GOLF is ROBBING us | Sunday Morning Golf Show 

Golf course managers/general managers, have a very difficult time balancing the books. They increase footfall, upset members, decrease footfall membership prices go up, upset members. There are literally hundreds of courses, very good ones, at reasonable prices. People need to get away from the Top 100 lists. Leave these to the wealthy Americans, and visitors. We have 3 amazing courses near me, Aberdour, Burntisland and Kinghorn, total for all 3, midweek, about £100. Top 100 courses around the area, visitors fees start around £250 per round. I know where my money is going, 😂

Delighted to see the course vlogs back; long may they continue. The prospect of seeing Paul and Joe back doing battle on DHG is something to look forward to.

Hi Dan. Since you’ve moved away from course vlogs I’ve barely watched the channel. I understand why you moved away from them but for me you guys do the best course vlogs on RU-vid due to the really good golfers you get on, the banter and the great golf courses you play. As someone who likes to travel around playing different courses I loved your content to also check out the courses you were playing. I really hope with the season around the corner you will try to include more courses in your content and we’re possible you get all the good golfers on to play with you ,joe the pro , Paul, James Ruth, gilly and of course Bernie. Cheers Dan hope this year goes well for you and you can start to move forward with the channel.

I really enjoy watching the course vlogs. The camaraderie and friendship among you all is fantastic. While it's wonderful to see you and Bernie, showcasing more of Paul, Lee, Cornish, Dog, and Jordan would be excellent. And bringing back Wilber is a definite must! Keep up the great work, mate, and keep those videos coming.

For me it’s the people and banter between the old crew that made the vlogs so good to watch. Looking forward to seeing Paul and Joe back on the channel.

Hi Dan, I watched both 9 hole vlogs from Perranporth and enjoyed them both, up to a point! The conditions that you and Lester battled through, whist admirable, were not in my opinion what I want to really view, seeing you guys being "beaten up" by extreme weather conditions, please do another visit to Perranporth and play the course in more favourable conditions that will show your skills and showcase the course.

Hi Dan. It's been a while since I've offered a comment on your channel but your prompting on tonight's Sunday Show spurred me into action. Firstly the debate around setting green fees. Its always a tricky balancing act as I know from being on the Board at my club, but the golden rule is 'Members come first' The exceptions may be at courses which are located at popular holiday locations where green fee revenue etc has more significance. Also, if clubs do need a financial boost for whatever reason and increasing subs isn't going to be acceptable , then members are usually willing rally to call though supporting fund raising events and spending a bit more on F&B and in the Pro Shop. Ok, now to the Perranporth vlog. I did watch both parts but it was a bit laborious. The golf course looked unremarkable. It just wasn't photogenic. Way too many blind shots (The good 'Doctor' would also not approve) so it was hard to get any sort of perspective as to where the hell you guys were going. The weather didn't help obviously either. It was a frustrating watch to be honest. I think a lot of viewers would have not bothered with Pt 2 knowing that, with respect, neither you or Bernie would get anywhere near Par. This is probably tantamount to heresy but I think if the club did some reshaping and careful 'dune surgery' to eradicate a lot of blind shots, you would have a much more cohesive visual presence - it would also make for much easier filming . It would also take a the guess workout of where to go - where did it go!!, especially for visitors, and probably speed up play in the process.

Easy to miss a vlog when the release schedule isn't fixed. Always enjoy the content- I'll check out the most recent one which i missed.

Good show dan. Love the course vlogs, everyone who appears on the channel has such a good standard of golf and the banter between you all is brilliant. In my opinion they are the best vlogs on youtube. I think covid had a huge impact on green fees, with the closures and loss of money they need to try and get some of that back. But going on that when the restrictions were lifted and courses could open again it was one of the only sports you could do so courses could use that to their advantage and start charging more as people would pay it. The issue I found was my local course almost doubled the green fees and it doesn't live up to the price tag. Keep up the great work DHG

I am an AVID golfer but paying £150 or more for a round of golf excludes vast numbers of golfers. I've played a lot of the top 25 courses, none since COVID, and there is simply no way I'd be spending £200 or more for a round of golf.

