THE UPS & DOWNS OF PAY & PLAY

Every year at the beginning of October, which for most courses is the beginning of the winter "high" season, we experience an inevitable leap from summer green fees to winter green fees, which are generally considered the norm by those who run the Costa del Sol golf courses. This can be quite off-putting, especially for resident golfers, who for several months have enjoyed golf for as little as 45€, including a shared buggy, which represents as good value as anywhere in the world. To suddenly be faced with green fees of 70€ or more, plus the cost of buggy hire, can be quite daunting for those who have retired, or live and work here and are on limited incomes. However, this situation has existed here, and at most golf resort destinations throughout the world, ever since the worldwide golf boom started in the late nineties, so it doesn´t exactly catch us by surprise.