Anybody played the Blue Monster at Doral?

[dlygrisse]

No way I would pay that for Doral, to me it looks like a plain old flat resort course. The only thing it has going for it is that the PGA tour has a stop there. Pebble yes, but that's about it for that price. BTW I have played Pebble, Spyglass and will soon playing Pinhurst 2, at a discouted rate, but Doral, NO WAY. If I was in the area on vacation and wanted to play I would find a decent public course for under $100 and probably have just as good a time.

[Mainlinegolfer]

[quote name='Capecodder19' timestamp='1299960831' post='3049394']
[quote name='Mainlinegolfer' timestamp='1299958711' post='3049326']
Since I've been playing golf for a long time, I've been fortunate to have played lot of great courses and at "reasonable" prices, e.g. St. Andrews for 7 pounds in the '80s, then 35 pounds or so, and, I think, 110 pounds the last time; also, Pebble Beach for something like $50, $175 and finally, $475. I said "finally" because I recall a few years ago a PB exec mentioned that they thought demand was inelastic up to around $500 and have followed that policy. Apparently The Old Course and Pinehurst #2 have adopted the same "whatever the market will bear" pricing strategy for visitors. Personally, I think PB, with its poor greens and slow play is not worth it anymore. I guess the Old Course, Pinehurst #2 (and PB) are still on most golfers' "bucket list", so they have to be played at least once. There are great courses that would also be worth a premium green fee to me; no doubt Augusta National and a few others that I haven't played yet would be on such a list.

However, Doral is not even close to being worth a premium price in my opinion. I was recently in Miami and made NO effort to play Doral...and I used to stay there sometimes in order to play tennis and golf when on a business trip. The Blue course, like so many in Florida, just isn't that special in my opinion. For what it's worth, most courses in Las Vegas also seem to embrace the "premium price for mediocre quality" pricing strategy for visitors. Apparently, the resorts know that when people are on vacation, they tend to have a "what the hell, it's only money" attitude when it come to spending money on golf (or other things).

The funny thing is, many of the truly great private clubs which I have played, and for which I [u]would[/u] have paid a significant guest fee, such as Cypress Point and Pine Valley, didn't have green fees that were [i]that[/i] exorbitant. I'm pretty sure the membership dues and guest fee at ANGC are not all that high. It's all about knowing someone who will invite you and them knowing that you are a good guy and fit in with the other members and guests. Sometimes and your host even absorbs the guest fee (or you otherwise reciprocate in some way). The courses for the nouveau riche, such as the things Trump builds, attempt to have an aura of exclusivity and "class" by simply being expensive. Having a lot of money, by itself, won't get you a membership at Cypress Point, Pine Valley, or Merion. Fortunately, most of us can find a club that's a good fit-- congenial members, quality course, and reasonable cost.
[/quote]



The guest rate at Augusta is under $100 my host told me (you have to play with a member), couldn't get initiation nor dues info out of him. Cypress is around $100 for accompanied guests, free for Class As...dont wear shorts, they're not allowed. The Blue Monster is fun, but not for $300 IMO...summertime you can get on for about half that.
[/quote]
Yep, knew about Cypress and Pine Valley because I've been fortunate to be a guest a few times. Didn't know ANGC precisely but had a good idea from friends who are members or have been guests. It's the one remaining on my "Big 3" that I still have not played. As I said, it's not the great old clubs that that typically charge exorbitant initiation fees, dues, and guest fees, it's the new wannabe "trophy" golf clubs and high-end resorts that are so expensive. Also, most of the great old clubs do not have huge ornate "McMansion" clubhouses. Understated is good.

Doral in summer for $150? Not sure I'd bother, even at that price (in the summer).

[Pingguy58]

I played Doral in Sept. of 2010 and loved it. Is the Blue Monster worth $325? Short answer, "No." Should you play it, "yes." I was one of 28 guys who went to Doral on a golf outing and we were able to get one hell of a deal. It cost us $169.00 per night, double occupancy and that included golf. I paid $210.00 per night because I like sleeping by myself. A nice time of year to play, it's out of season and they will do deals especially if you put together a larger group. We played all four course, the blue, white and red plust the Jim McClean course, I think it use to be the silver.

They treated us very well, it is a resort so it's really expensive but it's expensive at all resorts and you learn how to save money after you have been to one or two of them.