We used to treat ourselves with a day at Woburn every now and then, but at current prices, no chance. In Essex £45 is the average rate which is starting to get pricey.

I miss the course vlogs, love the banter , love ve seeing the courses in the south west , so many brilliant links courses and st mellion, I reckon I watch 4 different courses vlog a week

I always watch & thumbs up course vlogs . As for Green Fees I am lucky enough to have a local course 10 holes 18 Tees par 66 that is £12 a round & you can play extra holes if you want & it's not busy .

To clarify within 30 mins drive in Kent you have the following prices for single summer green fee mid week Royal St George’s £335 Royal Cinque Ports £235 Princes £125 Walmer and Kingstown £45 The top 3 are premium have hosted Opens etc and virtually back onto each other and are top of the range links course. Walmer and Kingstown is at start of White Cliffs that clime up and continue onto Dover. It’s a cliff top course with incredible views over the Channel is chalk based drains incredibly well and is always in good nick all year round and is a lovely course. So look around great golf is available

Re. Perinporth. Watching you struggle is interesting as you still play so well, but with so many blind shots it was difficult to get a sense of the course. Love the channel and look forward to more content.

Very interesting SMS , as an amputee who cant walk 18 holes , im now a fair wsather summer golf who takes a buggy , i shop around and try to play twilight deals or mondays as normally get a deal. Luckily near me is Axe Cliff and can normally get around for 25 to 30 quid plus 25 for a buggy . Happily pay up to 60 quid but no more for a better course. Unfortunately playing twilight golf a lot of the time the bar is closed when we get in so have to go to the pub . Last weeks vlogs were great to see you and Lester together sgain , not sure Perranporth is the best course to vlog from as so blind , the one you did before with Jordan in front was a lot better , looking forward to seeing Joe and Paul in ths vlog and great to see Lee is with you and Lester on Instagram so lokking forward to that , have a great time remember to drink responsibly, keep up the good work .

Watched both the blog episode and thought they were great, it's what you guys do best imo. And the fact that we have a vlog with you Paul and Joe to look forward to is awesome. Enjoy France, re hashing the search for a 58? I think golf is forcing people to make tough decisions on their disposable income, for those that have some, but golf is so addictive that we are all still choosing it. This is made clear at weekends with how tough it is to get a tee time at even the most average courses

Think it was just the weather conditions at Perranporth which made it a difficult watch.

my local municipal course warned us for months they were raising the rates. Then the rate hike came out, and it was $1 on weekdays and $2 on weekends. 😂

Interesting about the balance to be struck between level of fees, footfall on course, visitors and then maintenance. Liam on golf mates did a vlog on rechargeable robot mowers and the huge savings they allow for the club. While maybe not for every course it is something more should Look at. A big benefit is green staff can do work elsewhere in the course and not spend hours cutting the fairways

I am a nomadic golfer and green fees are noticeably up since Covid. I think initially off the back of golf being one of the few things you could actually do and more recently probably more the raising cost of everything. My golf isn't good enough to be spending huge amounts on a green fee, although I am off to Celtic Manor (to play the Roman Road) in April and that is 40 quid which isn't too bad. I am definitely watching your vlogs, in fact this winter I have been rewatching many of the old ones. I very much still love the vlogs!

I always watch & Thumbs up the course vlogs & on the cost of Green fees I am lucky enough to be able to play a local track that is 10 hole with 18 Tees par 66 for £12 , you can even go round twice if you want.

Loving the SMS (and the coffee was good). Haven't had chance to watch last week's due to family commitments. Can't wait to catch up on the missed vlogs this week😅😅😅

Great to finally meet you, Joe the Pro and Paul at Saunton on Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing the video. All the best and many thanks for the continued content.

