Jump to content
IGNORED

Playing Golf when the Course is closed


nykfan4life
Note: This thread is 5493 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

I never understood how this worked. My local muni is empty, no one is there, its closed, pro shop, restaurant, offices, etc are all closed and empty. Are you allowed to just go any play golf? Or is it that you just do it and if they catch you you're in trouble?
Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Replies 57
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

My course did that once but they put a note on the door saying that play was allowed.Walking only.

Driver:TaylorMade R580 XD Stiff
3 Wood:Wilson FY-brid 15*
Hybrid:Adams A3 Boxer # 3
Irons:Titleist Square Toe 4
Irons:Callaway X-20 5-PWWedges:Adams Tight Lies GT SWPutter: Ping Anser 2Ball: Wilson Ultra or Precept Lady IQ180 or Bridgestone e6+

Link to comment
Share on other sites


My friend and I did that when we were in our late teens... The course was closed, but playable, albeit in February.

We finally got kicked off, but the strange thing was the course never reopened, and is now a BMW/Jaguar dealership.

Cheers, Allan

In my Ping Hoofer II bag: Titleist 975J | Callaway Big Bertha 3 Wood S2H2 | Mizuno Fli-Hi 18˚ Hybrid | Mizuno MP-33 3-PW | Cleveland Tour Action 900 54/60 | Ping Anser II BeCu | Titleist ProV1

My Playground: Northview G&CC

Link to comment
Share on other sites


thats funny that this thread was just made, because i just went onto a closed course like 20 minutes ago. I played around 8 or 9 holes with my buddies. No one was there and we didnt get kicked off or anything.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


We do this all the time here. When winter is coming, the nicer private courses close way before the public courses, so we hop on and play. Last November we hopped on at Kanawaki (private course where the movie "The Greatest Game Ever Played" was filmed) and played 36 holes in 5 hours. The course had been closed for 2 weeks, and the greens and fairways were nicer than the course we play in the middle of the summer. I'd say try it, the worst that could happen is you get kicked off.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


When I was a youngster, we did it all the time at Bethpage Black. We would walk out to the fourth hole away from the roads and start playing. Funny thing, back in the 70's we did this on a rainy day and met up with a guy who was doing the same thing. He was visiting from California and the #1 player on the USC team. If the rangers or maintenance crew spotted us we were kicked off. It was well worth the embarassment.

I'm down to a 10 handicap. At this rate, I'll get to scratch at 90 years old!

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Yeah I've been out at the local muni a few times this year. There is nobody there, the course is easily playable in terms of wetness, and the flags are even in... I guess the worst that can happen is they ask you to leave, but I heard they were giving out trespassing fines a couple years ago, which I find pretty flimsy.
Bag: Flight SS
Driver: 10.5* r5 draw with Pro Launch blue 65 Stiff
Irons: CCi Forged 3i-pw
Wedges: 56* CG12 black pearl and 60* low bounce RTG 900
Putter: i-Series Anser 35"Ball: e5+Tee: Zero FrictionGlove: FootJoy WeatherSofRangefinder: MedalistShoes: Sp-6 II, Adidas 360Scores this year:92 91...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


My home course has addressed this topic in the past. When the course is closed, the course is closed. The course closes on election day every November and opens the first day of April.
I'm sure there are exceptions but I think I would get a clear answer from the course manager so as to not get into the dog house.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I guess the worst that can happen is they ask you to leave, but I heard they were giving out trespassing fines a couple years ago, which I find pretty flimsy.

Do you guys also sneak out on golfcourses in the summer without paying greenfee? Where is the difference in your opinion to sneak out on a closed course and just playing a course without greenfee. I dont see any, and imo fines are totally fine if you get caught.

Burner 9°
FW Burner 15°
Burner Rescue 19°
MP67 4-PW
CG10 50° CG12 DSG 54° & 60°

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Yeah I've been out at the local muni a few times this year. There is nobody there, the course is easily playable in terms of wetness, and the flags are even in... I guess the worst that can happen is they ask you to leave, but I heard they were giving out trespassing fines a couple years ago, which I find pretty flimsy.

wonder if the fine was cheaper than the green fee??
Link to comment
Share on other sites


No I have never ever snuck onto a course in the summer. I am always willing to pay a greens fee.

If there were a sign saying "course closed" I would not play.
If the flags were not in, (They aren't in at the other muni up the road, hence I don't play there) I would not play it. They have every flag in and every tee marker out at this course.
If it were a private course I would not play it.

