Which course to make home course

[Kperkins]

I'm stuck trying to decide where to make my home course. I prefer one of the local courses, as driving for a while makes it difficult to play before work or get in a quick 9. All of the rates below are for 18 holes, and all of the slope/rating/yardages are for the tips.

Here are my options:

4741 yards / par 65 / 3.6 Miles / 62.0/100 / $27 Weekday
5000 yards / par 67 / 4.1 Miles / 64.0/104 / $27 Weekday
4326 yards / par 65 / 4.4 Miles / 60.6/97 / $20 Weekday
5946 yards / par 71 / 6.5 Miles / 67.3/113 / $30 Weekday
6862 yards / par 72 / 6.6 Miles / 73.0/137 / $44 Weekday (with men's club)
6443 yards / par 72 / 7.8 Miles / 69.9/116 / $20 Weekday

Obviously, the 5th course above is by far quality course in the group, but it's also significantly more expensive. What do you think about proximity versus quality/length.

[meenman]

No matter which one you pick it doesnt look like you'll be challenged much - you are going to need to shoot par just to keep your current handicap. (unless you pick the expensive one of course)

[alf174]

All are very short, I would only consider the last 2 (which are about playing the whites here). Nothing else to choose from? If not, then the last.

[Garthmo]

5th course

[Harry Longshanks]

I haven't played #6, but I've heard that conditions are only average and crowds are a huge problem, even in the middle of the day on weekdays.

#5 has a huge men's club IIRC. So if tournaments are what you are looking for, that's probably the best choice. Easily the best conditions and best layout of the bunch.

#4 could be a good compromise with location, price, difficulty, and they often have weekday morning specials for 9 holes.

#3 Another I haven't played, but have heard conditions are crap.

#2 Meh. I think you could do better. Not one of my favorite courses. Although the hills on the back 9 are good for the cardio if you're walking. It was a couple of years ago that I played it, so maybe it's gotten better?

#1 Never played it.

[jwnolefan]

Which courses are these? Just by the stats, I would pick the last one.

[Kperkins]

  jwnolefan said:

Which courses are these? Just by the stats, I would pick the last one.

#1 Lynnwood Muni

#2 Nile #3 Wayne #4 Jackson Park (Seattle Muni) #5 Harbour Pointe #6 Walter Hall (Everett Muni)

[Kperkins]

It should be noted that Harbour pointe, #5, and the best course (And most expensive) on my list doesn't use GHIN, they use EZ Links, which means I can't enter scores at most other courses.

[Harry Longshanks]

  Kperkins said:

It should be noted that Harbour pointe, #5, and the best course (And most expensive) on my list doesn't use GHIN, they use EZ Links, which means I can't enter scores at most other courses.

That is the Oki mentality. GHIN wouldn't make them a deal, so they went to EZ Links. Never mind the impact on the members.

[jwnolefan]

I had somewhat the same decision to make when I finally wanted to join a men's club and establish my handcap this year. The Classic is right up the road from me. It is a great course and usually in good shape, but it kicks my ass every time... On the other hand - I could join at Lake Spanaway which was 10-15 minutes farther away. Spanaway, I feel is a bit more forgiving and I play so much better there... So I joined at Spanaway, and when I have broken 80 4 or 5 times, I go to the Classic and get my comeuppance with an 86-90. Just because you join at one doesn't mean you have to play all of your golf there.

[Harold]

I was just going to post to say make which ever golf course _you_ enjoy most as your home course, regardless of what other golfers think. Than I saw the yardage of the first and recognized it. Than I saw where you were located. It still stands to make your home course which ever one you like but here is my opinion of all six.

1) Greenside bunkers at every hole and they are kept in shape. Some are more in play than others but none are cosmetic bunkers. When I hit straight here it's a blast. When not it can be pretty tough.

2) For what was once a private club and is still semi-private it was one of the worst kept golf courses I had ever played. Three years passed before I played it a second time. Nothing changed in that time. I will play elsewhere unless I can somehow wrangle only on the back nine. Front nine is a never play again and that is rare for me.

3) Many probably say the same about this muni as I just said about number two but swapping the nines. Still there are some holes here that force you to hit accurate shots and getting on during the weekday is always easy. You might be the only one out there.

4) The yardage you indicated is different because they have since remodeled it. I don't know what it was like before but it's a nice muni now. Pretty hilly so either be in shape or cart.

5) Bring your A game. Every game. Front nine is tougher than the back nine. Back nine is hillier and more spread out since it's in development. Take your poison.

6) I have been playing the front nine of this one a couple of weekday evenings the last two months. Now that the rains have let up the fairways are in quite good shape. They kind of remind me of a crewcut. In some places you can kill the ball, find it and kill it again. Getting on or playing a round in under five hours can be an issue at times though. It and it's sister course are popular because of the price and they are kept in good shape.

If you are concerned first and foremost with your game than Harbour Pointe is probably the course. I will only play Harbour Pointe on weekdays and since I work weekdays that means only vacations. I will play Lynnwood anytime and try to get to Jackson at least once a year. Walter Hall is good when I don't want to drive. Wayne is good when I just need to walk some and hit a ball at the same time.

[Kperkins]

Yes, it looks like the yardage and rating on SeattleGolfGuide.com is off for Jackson:

6247 yards and 69/114 now. This or Lynnwood are probably my two preferred options.

[MrSandman]

What do you mean by "make my home course"? Are you going to join? If so, what are the membership rates?

You can hold your handicap out of any of them, it doesn't really matter. I used a driving range in Manhattan for my handicap for a while. Spending the money for a yearly fee is the big commitment to making a course your "home course". These all offer daily greens fees, so there is not really any major advantage beyond a yearly fee/discount of making one your home course over the other.

If there is no yearly discounted membership fee, then go play them all and find which one you are most comfortable with and just continue to play that one the most.

[b-squared]

  MrSandman said:

What do you mean by "make my home course"? Are you going to join? If so, what are the membership rates?

Exactly. Are you planning on becoming a member, or are you just asking where you should play most, supposedly making it your "home course"? If you're not going to become a member, I also suggest playing every course on you're list and finding out which you enjoy playing most...

[TCCcaddie]

Those stats i dont think really matter. The best choice is a course that is finding the best balance of accessability, finding which course gives you the best opportunity to improve your game the most, and which coures fits your buget and schedule. If you have the time you should get a year round membership to a course that you can use almost everyday.