Looking forward to seeing you all in France with the top crew. Keep up the good work ⛳☘️

Golf has alwasy been expensive, at least for the nicer courses. Here in Phoenix/Scottsdale area of Arizona, USA we have hundreds of courses. You can play as cheap as $12 US for a full round (the course refelcts the price) and you can play $500 and up for a full round (the course reflects the price) and anythig in between. Then you have semi-private, private and even more private clubs called exclusive (invitiation to join only). I've had the pleasure of playing at some of these clubs both private and exclusive only because I know people who are members. I don't know if the membership is worth the price but the courses and other facilities are spectacular. What I have noticed is the that many of the private clubs are quite snooty, especially when it comes to attire and where you can change your shoes but, interestingly, the more exclusive the club the less snooty they are on attire, and many of these exclusive clubs don't have or require tee times, you just show up and wait your turn to play. So from my observation, the multi-millionaires are quite snooty, but the multi-billionaires are not. I can only surmize that the more money you have, (as in billions of dollars) the less you care about what others think or do, so long as it doesn't interfere with what you want to do. Cheers.

Cost of green fees went up here 🇨🇦 considerably in 2022. Everything has gone up 10,20,30% or more, but the paycheck hasn’t. Definitely a balancing act for pricing. Most of our top end courses are private or semi-private with limited green fee players. Personally I’d never pay for than 50 pounds, which is about $85 Cdn for a round. More than that and it’s just not worth it. Those prices you shared are honestly shockingly high, I don’t know how anyone there can afford to pay green fees, and that’s all year round, we just have 5 months or so. Good topic though Dan!

My local club has reduced their green fees in recent months from £70 a round down to a far more palatable £30. It’s now far busier as a result of course but you get nothing for nothing in economics.

Just a personal thing re course vlogs; I prefer 3 x 6 holes, spread over 3 days.

I think Golf is robbing us. I'm from Southport so an amazing area for golf courses but unless you have a lot of money and know several people it's actually one of the worst places to live if you want to be a member of a golf course. First year fees (entrance fee and subs) for most courses in the area are £6000-7000 and thats just for 5 or 6 day membership whilst you wait many years to be invited to be a 7 day member!

I watched them both but caught the second one by chance. Maybe on the Sunday Morning Show you could give your schedule for the following week so we look out for them? I felt your pain with the weather. It looked brutal!

Since 2019 I have been in a society to play the Top 100 courses in England, we have noticed how the prices have been increasing year on year, some by quite a bit.

Enjoyed the show as always. As some others have said if it’s one of the highly rated or a course with history will always be more expensive bearing in mind courses ability to maintain footfall and Membership. But there are lots of great courses out there which are much more reasonably priced but still produce a great challenge and enjoyable round of golf

I watched your last course vlog and enjoyed it😃 About the greenfee I think some courses are ridiculous expensive. If the course has a lot of costs to maintain the course or planning for upgrades I can accept higher greenfees. When the greenfees is to high I just do not play there and if more golfers do like me it is pitty for the game of golf.

I wachted all the content you guys produce

Sounds like I was one of very few to watch your 2nd part at perranporth, thought you both battled the elements very well. Green fees are way too high in a lot of places. Not viable for those of us on a pension.

We’re very lucky because we get 30+ courses that we can play twice a year for free as there part of a smart golfer system. So we can keep the cost down a bit,and agreed there not in the top 100

Brilliant vid, thanks

Dan I watch all the chorus vlogs I think it has something to do with the algorithm and how you may present the video you know this channel has just as good golfers as any of the top channels some on DH golf are better than the top channels

Id pay good money for some decent weather to play in!

I'm afraid golf seems to be slipping back to the elitist sports of years ago, a lot of clubs don't seem to appreciate the present financial climate and with the weather at the moment why pay so much to walk around a muddy field

Keep up the great work, Dan! #golfisfun

Morning. Golf is expensive. I pay my membership which means a round of golf is £25 if I play once a week. But if that round was away it is the cost plus £25. The odd special might get me to pay more than say £50 but not regularly. Top tracer ranges offer great income streams for clubs and hopefully can keep green fees down. If not how long before people choose playing computer generated courses for a tenner rather than the real things. I bet most top tracer rounds are on those top 100 courses too. I think your vlogs could serve well focussing on hidden gems of value. I don't watch these guys playing Sawgrass or bay hill or st Andrews. I probably won't get to play there for many reasons but can see them on TV. Keep up the good work Dan.

Interesting very interesting! Thanks again 👏👏

I think the cost of new golf clubs is killing the game, it's becoming out of range for many prospective newcomers to the sport.

I think the fees have skyrocketed the last couple of years. But isnt it a question of supply and demand?

