Pay to Play Courses

I'm relatively new to the sport of disc golf, having only played 5-6 times at Enman Field in my hometown in Maine. That being said I'm a big fan and am considering opening a course as a side business. I'm in the research phase and was surprised to see so many courses are actually free, especially in Massachusetts where I am "scouting." Is this really the case or am I under the wrong impression? How do people generally feel about pay to play courses? What does a course have to offer to entice people to put up the $4-$5? <font color="black"> </font>

[circle_2]

My guess is that a fairly 'special' kind of course will attract people away from the free courses. Of the ones I've heard most about that are successful are either resort types, or the only ones around.
.02

I'll usually pay to play a course the first time on any course, just to experience it. But a repeat visit to a pay-to-play requires the course to be in pretty good condition. Nice clean green mowed fairways (lots of maintinence), multiple pin placements, quality baskets, signs, concrete tees, benches, and scenic shots.
IMO, clearing out a forest to make a course isn't the best thing either. I like park-setting courses much better. A lot of people like courses in a tree grove, but it's just not my cup o tea.
Of course, if you're there to monitor the pay-to-play, you may as well set up a pro shop/convienience store and make something off of that too!

[Moderator005]

Other than state parks in Delaware that charge a $5 daily fee for out-of-staters, here in Pennsylvania I don't have very many opportunites for pay-to-play courses. On the few occasions that I have visited such out of state I was more than happy parting with what I consider a very nominal fee.

After playing said courses I usually end up asking my fellow golfers (and myself) the hypothetical question that if we lived locally whether we would frequent the course. Unless the course is of poor challenge or quality, the answer is usually a resounding "yes."

A few questions always linger though. In Maine, there are really no other disc golf options other than pay-to-play; there are few, if any, "free course" alterntatives. I do often wonder how popular pay-to-play courses would be there if there were other alternatives. Additionally, I question whether golfers that are not of sound and steady income would frequent the course with its daily fee. Most of the company I keep is employed with a steady means of income. I do wonder whether those who have trouble making ends meet would go out of their way to play free courses versus those courses that charge a fee. I'm not so sure how popular a pay-to-play course would be in another state where there are many free alternatives.

[J A B]

I am fortunate to live in central Tejas where there are THREE high quality Pay For Play courses.

Circle R in Wimberly, 2-18 hole courses, Circle R-2 in San Saba, 3-18 hole courses, and Moody's Disc Golf Ranch in Red Rock (the only one I have not had the pleasure to play but understand that it is an 18 hole course w/3 differant tee position, everyone that I know that has played it raves about it).

What keeps me from playing is the distance from where I live, not the cost. An hour and 1/2 to two hour drive makes it hard to squeeze in a round of 18/36, and still take care of my family responsiblities. I am blessed that in the Austin area there are 5 "free" 18 hole courses, 2 nine holers, (5 more 18 hole "free" public courses with in the hour drive window) plus a couple of new courses that I have not had the chance to play.

I would think that the closer you are to a population center that lacks a disc golf course... plus your ablity to promote the sport to your customer base,... AND the quality of your course design will determine your profitablity.

Best of luck.

kinda the reason i joined up for disc golf..... cheap sport!!! there is a new course in Tulsa ( Copperhead Canyon) It is one dollar all day long! It is a good idea to fundraise for new courses in the area..... :-) :D

[jeffash]

What does a course have to offer to entice people to put up the $4-$5? <font color="black"> </font>



Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, near Jasper, Arkansas, offers you some of the most beautiful scenery any course can offer. Now that they have "real" baskets it's even more enjoyable. Alone, or with friends, it is my idea of the perfect place for disc golf. It is a very challenging course both mentally and physically. I also like the fact that it is on private property. There are no conflicts between the disc golfers and the other Ranch guests. It is a real Ranch that offers Disc Golf, as well as some of the best rock climbing in the world!
It's well worth $5.00 a day :)

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'll be sure to post any new developments...

[widiscgolf]

Look into Token Creek in Madison Wisconsin and also Sandy Point Disc Gold Resort & Ranch in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. There both pay to play courses for $5 a day for all day. They have allot to offer to bring players in.

[jconnell]

What does a course have to offer to entice people to put up the $4-$5?



I just moved up to your neck of the woods to work at Dragan Field in Auburn, so I have a small bit of advice from what I've gathered from the boss and my own experiences in the sport. To entice people to play and continue playing, you need:
A quality course (or two)
Near constant up-keep and maintenance
A stocked pro-shop
A staff to run said pro-shop AND to maintain the course.

That said, if you are truly serious about opening a course, your best bet is to not do it as a "side business" unless your "regular job" gives you ample time to devote to the side business...and you have the means to staff it even before it makes enough money to be self-sustaining.

For a pay-to-play course to be profitable, it requires full attention. Unless it's the only game in town, people aren't likely to be steady repeat customers unless they are really getting the bang for the buck and can see their money in use.

JMHO.

--Josh

[bruce_brakel]

How do people generally feel about pay to play courses? What does a course have to offer to entice people to put up the $4-$5?



All you have to do is maintain a clean, pleasant environment and design a course that provides a good challenge to various levels of play, from pro down to intermediate. If you can afford to give it a try, go for it. Your primary investment will be the land, and if it does not work out, undeveloped land rarely ever depreciates in value from non-use.

Who would you rather have at your course, idiots who tear out all the tee signs, steal the baskets, intentionally destroy the vegetation and leave trash everywhere, or players who respect the game, the course and each other?

