Black Mountain

[valrhona]

I'm all for cheap golf but I'm not sure that it'll attract more tourist and perhaps not the kind that businesses want to attract. The courses in Phuket are all pretty outrageously priced and are busier than ever. A round at Loch Palm is now 3300 Baht. It's a nice enjoyable layout but the maintenance and the facilities don't warrant the price at all yet it's quite busy.

I also remember courses in Whistler, BC, Canada. They decided to double the prices from one year to the next a few years back and they ended up having more business the following year because the perception became that they were world class golf course which they are but many didn't think so looking at the price. It's pretty crazy logic but it worked because the courses were really nice. What they also did is to have residents rate which tempered local objections over the price hike.

I think that having BM hosting a big tournament is the best thing for HH, it'll raise the golf profile and maybe people will come to play BM and then try other courses which should benefit everyone. That's very much what Blue Canyon did in Phuket and what I'm banking on buying a property at BM.

[big jimmy]

slightly off subject..but if you are a golfer..and you want to play in HH when you retire then you must buy a membership at a club. I bought a lifetime membership at Springfield ( and I realise not everyone has the funds for that)....but I pay 8,500 baht a year in subs and 500 baht a round for my caddy...that means i can play when I like..
If you are a golfer then you can justify the expense.....To pay green fees every time you play ie. 3.500 baht means you play now and again..not a good scenario for those of us who love the game...I invested in the membership because when the time comes when I can't play then I can sell it, so I consider it a sound investment in my retirement..if you can..and you love the game..buy a membership...

[Wanderlust]

big jimmy,
Probably good advice, but it would help if you mentioned how much the lifetime membership is (and if it really is a 'lifetime' membership, as some I believe expire after 20 years or less).

[JW]

They run at around 450k and are sold as real lifetime - however long that maybe!

[Wanderlust]

OK, so that works out, if you play on average once a week for 20 years at just over 430 baht a round, so is well worth it even if you play less than that. I believe they can be sold on as well, or is that not allowed now?

[lomuamart]

That is good value

[big jimmy]

I paid 360,000 baht in 2005 for it and it can be sold on, there is no time limit on it. I believe Springfield are selling 30 year lease memberships for 450,000. The problem with those is that every year you lose money as the lease decreases so I consider the lifetime membership excellent value as I should ( hope !) get my money back when the time comes to sell.

[Onlyme]

I bought my membership about three years ago at Lake view, cost was 128,000 for approx 17 years, I've seen these change hands recently for about 180,000-240,000, considering they are decreasing in timespan they still sound like a reasonably good investement, probably because some of the peolple coming over here to retire only require a few years ( supply and demand.)
On the other hand, be warned: In my opinion Springfield charge an exhorbitant amount of money for transfer of membership and I know of a few people that wish they'd never bought !

Onlyme.

[big jimmy]

I bought my membership about three years ago at Lake view, cost was 128,000 for approx 17 years, I've seen these change hands recently for about 180,000-240,000, considering they are decreasing in timespan they still sound like a reasonably good investement, probably because some of the peolple coming over here to retire only require a few years ( supply and demand.)
On the other hand, be warned: In my opinion Springfield charge an exhorbitant amount of money for transfer of membership and I know of a few people that wish they'd never bought !

Onlyme.

I don't know what Springfield charge for transfer of membership but if your friends have bought as speculators then they deserve all they get.... I and my friends bought the membership because we wanted to play golf at a price we could afford in retirement ,pure and simple, we will sell when we can't play anymore ..we did not buy to make money from it..so what we get for it when the time comes to sell is not important..we just want to be able to play when we can

[Onlyme]

Jimmy, I bought for the same reasons as you and your friends.
I'm just warning people that if they sell their membership at Springfield for any reason, they might be a bit miffed at what they have to shell out!

And anyone can fall on bad times.
Onlyme.

[PJG]

I believe that life memberships at Springfield are no longer available directly from the Golf Course. They are only selling membership for a shorter period.

The Life membership I have is a Family life membership and is applicable to spouse and children under 18. As my wife is a golfer I think that it is the best value membership available at any course.

I also have a membership at Lakeview for which I paid similar money as Springfield 5 years ago. The Lakeview membership has now only 15 years left to run in individual and the maintenance is now similar to Springfield.

PS won't say what I paid for the Springfield Membership 5 years ago. It will make you all sick. Best money I ever spent.

[Jim]

I have just bought lifetime family membership at Springfield. I can confirm that the club has no more memberships and these can only be bought direct off another member or through an agent/broker. The club is charging the purchaser 100k (or it may have been 110?) for the transfer; I dont know what they charge the vendor, if anything.

Not cheap, but not expensive for a lifetime either. So long as the annual dues dont go up too much. Happy golfing

[PJG]

I am pretty sure that there is no other charge to the vendor other than the transfer fee. Don't think that the club minds who pays as it is part of the deal between buyer and seller.

When the annual maintenance is paid Springfield gives 4 free guest Green Fee vouchers. None of the other clubs do this for their members. Happy memories, when I first joined they gave 10 vouchers.

[eesh23]

I was thinking of buying a place in Black Mountain. I would like to hear your comments. Its it a good investment for the future. Is the prices inline with real estate in Hua Hin. Are there other web sites to get a idea of prices in Hua Hin. Thanks

EESH

[sessachief]

I looked at the real estate options in and around BM. Seemed expensive to me. I was doing some further research, and was informed that there is a number of local golf societies that play the course in and around HH for much much less than the tourist fees charged ! Is this no longer the case then ?
Means one can live anywhere so to speak and enjoy all that is on offer, although I am guessing the latest courses don`t encourage the local societies !
Interested to hear views.