Move or Stay?

[Davie81]

Be interested to see everyone’s thoughts on a dilemma I’m having. I currently live about 15 miles from the club I’m a member at, we’ve got a young daughter with another on the way so golf could be restricted slightly after July and I obviously won’t manage as much due to the travel time, playing and getting home etc. There’s another club that’s literally 5 mins from my house and I only know one other member but I’m thinking do I leave my group of friends behind next season and join the closer club where even if it was a quick 9 holes I’d manage to get it in etc. Alternatively I stay put and accept my golf will be one a month if I’m lucky.  I’m tempted but I don’t want to leave my playing group behind and start over etc.

[mcanadiens]

I suppose 10 minutes closer to home sounds like it ought to make a real difference in your ability to get out and play. I'm just not so sure it will.

Hopefully, you and your wife will be able to work out a way where you both are able to find some time to yourselves more often that once a month. 

[woodzie264]

2 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

I suppose 10 minutes closer to home sounds like it ought to make a real difference in your ability to get out and play. I'm just not so sure it will.

I'd agree with this - would reducing your "outing" by 20mins really make a difference in the likelihood of you getting out for 9 holes?  Also, if you took  a break from your current course and swapped, but later wanted to return, would you have a second initiation fee to pay or could they put your current membership on a "hold?"

[Davie81]

6 minutes ago, woodzie264 said:

I'd agree with this - would reducing your "outing" by 20mins really make a difference in the likelihood of you getting out for 9 holes?  Also, if you took  a break from your current course and swapped, but later wanted to return, would you have a second initiation fee to pay or could they put your current membership on a "hold?"

That’s what I’m not sure about. When I play I need to leave an hour early to go and warm up etc which adds to the time aswell. Thinking the course 5 mins from me has a range aswell so it’d maybe take 2 hours off the whole golf time.

[billchao]

51 minutes ago, Davie81 said:

Be interested to see everyone’s thoughts on a dilemma I’m having. I currently live about 15 miles from the club I’m a member at, we’ve got a young daughter with another on the way so golf could be restricted slightly after July and I obviously won’t manage as much due to the travel time, playing and getting home etc. There’s another club that’s literally 5 mins from my house and I only know one other member but I’m thinking do I leave my group of friends behind next season and join the closer club where even if it was a quick 9 holes I’d manage to get it in etc. Alternatively I stay put and accept my golf will be one a month if I’m lucky.  I’m tempted but I don’t want to leave my playing group behind and start over etc.

First, congratulations on baby #2!

As for your question, I honestly don’t know what I would do in your situation. I don’t have a regular group of friends to play with, so being closer is a no-brainer for me, but I enjoy playing golf with friends a lot more than golf with strangers.

Is staying at your current club and playing 9 holes at times you’re not accustomed to not an option? And then you can meet up with your friends once a month?

10 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

I suppose 10 minutes closer to home sounds like it ought to make a real difference in your ability to get out and play. I'm just not so sure it will.

The OP said the first club is 15 miles, the second club is 5 minutes. There are places around me that would take 30-40 minutes to drive 15 miles, so it could be an extra hour just in the travel difference.

[Jrwatkins7]

I would base my decision more on which course/club I liked better, not so much on 10-20 minutes travel time.

[Davie81]

11 minutes ago, billchao said:

First, congratulations on baby #2!

As for your question, I honestly don’t know what I would do in your situation. I don’t have a regular group of friends to play with, so being closer is a no-brainer for me, but I enjoy playing golf with friends a lot more than golf with strangers.

Is staying at your current club and playing 9 holes at times you’re not accustomed to not an option? And then you can meet up with your friends once a month?

The OP said the first club is 15 miles, the second club is 5 minutes. There are places around me that would take 30-40 minutes to drive 15 miles, so it could be an extra hour just in the travel difference.

Thanks! When I say 5 mins, it’s literally over the back from my house. Lol. The club I’m at now is 15 miles so takes around 20 mins to get there.

[mcanadiens]

27 minutes ago, billchao said:

The OP said the first club is 15 miles, the second club is 5 minutes. There are places around me that would take 30-40 minutes to drive 15 miles, so it could be an extra hour just in the travel difference.

Point taken.

I always forget living out here how crappy the traffic is other places.

 

[pganapathy]

Is both clubs a possibility.  If so, play the closer one regularly and get to the further one whenever possible.  A regular group really does make a difference.  You are comfortable with them and that will help your golf game, but golf in itself is more important.

If you have to choose between the two clubs then the closer club is preferable.  You can always make new friends and with two kids at home, that additional hour or two you save does matter

[Davie81]

13 minutes ago, pganapathy said:

Is both clubs a possibility.  If so, play the closer one regularly and get to the further one whenever possible.  A regular group really does make a difference.  You are comfortable with them and that will help your golf game, but golf in itself is more important.

If you have to choose between the two clubs then the closer club is preferable.  You can always make new friends and with two kids at home, that additional hour or two you save does matter

There are different memberships available at the closer one so I could price it up but ideally I’d like to not spend any more. It’s more expensive but I’d be saving on fuel with not travelling. Decisions decisions.

[mchepp]

I know for me the amenities make a difference when discussing this kind of decision with my wife. My current club is a 15-20 minutes (one way) longer drive now, but it has a par 3 course I can take the kid and wife out to play, and it also has a pool which my kid really likes. So after a round I meet them at the pool and we get some relaxing summer weekend afternoons with a happy family. I have my eye on the closer club, but unless my kid gets really serious about golf I am going to stay put.

Let me add, that just about every dad I know when adding the 2nd kiddo, has typically relinquished their membership. I think the 2nd makes things tougher. I am certain there are families that manage but most of my friends haven't been able to. I am saying this not to depress you, but recommend you give it a year before making any kind of decision.

[Double Mocha Man]

Why does it have to be "kids or golf"?  Why not both?  Once a week Mom (or Dad) gets time off to do their hobby and then you get time off to do yours.  Or it could even be twice a week.  Makes for better, happier parents.  The kids win, too.

[Zippo]

My thoughts are that, for most people, change is uncomfortable. They like what they're used to and new things are scary. I think that making new friends is a very good thing. It gets you out of your shell, helps keep you sharp and forces you to add a bit more to the group and not just coast along in comfort. I don't see why you couldn't still go play with the old group once in a while but maybe it's time to embrace something new?

[mchepp]

19 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Why does it have to be "kids or golf"?  Why not both?  Once a week Mom (or Dad) gets time off to do their hobby and then you get time off to do yours.  Or it could even be twice a week.  Makes for better, happier parents.  The kids win, too.

Fundamentally I agree with your comment, however,the difference is not only time, but money. Paying for a golf membership at a club is a monthly subscription that is a decent amount of a families income. The more kids you have, then it becomes a larger percentage of your families budget is going to golf. Also with a club, even if you don't play you pay. During busy family periods my friend might only play once a month, that means he was basically paying to play Pebble Beach at his home club.

He has quit and plays public clubs or he gets invites to many clubs through friends. He doesn't have the weight of the monthly payment for golf and when has time he enjoys his hobbies.

This topic was started about a private club. I think that was the thought behind many of the comments of kids vs. golf.