Rick Golfs

What’s it like for a normal hack golfer to play Augusta National? 2 years ago I got the unbelievable honor of playing the home of the Masters with a member. I still pinch myself. So what did I shoot? Let me take you on a hole by hole journey from the member tees:

@lmackay8868 Yes we just played Muirfield and North Berwick at full price, not cheap.

@Top100Rick Thankfully, Scotland still retains a little more accessibility and certainly has numerous world class courses that are open to all. Even if the green fees have become ridiculous on most of the big names!

At Ardfin, one thing you get that is often missing in modern golf course architecture is the Heroic golf hole. Golf holes that instill fear. That require long clubs and long carries. Golf holes with no escape. The 2nd hole is a 210 yard par 3 with a 180 yard carry. Playing 20 yards longer into the wind. Yes it’s hard. Yes I saw good players top the ball into the nether. But the reward is so satisfying when you hit the great shot.

@ClassicCCT No carts unless handicapped. Walking only

So, if the clubhouse signs say “cart path only,” Do you have to follow it or just do whatever the hell you want?

@jewy17 Nope

@Top100Rick All inclusive once you’ve spent your fortune to be there?

What’s it like to play the most expensive and exclusive golf club in the world? Ardfin is a Top 100 course that gets just a few hundred rounds per year. To play it, you go to the edge of the earth and rent the entire estate…for $160,000 dollars. Let’s take a deep dive…

@GrayBrantley We had caddies and some carried or used electric push carts. Food and drink is separate.

@Top100Rick Amazing! Is it $160k per day/night and all inclusive? Also looked like yall were hoofing bags…caddies?

@NeToChiGuy Entire weekend

@Top100Rick Was it $160,000 for the entire weekend? Or just one night and one day of golf?

@DivotReport Ha I need to get in some rounds at home. My membership is expensive!

@Top100Rick Come along way from Castle Hills 👏 👏 👏

@BoBromhal 2 nights 2.5 days

@Top100Rick So 160k for the weekend, or per day?

@JustinWheelon True but not 18 holes right?

@Top100Rick Three Ponds is even more exclusive

@giantsfan74 That is correct. Since I don’t drink and don’t eat a ton, I am generally glad that it wasn’t all inclusive. I never get my Phil when I attend things where everything is prepaid.. if it was all inclusive, it would just cost more for everyone

@Top100Rick Is it true that food is not included for $80k a night?

I haven’t played it, but it’s now ranked in the golf Digest world and the Top 100 Golf course’s world rankings as well I absolutely agree that conflict of interest such as running tours should be disclosed and really should be totally separate. But honestly, the rankings are not big money makers without other forms of income, so I get it.

@Top100Rick I believe he was at least at one point. Or was part of the group promoting/selling it. In any event, I think that relationship, whatever it was, should have been clearly stated. But again, I don’t think there was malice, it’s just a little weird.

@CraigCPratt 18 king size bed, so in theory 36 would be the max But I would guess it’s more like 25 since the facility is relatively small. I’m not sure they would have dining space for much more.

@Top100Rick How many players allowed in that number?

@InnocenceCapit1 Is he an owner? That’s my question.

@Top100Rick What’s false info? I’m not saying that there was pay for play, but he did run the panel and he is an owner of point hardy. Which just looks weird and is absolutely a conflict of interest. Which doesn’t hurt anyone imo, it’s just an odd situation.

@kingkzoox I don’t know the maximum I would assume it’s probably 25 just because it’s not a huge facility Food is separate, which I think is good because then the people who want to skip lunch for breakfast or don’t drink aren’t having to pay for it

@Top100Rick What is the maximum number of golfers? Not gonna lie, 20 guys for $8K a piece isn’t terrible. Food separate?

@eighteenholes18 I think you’re right technically I just hate the term penal these days because it has such a bad reputation. And there is a bail out right but the no escape part is that you just have to hit a solid golf ball.

@Top100Rick I’d argue that a golf hole that “requires” a shot from where there is “no escape” would fall more in the Penal school of golf architecture 🤓

@GolfTilDeath It was universally loved

@Top100Rick probably very disappointing

@stephen50033848 Two nights 2 1/2 days of unlimited golf

@Top100Rick Is that price for one night and one round per player?

@FredIberraken Honestly, the cruise ship was amazing. I was shocked that a ferry could be that nice. If I was going again, I would probably just fly.

Absolutely. I took a flight the 2nd time from Glasgow (Cheap, small plane. We were at the Lofoten GC the day before 🤩). First time, I drove 12 hours from Prestwick to Machrihanish (Storm, landslides, road closed, ferries cancelled). Then the drive to the ferry to Islay, fantastic, 2h1/2 cruise before reaching the nicest harbor in the world, port Askaig 🥰

I have no idea about that one, but I do think a lot of the placements are just due to one real issue which is that only about 10. raters need to be there to get a course rated. So if the 10 people who go have an amazing time and great weather and are treated great, it might be overinflated just because it’s such a small pool

@Top100Rick No, but I don’t think having a tour operator and course owner leading the most important panel is a good idea. Wasn’t long ago that diamanté debuted at like 29 in the world. I like the place a lot, but that was laughable and I think there were some external factors at play.

@rossmarno @swatworthy Yes, we thought of that but I wanted to go play Macrahanish and the courses over there

@Top100Rick @swatworthy You can fly with Loganair from Glasgow to Islay, then it’s a short drive and a very short ferry across. Would save a lot of time and also relatively inexpensive. Lands right next to the Machrie that, whilst obviously not Ardfin, is a great course (and hotel) in its own right.