After moving to Australia, I couldn’t believe the difference in affordability vs the UK. Adding the fact that it’s a 365 day sport out here. Incredible value for money.

Thanks Dan for giving another video.Golf has become to expensive for the average man or woman I think it will kill it self over the years

Hi dan green fees arre getting out of control when you consider the general cost if day to day living.Golf has always been considered elitist and has recently tried to change that opinion getting more youngsters on the course. Now golf equipment is shooting up in price with new release every year its becoming unaffordable.People will take up other sports

Quality over quantity.

I watched the vlog I liked but ofcourse you had the funniest man on RU-vid "Bernie" I think the problem might have been it's been a while since you've done course vlogs. Maybe the people that watched before have moved on to another channel

Members are the lifeblood of a Golf Club, my own club puts visitors out during club medals and it pisses of members they can’t get a time as the clubs sold it to a visitor, on medal day!! It’s greed, the budgets should be decided on Member Fee’s income and visitors seen as a supplemented income, clubs will continue to lose members if they keep favouring visitors over members

I have friends coming from abroad (US and Singapore), for a week in August. To play a week (5 rounds), of Norfolk links (Cromer, Sheringham etc), would cost around £625 each (green fees only). An Airbnb costs around £300 a head for 5 nights. Total around £1,000 If we catch a plane to Malaga (as cheap as £57 return), and play at La Cala (3 excellent courses), it costs £300 each (6 rounds including buggies). The cost of an Airbnb would bring the price including flights to around £750 total for 6 nights and rounds. In the UK we’re not guaranteed decent weather. In Spain it’s nailed on. I’d rather play a week of links but the prices don’t make sense…

I think the lack of views for the mid week vlog is a due to a couple of issues. 1. Viewer say they want more vlogs but then don’t watch- they say one thing and do another- this is symptomatic of the current consumer habit. The consumer misleads you or even lies! A great example is that a recent supermarket survey of their customers said 14 % were vegan or eat vegan meals. The supermarkets stocked on vegan ranges hoping to get in on the next new thing, but they did not sell. When they analysed the numbers the sales of vegan foods were closer to 3%. The moral of the story is don’t listen to consumers - react to what they do. Identify what and when consumers watch your output and then match it. React to what they do - not what they say. 2. The nature of RU-vid has changed. RU-vid has now instituted a much more commercial approach. The adverts in longer videos are now a hindrance to me and many others watching. Hence I avoid longer vlogs. In my humble opinion course vlogs have had their day. They may be part of a mix of viewing, especially if at courses abroad or iconic British courses, but generally watching a vlog of another SW England course is not enticing. I would restart, look at what gets the most views and focus on that element and slowly introduce more content based on viewing figures rather than broad comments from viewers with no skin in the game.

COURSE VLOGS - My first reason is that you play too many course vlogs on links courses. I accept that due to weather inland courses are frequently unplayable at this time of year, however, for a viewer most tee shots can't be visualised even with shot tracer, arrows etc. The second reason being that you then assume that folk are watching purely for the golf - Nope - If that was the case there is pro golf available. We also watch for the banter ie your interactions with Bernie especially, we watch for information ie why you are playing to the back of the green, or bigger club and softer shot to reduce spin etc On a parkland course it can be enjoyable watching one player go fairway, green whilst the other player going into the woods then green and scoring just as good. Your recent vlog was an achievement to manage a score in those winds but from a viewing perspective it was simply a couple of guys against the elements. It could have been any two guys on any links course.

Golf has been in decline in America. They've lost millions of golfers, there are lots of factors. In the UK it really isn't an all year round sport. You really only have 7 months of play. Rising equipment prices and rising green fees will do damage to the industry. Lots of my friends rarely play golf now, family commitments and generaly just too expensive for them. Time is also a factor. The younger generation is not taking it up in the numbers my generation did. I believe golf is at the tipping point. Golf equipment is eye wateringly expensive. You can find courses with reasonable green fees but the higher end courses are out of reach for most people. Golf is going back to be an elitest sport when it tried hard for years to get rid of that title. As we know its a great game but when you make it too expensive you begin to lose people. Tipping point.

