Back
Golf is in an amazing period of growth and rebirth right now.
Courses that have needed reinvestment or remodeling for years, decades even, are finally getting the attention they deserve. But there is a downside to all this money being spent by owners and operators to glam up their golf experiences. Those costs will be passed down to consumers. Not all of them are happy about it.
Whenever we write about the new Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Fla., the locals start lamenting on social media how much the new Karoo and The Roost cost.
Bring back World Woods. Seriously.
— Ryan Bass (@ERDoctorRyan) December 10, 2024
Cabot Citrus Farms replaced the old 36-hole World Woods Golf Club an hour north of Tampa. World Woods, once a proud Top 100 facility, had been in decline for years. The same locals who could play it for pennies on the dollar also liked to nitpick the poor shape World Woods was in. But in golf, as in life, you can't have it both ways. You either have to enjoy the fact that you've got a scruffy golf course with a world-class routing you can play on the cheap or you have to appreciate what Cabot Citrus Farms is aiming to become: a top 25 golf resort in America with incredible new accommodations, facilities and top-notch golf to match.
I get that it's tough to lose your favorite local bargain play. I'm going through it right now, in fact. San Juan Oaks was the World Woods of the Bay Area for many years. It had all the same characteristics. It was off the beaten path in Hollister, about an hour south of San Jose. It had a spectacular routing from Fred Couples and Gene Bates. The fact that it was hit-and-miss on conditioning made it the Bay Area's best bargain. My golf buddies and I would walk it for less than $50 during the pandemic. Those were the glory days of San Juan Oaks to us.
But the reality is the glory days of San Juan Oaks have just started again. The course reopened late last year after a two-year closure to clean everything up. It's now in immaculate condition. Trees and overgrowth have been cleared out during the restoration process. It now costs between $125-$175 to play, a price too steep to play regularly for my golf crew. We're disappointed, but at the same time, I'm glad to see the place thriving. It will be a part of a new 55-plus senior living community and is getting strong reviews on GolfPass.
A July 2024 review from 'Golfinskier' reads: "Great course! It has reopened and it is is terrific shape! They reversed the nines and did some minor changes (removed a few bunkers and trees! They made it a little more player friendly! The range is in very good shape! They aren’t quite up to speed with the food (snack shack was open but I didn’t try anything, the starter assured me that the pre-made sandwiches were great)! Overall, it was a great experience! This definitely a course you want to play!"
I'm celebrating that I have a great new high-end public course nearby, rather than complaining that I lost my favorite bargain. My crew has pivoted to other "bargain" courses, because, let's face it, there's always another bargain course nearby.
We regularly tee it up at Santa Teresa Golf Club, a Santa Clara County muni across the street from my house, or the fun and funky 11-hole Gilroy Golf Course. We can cruise around each for right around $50. If we want to splurge a little, we head down to Santa Cruz for DeLaveaga Golf Course, a city-owned muni that's got a gorgeous setting among the towering trees that's a tough, target golf test playing much longer than the 6,100 yards on the card. It costs roughly $75. Compare that to Pasatiempo, which costs $425 following its two-year restoration. It will be interesting to see what Poppy Ridge in Livermore charges once it reopens this summer following a Jay Blasi redesign that shrunk the property from 27 holes to 18.
The point is, don't lament the loss of your budget course when upgrades make it a bit more expensive to play. Instead, applaud the owners for having the vision and dedication to spend the money to improve your local golf scene. You might not be able to support them all the time, but you should at least support them by not complaining about the new pricier green fees. That undermines the quality golf business they're trying to build.
Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching - I can't help it, my dad is a pastor. Plus, after speaking with owners and operators as a golf journalist for 25 years, I am probably more sympathetic to their plight than everyday golfers. I see the time, money and dedication they put into serving their customers.
In 2025, let's all try for a little more gratitude - and a little less attitude - that we can afford to play this great game.
Do you have a budget course that's gone upscale, upsetting your local golfers? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments (0)