Pay-to-play puts a lot of trash on someone else's course. In an area where disc golf courses are busy, pay-to-play will attract the people who don't want to deal with the people who won't pay the $4.

i just wish it wasn't so **** easy for all the people in metro detroit to buy a metro parks annual for twenty bucks.
i can't come back here to visit anymore without mills, stony and kensington being packed.

i love to play quality golf courses and would gladly fork over more than four bucks to be able to play any of those three, cass benton and river bends too (if they'd mow it).
twenty bucks for an annual pass to those courses and they might as well give them away, i've been back here in metro d for a couple of weeks, bought my pass first day and in two weeks i've played each course at the mills once, kensington three times, stony at least 5.

that is a lot of world class disc golf for twenty bucks.

[quickdisc]

i just wish it wasn't so **** easy for all the people in metro detroit to buy a metro parks annual for twenty bucks.
i can't come back here to visit anymore without mills, stony and kensington being packed.

i love to play quality golf courses and would gladly fork over more than four bucks to be able to play any of those three, cass benton and river bends too (if they'd mow it).
twenty bucks for an annual pass to those courses and they might as well give them away, i've been back here in metro d for a couple of weeks, bought my pass first day and in two weeks i've played each course at the mills once, kensington three times, stony at least 5.

that is a lot of world class disc golf for twenty bucks.


San Diego's monthy pass is $ 25.00

with as many people using morley as there are, it would seem as if a price increase would be in order.

please don't shoot me.

[quickdisc]

with as many people using morley as there are, it would seem as if a price increase would be in order.

please don't shoot me.


It's still crowded though !!!! How much do you think he should charge to play there ?

that place is very crowded, that's why i think he isn't charging enough.

[Znash]

I live in Dayton, Ohio and there are three free coures with one on the way and there are 13 other coures with in one hours drive. In other words I would not pay to play and normaly will not if I have to.

I'm amazed at how "cheap" so many players sound that responded to the thread of "Pay for Play" courses. the few $'s that most P for P courses charge don't even pay basic expenses like cutting the grass. There was a time when there were plenty of players that felt that they wanted to give something back to the sport that brings them so much pleasure. These days, I know of some players that will put in plenty of volunteer hours even though they have already busy lives but I also know many that won't even support their local clubs that handle activities at the"free" courses they enjoy so much. I've heard of plenty of courses that are on public property that can't keep score cards and other supplies on hand and regularly have vandalism and theft challenges. Courses on private property in many cases have many more methods available to control the environment that we use for our great sport. I for one am going to play disc golf this weekend and enjoy paying for it to support the efforts of those that make it happen.

[prairie_dawg]

You should support good P to P courses and let the others do as they can. A well maintained with good layout course(s) along with multiple tees and pin placements per hole is an awesome thing to learn to master. That challege is well worth the money. :D

If your city courses aren't packed yet, count yourself lucky. :cool:

[Karma Police]

I'm all for pay to play courses. We have token creek here in madison and it's a county park and most of the money goes into keeping the course looking as good as it does. The two public courses are great but the city does not take any responsibility for them. They are in danger of being pulled b/c of litter and vandelism. One option is for them to go to pay to play. I'm all for it. It keeps the traffic down some b/c some people aren't willing to pay the money. It's great to have public courses, we need them, but if they aren't respected by the people who use them I'm all for having to pay a bit of money to keep the course up.

[esalazar]

I am in Austin, Texas, we are priveledged to have some really top notch courses in our area. I have played both both circleR and redrock (both pay to play) $5 for as much disc golf as you can play in a day ,very worth it. Not to mention the serenity both theses courses have to offer.Our local courses (which we have 10 0r so free courses) are always packed..Red rock has a , showers, fully functional lavatories,and a cabin which can be rented at a very reasonable rate . Both these courses also hold tornaments which are great , 100+ disc golfers camping on private land aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.Its like a big family reunion everytime without the public B.S.
:D:D

$2.00 for public courses would be fine. This would help the parks department immensely over time.

$5.00 or more for private courses would be fine. As long as they are groomed and enjoyable.

I'm all for pay to play courses. We have token creek here in madison and it's a county park and most of the money goes into keeping the course looking as good as it does. The two public courses are great but the city does not take any responsibility for them. They are in danger of being pulled b/c of litter and vandelism. One option is for them to go to pay to play. I'm all for it. It keeps the traffic down some b/c some people aren't willing to pay the money. It's great to have public courses, we need them, but if they aren't respected by the people who use them I'm all for having to pay a bit of money to keep the course up.



I wouldn't mind paying to play at Elver. About $5 for the whole day would be well worth it. And especially if they put the money back into the course. Same goes for Hiestand. I would play 36 holes or more.

[stevev]

Last summer, I played on my first "pay-to-play" course (out of 30 or so free ones). It was down in Dunedin, Florida (next to Clearwater,FL.) It is a Fly 18 Course (I think?). It is at St. Andrews Golf Course, a little Par 3 Ball Course where they put in 18 Baskets. Paid $11.00 to play 18 with a real golf cart. What a great day on the links, with a cart and a couple of beers on a long as@ course. Good fun with a dude from around Austin, TX. He got wet in the pond to get a disc. I was lucky. I would pay to play any course that is new to me at least once. Would really have to be a good course to pay more than once to play it.

[flyboy]

That was a Fly 18 course I am glad you liked it.I have 3 in Fla. My newest is the Wellington Golf and Country Club a 5 star resort $6 walking rate $18 with a cart.Three sets of tees for all to enjoy.In west palm beach the houses have airplane hangers and thier own runway :) Pay for play or it will go away.There are exceptions.Change the venue change the coustomer.Change the coustomer change the results.The other 90% of america will soon play.All courses have a purpose.

[bruce_brakel]

If you are ever near Indianapolis, the Fly-18 a bit south from there in Trafalgar is great fun. Jon and I made a special trip last summer to check it out and we had a blast.

Senior Citizen in a cart: Are either of you boys playing a Top Flight?

Me, while Jon is driving: No, were both playing Discraft!