The mid week course vlog was good mate. I think people can turn off whe the weather is brutal and it’s a slog for you guys. Maybe not engaging enough for them as it doesn’t display you guys best performance. I enjoyed it though, nice to see you pros struggle like all us choppers! 😂

Interesting points about the course vlogs…so I was one of those very vocal about the vlogs and being your core business on RU-vid. I watched the first 20 mins of the perranporth vlog…then no more of the 1st or any of the second. It’s tricky to actually understand why in hindsight but if I have to put my finger on it it’s a combinations of several things; random release times (used to be every Mon/weds/fri), just 2 of you, miserable weather, lack of channel positivity and content in general = I have started watching others to feed my RU-vid golf habit! Tough to hear maybe but I think you very much, perhaps without realising…where riding the top of a very nice wave about 18 months ago, the summit being the Xmas special when 20+ pros and friends turned up and everyone got involved. Since then and particularly the last 4-5 months the channel has definitely lost its way, and in the fast/fickle world of RU-vid it means that you may still have the subscriber numbers (as people don’t generally unsubscribe) but in terms of viewing new content…DHG is no longer people first ‘click to view’ as perhaps it once was. I have no doubt that you can get it back…but I still feel you need to focus on course vlogs if it’s course vlog views you want, likewise be the best at reviews if that’s what you want. Trying to spread yourself over the entire world of golf seems like an impossible task and one that will only water down your numbers (views/comments/sunscribers).

Great to see Paul back. Look forward to the vlog

Really enjoyed this Sunday show Dan, so good to have all elements of the costs of running a club put out there, particularly for the moaners to get a better understanding of the challenges. I do think there’s a market for bottom end courses, if only to get youngsters into the game as bigger clubs are still daunting to many. Enjoyed Perranporth and well done for hanging in there. A pet complaint; why don’t more viewers give a thumbs up? 76 out of 400+ views isn’t good and it doesn’t cost anything but a simple click helps you massively. It’s like people who can’t be bothered to vote, moaning about the government!

Great video Dan. We've just played Royal St Georges and that was £165 but it was just the history and the way we were treated that made it worthwhile and obviously the course. Some of the top end courses can be real snooty. Uh oh, I can see you being in trouble. At the end of the video you said you were playing with your nearest and dearest and was expecting you to say you were playing with your wife and not the 3 amigos 😅😅

I had a very long diatribe of channel(s) history going, but clicked the wrong button and it disappeared. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Bottomline, something daily (a review or lesson tid bit) in combination with vlogs from interesting courses which must include LePro and/or Gilly, will get the views. James Robinson gives us 20 minutes, 365 days a year. Now he’s adding a Sunday course vlog with Chris Dennis, who adds to the short daily tid bit lessons, and he posts them first out of the box. I click in every single day because it’s always there. I wouldn’t miss the Sunday Morning Show because it’s always there (unless it’s not, lol). The bottom line to course vlogs is the characters. Your characters are LePro and Gilly. One of those guys has to be there and add in Paul and/or James Ruth. So, daily tid bits and course vlogs with entertaining characters would have me clicking. Just my opinion. Keep it going, Dan!

How much do you want to spend on golf (hobby) per year? I have been a full member at a golf club for 5 years, annual cost £1150. Then you want to experience other courses, maybe a trip away! Plus, I'm financing a junior 😂. The cost goes on and on. I personally just can't or won't pay a £100+ green fee. In fact £50, is really the maximum for me. The last three wet winters have now led me to cancel my membership. We are now entering the end of March, and the courses are still too wet and no fun to play. So I no longer want a 12 months membership unless I can get into a links course! My point is that another risk factor to increasing your green fees is pricing me out. Decisions decisions 🤔

More course vlogs. But if they have to be broken into 3-, 6- or 9-holes segments, some kind of hook has to be incorporated to bring the viewer back. #MustSeeTV Especially if it has been awhile between course vlogs. I think those hankering for some On Course action may get satiated with the first part released. The anticipation for any further viewing is thereby drained for a period of time. I imagine the idea of building a hook into the first, say, 6-hole part without cheapening the actual round is a monumental task. And three seperate 6-hole comps is not as enticing a prospect, speaking for myself (save the rare Dan-Lester-Gilly-Paul Round Robin Pairings). But I suppose this is why marketing professionals have demand for their services. -- As you began to close out with, "with your nearest and dearest," I thought you were going to offer advice on how to get one's wife to get on a plane to France....

