend on the once in a life time customers for bread and butter. Most of these will go under in a decade if not sooner, or sold out to investment group.
Same as any other industries.
