I was lucky enough to catch a round yesterday with one of my trusty golf cronies. The weather was clear but a bit chilly. In other words... perfect golf weather! And as usual, I was running late for the 1:51 tee time my friend had arranged.

As I was rushing into the lavish clubhouse at one of our favorite local public links locations, I couldn't help wondering if it was a wise decision to spend the fifty or sixty bucks on this casual mid-week round. I probably should've stayed in my office and finished a few of the several unfinished projects I had so willingly left on my desk. Ah... such is the hypnotic magic of the game.

I stood impatiently at the counter with credit card in hand waiting for confirmation of the drive-out cost of the round. $30. I looked up and said "that's for eighteen holes, right?" The response came back, "Yep, with a cart."

I finished the transaction and joined my buddy who had been waiting on the practice green for quite some time. I mentioned the fee to him and he echoed my own surprise. "Unbelievable!" he said. "I remember paying $40 for nine holes just a couple months ago."

So here's the premium local public course that charges the $75 plus dollar weekend round dumping their price point thru the floor in order to get a few weekday golfers out on the course. How will they manage the mortgage of that tricked-up two year old clubhouse? How indeed?

And as we drove to the first tee there we're no other golfers in site. Yikes! Will these guys still be around next month? Please tell me this is one course's dilema. Or are the fees in your neighborhood falling into the dumper too?