"The U.S. Open was just a factory to take your money."

Aaron McFarling in the Roanoke Times walks around the property Friday and lists all of the ways the Greenbrier Classic excels. While I giggle at the references to the Old White Guys TPC playing "too easy" last year (wasn't it also one of the most exciting events of the year?), this little note about the fan experience caught my eye:

Wade Kennedy is among them. He's 46, a Virginia Tech grad and a devoted golf fan. This summer, he attended the U.S. Open at Congressional.

He likes this better.

"The U.S. Open was just a factory to take your money," said Kennedy, who brought his entire family from Richmond to this event. "The hospitality and the friendliness of the tournament staff here is second to none. They make you feel comfortable, and you enjoy yourself because of that."

Hospitality was one of the many things Greenbrier officials had right the first time around. Good to know they haven't lost it.

Comments

[Ivan Morris]

Ditto with the recent Open Championship at Sandwich. It's not so much a competition to identify the golfer of the year but a highly efficient fund-raising exercise. The enjoyment factor was practically non-existent.

[David P]

Has anyone looked at the pricing of actually staying at the Greenbrier for a few days? I was loving what they are doing for this tournament, so I thought "what a great place to bring a family for vacation!" After looking at the ala carte cost of the activities, think again. I'd imagine a week there with a couple of rounds of golf and throwing in rafting, falconry, sporting clays, meals and a few other things would run about $10,000 for a family of four or five. They need to do some serious bundling before I could even consider it. Looks amazing though.

[Old Hornet]

Sounds a lot like my bio - old, white and not that long.

[otey]

The Greenbrier priced itself out of family vacations long ago. It is a business retreat and/or convention location. Nobody pays with after tax dollars for their stay there. Ditto for Sea Island. The problem is that businesses are cutting back on their outings also. They have to be hurting. I don't know who the market is these days for these big, magnificent legacy resorts.

[sir real]

Otey,

The Greenbrier has most certainly not priced itself out of the market for "certain" families. They still get them, though the old money crowd that used to come in significant numbers hasn't been there in strength since the late-80's. They only stay at the best places that are worth the money. Greenbrier has slipped overall. The golf has never been that special; no course consistently in the Top 100, let alone Top 50. Pinehurst and Pebble both trump that., as does The Homestead, just down the road with its Cascades course.

The Greenbrier setting is stunning and if they had folks that really knew golf running it they'd make some significant changes, to improve the golf experience there, which could turn it around. Lester George did an awesome job restoring Old White and got a snub for his efforts. The owner is plowing money in there like JD shoves in chips at Vegas, but it won't matter. When your branding your premiere course with second-tier "TPC" hype, there's blood in the water that matches the red ink on the P&L statements.

Don't worry, the next owner will have plenty to work with to turn it around, unless the current boss is comfortable with a money pit and is content to keep trying to fill it.

[No Longer Used to be Former S&T Convert]

That kind of hospitality has a price tag to it, however people on an expense account (like the writer from Roanoke) don't see it until checkout. David P is right, try to plan a family trip without a company expense account footing the bill.

[Ruffles]

More is less.

[A3golfer]

We stayed at the Greenbrier about 5 years ago. Mediocre service including misplacing a golf bag and not getting our tee times correct, dinner reservations totally ignored, instructors leaving on the rafting trip because we were 3 minutes late, terrible food. After a couple of days it was comical how many little screw ups happened. Seems like a throwback to a time when there were very places like this, all said expensive and mediocre service does not add up to going back.

[Del the Funk]

1. To me this is the quote of the year! -- "The U.S. Open was just a factory to take your money..."

2. Boy, those Greenbrier reports don't sound good....guess I'll stick with the Sea Sprite, Big Rec, Verdes and the like!

[Tommy Naccarato]

The Greenbriar's got heart! The Greenbriar's got heart!

Meanwhile, whatever happened to the money they owe Lester George?

[Fan]

At the US Open this year prices were not excessive, so Greenbriar must be next to free. The Metro took us to a shuttle for a couple bucks, food was reasonable, hats were about what I pay back home.

The one gripe I had was the Trophy Club tent was located near the entrance on a corner of the course, on top of a hill, away from a golf hole - which made it very inconvenient to go to. And a couple of times when we were in the vicinity, entry was being restricted until people left.

Based on this year's experience don't waste waste your money on those expensive Trophy Club tickets. I would agree it is simply designed to make the USGA an obscene amount of money without providing any real value.

[Tommy Naccarato]

Del, let me know, I'll join you!

[Papa Bing]

The easy answer is don't go. The US Open or The Open will never be the Masters. I recall my first trip. Egg salad and coke for $3.
I said to the lady, "No, I've also got a soda."
Have you been to a major league stadium lately?