Green fee prices have because ridiculous. Even a fairly average course in Surrey is between £60-100. The better courses anything from 100 up to 250. Because unaffordable for most people.

My club fees for next year are £1680 for a 7 day membership. It's £50 a round for non members and you get 25% off if you are a members guest. So at £50 a round I need to play 34 times to break even. It's getting to a point where it might be too expensive so have to look somewhere else unless my money situation changes slightly. We'll have to see.

I don’t have much of an issue with what courses are charging. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not made of money, but I don’t play outside of my home course or state very much. My issue lies more with the fitting and equipment side of pricing. At 52, I’m still working at getting better and know that the proper equipment will help. However, levels of fitting are questionable and expensive. Not sure who to trust and what is an acceptable amount for people to pay. Love the channel and content!

Last weeks course vlog at Perranporth was an odd one, since you ask. I do love the vlogs and I do come predominantly for that reason, but that particular one was a bit "flat". I think it was a mix of a very light production regarding cameras, the light was a bit dull, and I was not getting a good feeling for where the ball went in regards to the holes. Also, as good as you and Lester are, I was missing one or to other people. I find the mood/group dynamic is "better" when there are more people to play off of. Also I like the light competition element. Helps me engage all through the vlog. I am one of the ones that has not yet watch part two of Perranporth. I will however, but it is for the moment "in reserve". To sum up, I don't think that particular vlog is up to your usual standard. And just since this was a very negative post; your channel is my number one golf channel and if you and Good good, Finch and Shiels post something at the same time, your channel gets priority. Keep up the good work Dan and lets get some vlogs back... :)

Played a couple of rounds at other courses this last week one was £28 the other £16, personally I ain’t paying more than say £40 for a round.

Started watching last week Dan but in truth, when conditions are so brutal and it becomes both a slog and crazy golf, I get disinterested. Sorry…

Hi Dan , I watched your vlogs, i find them very entertaining but there was a time where everyone waited with baited breath for the video to drop, the pure inconsistency of when and where makes it a little,harder to actually see when your vlogs drop, as Lesters, you have to look on your subs site to see , a lot of folk just dont bother to search, I personally think you need to start really getting out there, yes it means youre away a lot and not doing your garden/family etc, thats a business decision, it will be easier in the summer for sure but thats for you to decide mate, Golf courses around here are changing dramatically even the course you vlogged in Bramshaw has gone all "Rich and exclusive" they lost 400 members recently, just walked out , Hamptworth the same, The Hampshire , as well, Paultons park has gone expensive as well, Golf is changing and the owners are going all "Liv stylie"!! dont think its good for the game but ????

Would love to see you and Joe against Mark Crossfield/Matt Lockey!

Green fees around me are shocking such a shame I will never be able to play courses so close to my house can't really justify spending £150 a round on golf when we struggle to even pay for a meal out

The vlogs are good with Bernie, Paul, You and plus 1 sort of thing

Nearest and dearest..... Lester and Lee 😂😂

Dan, I know I'm only one person, so it may not make a big difference. I didn't get to watch part 2 of this week's vlog until yesterday (Saturday). I can't always watch your vlogs when they drop, dut to work and family stuff. But I always try to get them in at some point through the week or weekend. Thanks for bringing them back. I am a true fan.

Dan, one of the best ways to get value golf is to enter Open comps at various clubs. For instance I am playing Blackmoor GC this year. Summer green fee £110 My open day entry cost £70 which gives me a round of golf, bacon bap, coffee, lunch and prizes plus potential of picking up a prize. Last year played Purbeck, Brockenhurst Manor and Blackmoor all top quality courses. Blackmoor is special ! I'm playing a four ball in April at Isle of Purbeck and with lunch, prizes its £35 !

