High Cost to Play May Explain Decline of Golf in Grand Junction

There has been a decline in the amount of golf played in Grand Junction and the city is hoping that trend does not continue. The high cost of play may explain the decline in rounds played.

Declining rounds of golf means a decrease in revenue for a golf course - that is not good. It takes money to run a golf course and to keep it properly groomed and maintained. The two Grand Junction city courses, Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park probably don't need to turn a large profit. After all, don't they exist simply for the enjoyment of the valley's residents? However, they do need to at least pay for themselves.

According to an article in Sunday's Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, in 2008 more than 106,000 rounds of golf were played at Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park. In 2014, that number was just under 80,000. So, why the decline?

The first thing to look at is the weather. This year, with little snowfall, golfers have been out more than the last couple of years when the Grand Valley inversion shut down golf courses for probably three months.

Beyond that, the discussion across the nation about the declining number of golfers has focused largely on two factors.

One factor is the time involved. Nine holes of golf can take  2 to  2-1/2 hours. Add in 15 minutes of driving time and arriving at the course at least 15 minutes prior to tee time and you have a good three-hour investment of time. If you are thinking about 18 holes, figure five hours altogether. It can be a real challenge to find free five hours in your week.

Another huge contributing factor is the cost. Sure you have the equipment and accessories, but the real obstacle is simply the cost to play. To walk nine holes at Tiara Rado on the weekend, the cost is $21. Add $9 for cart rental, and you suddenly have $30 invested in your 2-1/2 hours of recreation. For 18 holes, it's gonna cost you a $50 bill. At Lincoln Park, it will run you a little less - $25 and $41.

One thing I have never fully understood is why it costs $9 for cart rental, but if two people are riding, the cost is going to be $18, rather than splitting the $9 between the two riders, or at least making it just $4 for the second rider. But, that's an item for a different discussion.

The point is, playing golf is costly.

With declining numbers on the golf courses, the city may be tempted to raise rates to make up for lost revenue. I don't know that they are considering that, but it would seem to me to be counter-productive.

Forgive the analogy, but it's the whole Wal-Mart approach. Lower the prices and sell larger quantities, and you end up making more money. Oh, and how about some winter rates? The cost should absolutely be less when playing conditions are very far from ideal.

While we are on the subject of the cost of golf, here's something else I don't understand - the rates at Chipeta Golf Course, which, of course, is not a city-owned course. But, the weekend rate is actually more than Lincoln Park - $26.50 for nine holes with a cart. That's too high for an Executive Course with 13 par 3's, and no par 5's.

Is the cost of green fees going to prevent me from playing golf? No, not at this point. But, the cost will definitely keep me from playing as many rounds of golf as I would like to play. If it would cost less, I would play more and my guess is I'm not the only golfer in the Grand Valley who feels that way.

Are you one of them? Let us know your thoughts below.