High-ticket courses' rip off extras

There’s nothing worse than a $200-plus course that turns around and tries to charge golfers $10 for a yardage book that looks like it cost 50 cents (maybe) to produce. When are these high-end, high-dollar, supposedly high-class courses going to learn that gouging the customer for every last nickel is not the way to build any course loyalty. You’re already suctioning out the golfer’s wallet. No need to turn him upside down and shake out his pockets as well.

It’s amazing how a little cheap freebie can change most golfers’ view of the experience. Give them a sleeve of souvenir balls, a towel with the course logo, heck a yardage book and they suddenly think they’ve gotten a great deal. Forget the $25o on the credit card.

No one’s saying to hand out the now-standard $75 polo shirts (news flash, even Ralph Lauren isn’t getting $75 for a real Polo shirt). Just don’t let your greed ring out from the clubhouse rooftop. The PGA West-managed Greg Norman Course in the Palm Springs area is one of those high-end coures that hits a golfer for every extra charge it can possibly think of. This course is just one of many that should know better.

They deserved to be called out just like the rest of the rip-off extra overchargers in the coming months.