Don’t be naive:

Public golf prices in Charlote are high for the same reason it costs so much more to fly out of Charlotte than Greensboro or Columbia.

IRI and Ratcliff own too much of the market. In business school this is referred to as a “price maker”.

To fly out of Charlotte Douglas you deal with the price set by US Air. They DESTROY competition from others each time they try to enter the market, and then jack back up the prices.

When Birkdale and Highland Creek were owned separately, they gained market share by providing a superior value proposition at the $55ish price point. Now IRI dares you to drive to China Grove or Ashville etc. to avoid giving them your $55 a round golf money. Just like US Air dares you to drive to Columbia or Greensboro to pay $225 round trip to Chicago rather than the $370 they will charge you from Charlotte Douglas.

DEFINITION: The firm is a “price maker,” that is, the firm has considerable control over the price because it can control the quantity supplied.

and YES TOO MANY COURSES…means that the same limited supply of golf rounds/dollars are spread amongst 30 courses instead of 18 courses. I could go on and on…