American golf club introduce pay as you play green fee

A golf club in the United States has teed off a new ‘pay-as-you-play green fee’ initiative in a bid to tackle slow play and give golfers more value for money.

Thought to be the first golf club in the world to try this new concept, Lake of the Ozarks Resorts in Missouri is making golfers pay for the first hour, and then for every 15 minutes of golf they play.

In winter, golfers can play for an hour on one of its two 18-hole courses for $10 plus tax and also receive a buggy. After the hour, they pay a pro-rated fee for every additional 15 minutes.

“This is definitely a first for The Lodge,” said Matt Tausig, director of golf, to the Lake News Online. “I’ve worked in the golf industry for 25 years, and I’ve never seen another golf course offer this kind of pricing.”