Can a Non-Member Use a Private Practice Facility?

[Patch]

There's another way to look at practicing on a private course, while not member.

Private courses tend to be maintained to a higher quality than non private courses. . Since a non member will rarely play on a private course, why practice on those higher quality conditions? Would it not be better for the golfer to practice on conditions that better represent the condition they will be playing on? 

[RayG]

Can I walk into your yard and use your pool? (or Bar-BQ) (or hot tub)

[mcanadiens]

21 hours ago, Patch said:

There's another way to look at practicing on a private course, while not member.

Private courses tend to be maintained to a higher quality than non private courses. . Since a non member will rarely play on a private course, why practice on those higher quality conditions? Would it not be better for the golfer to practice on conditions that better represent the condition they will be playing on? 

I'd figure that it would be about the same difference on the range. All anyone really needs there is some decent grass to hit off, a big field with appropriately marked targets and half-decent range balls.

The short-game stuff might be different. Spending time putting or chipping on fast greens wouldn't make a lot of sense if my next round is going to be where it normally is. Also practicing out of country club sand bunkers would probably be a waste since the home courses' sand/dirt combination is a lot more dense.

Aside from all that, I couldn't imagine being able to concentrate on practice if I knew I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be. Hell, I've kind of had that feeling on the few occasions I was properly invited to play at a country club.

Edited November 14, 2019 by mcanadiens

[David in FL]

26 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

Hell, I've kind of had that feeling on the few occasions I was properly invited to play at a country club.

It reminds me of one of Jimmy Buffett’s lesser known songs...  

[Cantankerish]

3 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

Aside from all that, I couldn't imagine being able to concentrate on practice if I knew I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be. Hell, I've kind of had that feeling on the few occasions I was properly invited to play at a country club.

Me too. Imposter syndrome.  It's not a nice feeling.  The fact that you are most definitely being watched makes it even more ominous. A bucket is what, $10.00?  The downside just seems to outweigh the up.

I may be out on a limb here.  But I think there is something untoward about an adult who does not get such a feeling at times like that. 

[NM Golf]

I really can't believe this is a topic. Of course you can't go practice at a private club if you're not a dues paying member, is that even a question you need to ask? 

If you want to practice at the local country club with the nice facilities then by all means join and pay dues. A lot of country clubs these days are hurting for members and would be more than happy to add you. To prey upon the fact that a country club has a lot of members and cannot identify you as a freeloading scoundrel, DOES NOT mean that you are any less of a freeloading scoundrel. 

[DaveP043]

3 minutes ago, NM Golf said:

To prey upon the fact that a country club has a lot of members and cannot identify you as a freeloading scoundrel, DOES NOT mean that you are any less of a freeloading scoundrel. 

I actually blame the OP's friend, who not only had the gall to continue to use facilities that he was no longer paying for, he was inviting OTHER PEOPLE to do the same thing!

"Here, have a glass of this wine, I just stole this bottle from the shop around the corner".

[Patch]

Down the road from my digs is a high end, semi private golf course called Cascata. Very nice course with all the whistle and bells. It's owned by Harrah's Casinos.....i think. 

I say semi private because anyone can play this course, if their pocket book can afford all the fees. High rollers, playing/staying at the owner's casinos can play it for almost free, depending on how much they spend at the owner's casino properties. A kind of prorated price structure.

It is tightly controlled, and managed. If you get caught in there, using the practice facilities, without a payment, or other permissions, you are considered a tresspasser, and subject to a local law enforcement inquiry if needed.

 

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Cantankerish said:

Imposter syndrome

If you're actually an imposter, that's not what that is. Imposter syndrome is feeling like you're an imposter even though you're not.

[Cantankerish]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

If you're actually an imposter, that's not what that is. Imposter syndrome is feeling like you're an imposter even though you're not.

Right.

8 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

Aside from all that, I couldn't imagine being able to concentrate on practice if I knew I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be. Hell, I've kind of had that feeling on the few occasions I was properly invited to play at a country club.

That's what we were commiserating on.  Feeling unworthy!

Edited November 14, 2019 by Cantankerish
clarity

[TussinMan]

4 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I actually blame the OP's friend, who not only had the gall to continue to use facilities that he was no longer paying for, he was inviting OTHER PEOPLE to do the same thing!

"Here, have a glass of this wine, I just stole this bottle from the shop around the corner".

Yeah he pulled the old switcheroo.

First it was he was a member. Then it was "his family is a member". Then finally it's "his family are members but downgraded to social only a year ago". Even if they where still full members he's in his mid 20s so there's no way they can claim him as a child (I think the cutoff is 22 unless your a full time student). 

Edited November 14, 2019 by TussinMan