It has been insinuated to me by grounds crew members that i should just walk on if the course is dry, but like I've said I have heard other stories which seem to contradict this. The first time I'm asked to get off the course will mark the last time I walk on. I'm ready to deal with any legal repercussions from my actions (although I would absolutely be fighting any fines imposed on me without some sort of warning or request to have me leave.)
Bag: Flight SS
Driver: 10.5* r5 draw with Pro Launch blue 65 Stiff
Irons: CCi Forged 3i-pw
Wedges: 56* CG12 black pearl and 60* low bounce RTG 900
Putter: i-Series Anser 35"Ball: e5+Tee: Zero FrictionGlove: FootJoy WeatherSofRangefinder: MedalistShoes: Sp-6 II, Adidas 360Scores this year:92 91...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


wonder if the fine was cheaper than the green fee??

haha, unfortunately no. non member greens fee for 18 without cart is something like 40 dollars. Rumored trespassing fine was 75. I like your thinking though!

Bag: Flight SS
Driver: 10.5* r5 draw with Pro Launch blue 65 Stiff
Irons: CCi Forged 3i-pw
Wedges: 56* CG12 black pearl and 60* low bounce RTG 900
Putter: i-Series Anser 35"Ball: e5+Tee: Zero FrictionGlove: FootJoy WeatherSofRangefinder: MedalistShoes: Sp-6 II, Adidas 360Scores this year:92 91...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I never understood how this worked. My local muni is empty, no one is there, its closed, pro shop, restaurant, offices, etc are all closed and empty. Are you allowed to just go any play golf? Or is it that you just do it and if they catch you you're in trouble?

Is it OK to take items from a store when the door is open and no one is in there?

Rob Tyska

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Is it OK to take items from a store when the door is open and no one is in there?

I like the analogy, although I guess it would be closer if the store was closed, but the door was open for whatever reason. Maybe like a builders merchants, where the store is actually a big yard, so can't be secured in the same way as a building.

In a similar vein is it ok for me to put a 4 on my card if I got a 5, but noone saw me?
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Is it OK to take items from a store when the door is open and no one is in there?

For those that might be struggling with the ethical dilemma here, I'll give you a hand. The answer is no.

Not getting caught while trespassing (or stealing for that matter) doesn't make it ok.

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
The course remains private property. You're trespassing.

I have no qualms about playing at the two courses listed in my signature during the winter. I'm a member at both and know the pro. I've already paid for the year's membership, in fact. And on days like that, I'm careful not to disturb or destroy anything, particularly if there's frost, soft greens, etc.

But would I just show up at a course at which I have no membership? Heck no. That's trespassing. Go find a public field somewhere if you want to whack some balls around.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 5493 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Popular Now

  • Posts

    • Makes sense.  Like I said, I wouldn't have been upset at their original offer either, and based on the fine print it seems like they've held up their end of the deal.  
    • If you've only had to adjust retroactively one time in 8 years and have around 5 people each year without handicaps, that's like 40-50 people total so it sounds like you're doing a pretty good job. I think your questions give enough to go off of. This might be a good way to get new people to actually post a few scores during the 6 weeks leading into the first event. Something like "New members will be eligible for tournament money once they have at least 3 posted rounds in GHIN" or something like that. If they can get 3 rounds in prior to their first event, then they're eligible. If not, they'll soon become eligible after an event or two assuming they play a little bit outside of events.
    • This is a loooooong winded narrative so if you don't like long stories, move on. 😉 Our senior club typically gets about 25 new members each year. We lose about 25 members each year for various reasons (moved to FL/AZ, disabled, dead, too expensive). Of the new members, usually 20 have an active GHIN handicap. About 5 each year do not have a GHIN handicap. When they join our club, we give each member a state association membership that includes GHIN handicapping services. We play a series of handicapped tournaments over the summer. When we sign up a new member who does not have a GHIN handicap, we attempt to give them an estimated index until they have sufficient scores posted to have an actual GHIN index.  Our first event typically is around May 15 so, in theory, a new member has about 6 weeks to post a few scores. Posting season in the Mitten starts April 1. Inevitably, several of the unhandicapped individuals seem  to either not play until the first tournament or can't figure out how to enter scores (hey, they are seniors). That situation then leads to my contacting the new member and asking a series of questions: a. Did you ever have a GHIN handicap? If yes, which State and do you recall what it was? b. Do you have an alternate handicap through a non-GHIN handicap service or a league? c. What do you think your average score was last year (for 9 or 18) d. What was your best score last year? Where did you play and which tee was used? e. What do you consider a very good score for yourself? Based on their responses I attempt to give them an index that makes them competitive in the first couple events BUT does not allow them to win their flight in the first couple events. We don't want the new members to finish last and at the same time, we don't want someone with a "20" playing handicap to win the third flight with a net 57. In the event some new member did shoot a net 57, we also advise everyone that we can and will adjust handicaps retroactively when it is clear to us that a member's handicap does not accurately reflect their potential. We don't like to adjust things retroactively and in the 8 years I have chaired the Handicap Committee, we have only done it once. So here are the questions to the mob: Any ideas how to do this better? Any questions one might ask an unhandicapped individual to better estimate their index/handicap? Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?
    • Wordle 1,013 4/6 ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
    • Awesome! I got that a while back with my start word! Wordle 1,013 4/6 ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨 ⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜ ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...