Here's a little secret, the Golf Channel Am tour is playing a two day tournament there this year, if you are a member you can play and they have a special price for stay and play. I'm thinking it's around $300 to play two days, that's a good price. For more information look it up under "Majors" on Golfchannel.com.

[VinRR]

I played there last July in a Florida State Golf Assoc 1 day event. I paid $50, and to be honest, I think that is too much money for the course. The greens were absolutely terrible. The course is extremely boring. It looked like every other Florida course around me.

If there was not a PGA Tour event there and part of a big resort, it would be a $45 muni. But being a TPC course, they can charge whatever the want, because people will pay it. Don't forget to factor in $12 sandwiches and $8 OJ off the cart. ; )

[highergr0und]

$325 is steep, but apparently not too many people think so considering they can easily charge it. I just can't really get behind the courses where you're paying a huge premium to play a relatively boring course with one awesome hole (monster, 17 at sawgrass, etc). If the whole 18 is worth it, $300 isn't that bad.

[Sawgrass]

[quote name='highergr0und' timestamp='1300205949' post='3057303']
I just can't really get behind the courses where you're paying a huge premium to play a relatively boring course with one awesome hole (monster, 17 at sawgrass, etc). If the whole 18 is worth it, $300 isn't that bad.
[/quote]

Given my screen name I can't be expected to be very objective, but you really think that Sawgrass has just one awesome hole? 17? IMO, all you have to do is to walk in either direction (up to 18 or back to 16) to find two other awesome holes, and by the time you've gotten there, you've already passed many others.

[jons1]

[quote name='highergr0und' timestamp='1300205949' post='3057303']
$325 is steep, but apparently not too many people think so considering they can easily charge it. I just can't really get behind the courses where you're paying a huge premium to play a relatively boring course with one awesome hole (monster, 17 at sawgrass, etc). If the whole 18 is worth it, $300 isn't that bad.
[/quote]

tpc sawgrass is an awesome course. you don't play that just for 17. it's a very interesting and strategic track that is worth the price they charge. 18 at doral isn't even on the radar of 16/17/18 at sawgrass either.

[highergr0und]

Alright, I'll back off sawgrass...... It does have a several good holes (heck it's essentially the 5th major for a reason, or was until they moved the date), but it was handy for illustrating my point. A lot of folks who play that course have to be playing for pretty much that one shot.

[SOONERMAGIC]

Played there, no I would not pay that much to play the Monster, but would pay $250 to play the Great White course at Doral again.. that place was a TON of fun!!! Too much great golf here in florida to spend that much.

[AP2 712]

[quote name='tElihu' timestamp='1299853575' post='3046139']
Since I've already played it a half dozen times, I wouldn't pay more than $100 to play there.

I'd say the course itself is worth about $75 (as others have stated it's nothing special), and the fact that it's a regular tour stop with some history adds another $50. So I'd say it's worth about $125. I think anyone who plays it for > $200 is wasting their money unless they can get it the week before or after the event. A large part of the year it's in rather poor condition for a high end resort course that's also a regular tour stop.

I think PGA National, Weston Hills, and Eagle Trace (current and former Honda sites) are all better tracks.
[/quote]

Sorry to dig this post up but I am planning on playing there the Thursday before the WGC... I think that experience is worth the $325 that I am going to pay with all of the grandstands in place and the course being tour ready... has anyone played it recently?

[InspiredTP]

I played it about 2 weeks ago. Good shape, rough was just starting to thicken up nicely. Maybe I haven't watched the wgc event there enough, but I wasn't dazzled . Although our forecaddie was telling us on just about every hole what Alvaro quiros' lines where with the driver, STOOPID carry distances. I went for the green on that short par 4 on the back where tiger drove the green with that rip in the his highlight reels, came up about 25 yds short, but what's nuts is how high he had tto have hit that thing for it to hold that green...

[AP2 712]

thank you for the info....i cant wait

[homergolf]

I played it about 10 years ago. Loved every minute of it. I have found very few holes over the years as intimidating as #18. Of course, I was on a company sponsored trip and didn't have to pay, but shelling out big bucks to play famous courses has to be done sometimes to see what the tour pros do very week. Most I ever paid is Harbortown, probably also about 10 years ago. I think I paid about $250.