[Del the Funk]

Tommy, next time I take that route, I will.

[Goose]

Papa Bing, too true. I had 3 beers and a pimento cheese sandwich. The total was either $10 or $11, and I asked if she got everything. Getting in is expensive, but it's cheap on the inside (aside from paraphernalia).

[Frasier Crane]

I've said before that Geoff has an uncanny knack for uncovering golf - related stories that I find interesting but there are far too many people on here that are just dying to jump on the "I hate everything/everyone" bandwagon. Why is everyone on here in such a hurry to turn all the topcs so negative?

[sir real]

Fraiser,

Hang in there champ, it's pretty tame here compared to some other sites. I find the honesty refreshing, and while there is some slop that gets tossed around, some pretty astute folks often open up with comments here that you won't see in any press clippings. You're free to filter, just avert your eyes and move on to calmer waters if the shark fodder is a bit much for you.

[Tom Clark]

I wonder where the commenter negativity comes from - an article written about the Greenbrier (with a positive angle) contains a negative quote about the USGA and that quote becomes the blog entry headline.

[Troglodyte]

Frasier,

I hear you and understand. And I plead guilty to venting perhaps a bit too much and perhaps with a bit too much zeal. But I agree with air real in that this is among the more civil and thoughtful golf discussion sites. I think it has to with, as you mentioned, Geoff's knack of posting truly interesting stories. This may attract a more thoughtful readership than some other sites where uninformed vitriol and verbosity rule.

So, as air real recommended, hang in there. And do what Frasier Crane would do when confronted with poppycock posts... simply pooh pooh them with disdain and an arrogant toss of the head. Unwashed heathens that they are to be so negative. A pox upon them.

Having said all that, please ignore the following:

I think the "money factory" quote is right on. That's the USGA's real mission these days. As it is in some other tournament venues. But how can you blame them? Money talks, fan experience walks.

[Golden Bell]

The U.S. Open merchandise tent is big enough to play hockey in, but something's got to pay for the Green Section.

[David P]

I wasn't trying to be negative with my comments. I think all the activities they have would be an awesome experience. My boys would love a week there. I was just bemoaning the cost and not being able to afford it. What a cool place.

[Jonathan]

I assure you all not one person posting here on Geoff's site wouldn't get a kick out of playing George's redo of Old White. I love playing Pebble and #2 and screw the top anythings - the fun factor at Old White trumps them both.

[rb]

"The U.S. Open was just a factory to take your money..."

Anybody who has been to both The Masters and any U.S.Open will agree with that statement. The Masters takes cares of the "fans" (patrons)...the US Open is content to just rip them off.

[Lip Out]

I actually wonder how much The Greenbrier is paying Tom Watson. I mean, the guy skipped the US Senior Open to play in a PGA Tour event? Does that seem a bit askew to anybody? Say what you want about the Champions Tour, but the Senior Open is a legitimate championship and one at which it seems Watson would contend.

[hogan]

"Factory to take your money."

How else could the USGA afford to pay all those staffers $250,000+ salaries?

$350,000 for Human Resources manager for a 300-person organization?

[Fan]

@hogan Do we really need Class Warfare in a golf blog? People make money. Get over it.

Stop posting and go make some yourself - there's plenty to go around.

[BrianS]

I went to the US Open this year and didn't feel like I was ripped off in terms of the tickets, concessions, ect. For me, it was something that if I am lucky I might attend a couple in my life, along the lines of the World Series or Final 4. People also have to keep in mind that the Men's US Open is the cash cow that pays for all the other USGA events, such as the US Am, Publix, Mid-Am, ect. Sort of like College Football/Basketball paying for College Golf.

[Glenn]

I was at the US Open this year for all 3 days practice rounds. I didn't come away feeling it was a rip-off in the least bit. I was definitely impressed by the merchandise tent - that thing was enormous and must have had every possible US Open labeled item you could imagine but it's not like the prices were jacked up at all. A hat was 20 bucks. So what if they had two thousand different ones to choose from? I just thought it enabled people to find more unique items which they could take home as their souvenirs or whatever. I also appreciated the many food and drink stands set up around the course as I walked it for three days. They had a big area behind the practice tees set up real nice too. I guess people think having an ATM there is some kind of insult to their intelligence or something. So I think the statement that it's a money making factory is kind of a joke and unfair. You definitely cannot compare Augusta National's tournament and a USGA tournament. That's just ridiculous. I mean do you really want to compare what the USGA does for the game of golf to what Augusta National does for the game of golf??? And let's see...where does the USGA get its money from compared to Augusta? I'll pay 15 bucks for a crab cake sandwich at the Open. You can have your 3.00 jack cheese sandwich at the Masters, that's great. But let's not get confused and say the two could be the same.