One of the best Sunday Morning Shows you've made so far! Really liked the mix between footage of Paul and Joe, yourself hitting shots and the serious talk of prices etc. In regards of making course vlogs, I think it's important not to make them too long. I think people sometimes don't have the time/patience to sit down and watch for more than 30 minutes. Other than that; thank you so much for your hard and high quality work - please never stop!

Love my Sunday morning show with a cuppa. Love more that you ask honestly for potentially negative feedback on the Perranporth vlog. The issue with this vlog was: 1. Weather and sound 2. The course wasn’t intriguing - all we could see was blind shots. 3. Bernie - I love his banter but when it’s non-stop Dan…. Sometimes he should try to be more insightful / interesting / informative/ professional. 4. Miss Dog, Paul and Jo the Pro. They are all very different people and golfers, and share their personalities without just trying to be cheeky chappy / Jack the Lad.

Green fees are far too expensive. The only way to play affordable golf is to be a member. Another way is through the exchange scheme your club may have with another club. 👍

I didn’t watch as you’d already said the weather was bad and to be honest, though entertaining, prefer watching Joe, Paul, Gilli to Berni as they’re such good player. Seeing them play courses I’ve played is great. Will definitely be watching Saunton as played there last year and be good to see how navigate. We plays links every year round uk and in last 20 years at least doubled in price and the Open champ venues are exhorbitant. Real shame as prices out the keen golfer that wants to play these great tracks and often those with money that want to play best (but often without appreciation of) get to do so

Im a carer for my son so ive really felt the price of golf. I used to be able to get out once a week but now its twice a month, also ive had to accept lower end courses to get my fix. But im just grateful i can still play in these tough times

I enjoyed the vlog and watched both parts, clearly knew you weren’t going to break par but wanted to see how you managed the conditions and not give up. Great to see Paul and Joe will be back soon

Regarding green fees, I live in the north of Scotland where we have a lot of tourists playing golf, especially Americans. I won't mention the name of the club (not Royal Dornoch!) but they were finding they were not getting the level of green fees they were hoping for. As a consequence, they decided to raise their visitor fees (by a considerable margin) and, suddenly, they became far more popular. It became clear that particularly US visitors were discounting the club because the fees were too cheap - they felt the course couldn't be very good. Not saying this is a model that works generally and the course in question is a very good one but I thought this was quite an interesting situation.

Was a member somewhere v local. Was around 1.2k mark. Which is about 3/400 more than most around. But it's a championship level course...stadium course and playable all year round. New owners took over. Put it up to 1.4k first year. Then following year put up to 1.7k. As I had my first child, I didn't have enough time. Plus the price increase, I decided to leave. That same year it was confirmed the price would go up the same year on year until 2025. Resulting in a 2.5k membership. Absolute disgrace. Yes they are private owners. But if a club/course is affiliated, it should have some kind of regulations or else lose their affiliation. From what I hear, they were actively trying to drive out members and focus on the corporate players. This is a NI club. For perspective, the world class course like RCD RPR is less than this. Yes they don't need membership...but other top end courses like Galgorm is nowhere near that.

Allways great to see Paul and Joe the pro can we get the dog back please

Golf is getting to the point where it's unaffordable for many. During (and since) Covid, most courses bumped up green fees, even weekday twilight rounds on a half decent course are £40+ where before they were £20. The weekend rate for nearly every course round here (West Kent) is £60/£70 ... so if you want to play an afternoon weekend round (if you're allowed), once you've paid green fees, had a beer and a burger you don't get much change from £100 which, for me is too much. On the vlogs, whilst I always watch them I feel they are getting a little samey, but I appreciate you don't have many options given the time of year - would be nice to mix up the courses a little bit as the weather improves - also struggle to get a full 30 minutes to sit down and watch, perhaps break them up into 3 x 20 minute vids?

Really funny you ask about part 2 of Perranporth. I didn’t watch it and I don’t know why. I guess there are so many other channels and I have xx time to watch - you already hooked me for part 1 and I guess subconsciously I must have thought, do I watch something I’ve already seen or something different. This is purely personal choice but I think I’d have preferred to have watched the full 18 holes as one vlog - i hope that helps 🤷🏻‍♂️😀👍🏼

Not watched part 2 yet. Just not got around to it. Surely views are not an instant thing? I might not watch a video until it’s 2 weeks old.

