Our Money Survey

Illustrations By Seymour Chwast October 2008

If you had to live without one of the following for an entire year, which would you choose?

a) A family vacation 41%
b) Dining out 34%
c) Cable TV 19%
d) Golf 6%

How has the price of gas affected your golf?

a) I'm playing more rounds closer to home 27%
b) I'm playing fewer rounds 22%
c) I'm carpooling more often 6%
d) It hasn't affected my golf habits 45%

What's the most you would ever spend for a golf shirt?

a) $50 33%
b) $75 26%
c) $30 24%
d) $100-plus 13%
e) $9.99 4%

You can afford only one of the following this year. Which do you choose?

a) Twenty rounds at your home course 81%
b) Four days of golf and three nights in Myrtle Beach 11%
c) One day/night of golf and lodging at Pebble Beach 8%

For $500, which would you choose?

a) A lesson with Butch Harmon 29%
b) A new set of clubs, bag included 27%
c) Drinks and dinner with Arnold Palmer 19%
d) A quick lunch with Tiger Woods 13%
e) Walking inside the ropes at the U.S. Open 12%

Which amount spent on golf would you keep from your spouse?

a) $400 green fee 55%
b) $50 in gambling losses on the course 23%
c) $300 driver 14%
d) $100 caddie fee 8%

Whom would you pay $50 to watch play golf anywhere?

a) Tiger Woods 47%
b) Natalie Gulbis 6%
c) Phil Mickelson 4%
d) John Daly 2%
e) All of the above 27%
f) None of the above 14%

Which do you consider the best value in golf today?

a) $5 pullcart 54%
b) $25 riding cart 29%
c) $50 caddie 17%

How much on top of a green fee would you be willing to pay for a guaranteed three-hour round?

a) $10 24%
b) $25 16%
c) $50 6%
d) $100 2%
e) Not a penny more 52%

How much would you have to have in savings before you'd quit your job and play golf whenever you wanted? In other words, what's your number?

a) $3 million 33%
b) $5 million 21%
c) $1 million 18%
d) $10 million 17%
e) $500,000 7%
f) I love my job too much to quit 4%

How much would you pay for the hot driver everyone is talking about?

a) $300 23%
b) $150 7%
c) $500 6%
d) I've got to have it, whatever it costs 2%
e) I'll wait a year and buy it at a discount 62%

Your group just finished 18 holes at an upscale daily-fee course, and a worker takes a few minutes to wipe off your clubs. How much do you tip him?

a) $2 a bag 43%
b) $5 a bag 41%
c) $1 a bag 7%
d) I'm supposed to tip him? 9%

A bucket of range balls costs $10 to hit off mats. For $5 more, you can hit off real grass. Do you pay the extra $5?

a) Yes 59%
b) No 41%

You're invited to join three private clubs in your area, but you can choose only one. Annual fees are about the same, but initiation fees vary greatly. Where do you join?

a) For $100,000 you can join one of America's 100 Greatest Courses 7%
b) For $40,000 you can join one of the top-10 courses in your state 11%
c) For $7,000 you can join an unranked but very nice private course 39%
d) I'll stick with my local muny, thanks 43%

You're on a buddies golf trip, and rooms cost $50 per person if you have a roommate. How much extra would you pay for the only single room?

a) $25 12%
b) $50 14%
c) $100 4%
d) I'll outbid everyone 3%
e) I'm perfectly happy to share a room 67%

* Based on 1,148 respondents at golfdigest.com