Prior to Covid, golf in the US was dying. Both public and private courses were closing, memberships were down, and rounds per course were fading. What caused this? Cost of membership was prohibitive. Greens fees had gotten out of control. Equipment was unaffordable. Pace of play was ridiculously slow. Millennials had no interest in a sport for the “privileged”. Covid saved golf in the US. One of the few places where you could drink and associate with friends was on the golf course. People were working from and getting bored, so they spent Covid recovery money on fitted clubs. They would work in the morning, and head to the links in the afternoons. Now that golf has been revitalized, golf courses, equipment makers, and retailers are back doing what cost them dearly prior to Covid. Pricing for everything has become prohibitive.

There comes a point where paying more money isn’t justified. Top courses with history can charge more money but doesn’t always guarantee a better experience. As an example I’ve played the brabazon a couple of times and is it worth double the PGA course🤔 imo no. It has the famous holes but after that it’s pretty ordinary. For average players as well it’s a bit of a slog if you can’t hit it 250 plus off the tee. Some guys I know played Celtic manor and a couple of them said the 2010 wasn’t that great to play for their level. Personally once a course gets beyond 50-60 pound to play I would question what I’m getting for that money.

Hi Dan late reply from me this week,great vlog,and just to touch on green fees and costs,my beef with golf clubs is joining fees,I don't mind spending over£1000 a year membership,but joining fees r the problem,I know you pay for what you get,but it's pricing people out of joining the better courses,that r in better condition,what's your thoughts on that👍⛳

My favourite DHG videos are still the Ashbury course vlogs with Lester/Lee/Wilbur - still go back and watch them before our annual trip to Ashbury!

Regarding the Perenporth Course Vlog, I loved watching it but was a little disappointed in its length. I would've loved to see it twice as long! But my opinion shouldn't be very persuasive since I'll watch everything DHG puts out.

Since you asked... I'm an ex-subscriber who rarely watches your course vlogs because of the excessive chatter, which make them feel like a 6-hour round of golf. Just trying to help.

This is true about clubs. People seem to "pull" shorter clubs. The hands get lower and point the club face left. Golf is too high as well. My parents thought I was crazy when I wanted to play. I got shoes, clubs and balls for less than 300 and they thought it would break them. A new or slightly used driver is well over 400. My membership fee has gone from 20 a month to 80 a month. They would lose their head now.

In the late 60s I played St Andrews Old for 2s6d (12.5p) and Carnoustie for 1s6d (7.5p)! Of course I was a junior then.

Enjoyed the Sunday Show. Green Fees is a great topic but open to all sorts of propaganda information from clubs and their professionals. The Golf Monthly Top 100 courses index has driven up the prices. If clubs don't pitch the right amount of the green Fees they see a massive drop in revenue and the members have to pay more fees. The course owners will never lose money. I suppose it is all down to greed in effect. Many £millions to build these courses some from scratch is time consuming of course and that money has to be recouped. From a personal point of view I don't mind paying £50 for a green fee but the course has to be in good condition. I don't expect puddles in the wet weather and shingle in the bunkers. I think the courses that are exceptionally good, Wentworth, Burhill, Foxhills, Centurion etc will always charge massive green Fees but it is relative. Those courses are in Surrey and housing in those areas is in the £millions so people can afford a £200 green fee. Overpricing just sends everyone else to council run tracks that are at best poor but for £25 with a breakfast thrown in for free it is probably the way forward. Survival of golf courses is only ever about the money, get it wrong and they close and become housing estates.

Ladybank GC is about 30 minutes from me. They put their green fee up to £100 last year because they found out that despite their stature among Scottish Golf Courses, Americans often don’t look at courses charging less than £100

Hi Dan, great show, looking forward to seeing some footage from France. I enjoyed both Perranporth vlogs, perhaps the views dropped off because a number of shots you were hitting were either blind tee shots or approaches into greens? A treat to play but not as good a spectacle to watch? Coupled with the tough conditions and high scores ( they were good in my opinion, brutal ) some subscribers may off switched off? Green fees in Hertfordshire very expensive, coupled with the cost of equipment and cost of living I fear a number of clubs will see their membership numbers falling.