How To Get On A Course Your Not A Member At....

[MacBlacklick]

The easiest way to get on a private course you are not a member at is to pretend like you are interested in becoming a member. They will give you a free round 9/10 times. I've done it several times (legitimately) and they haven't even made me play with a member. However, many better private courses have closed memberships. Dress nice, go in the afternoon on a weekday, act like you belong. If there is no starter on hole 1, just start. If there is a starter make your way to hole 2 and start there. By the time you finish 17 holes it will be evening and there won't be a starter, so you play hole 1 last. No one will ever question you if you act like you belong. If you feel guilty, just send them the guest fee in cash in an anonymous envelope.

[Anand]

Dress nice, go in the afternoon on a weekday, act like you belong. If there is no starter on hole 1, just start. If there is a starter make your way to hole 2 and start there. By the time you finish 17 holes it will be evening and there won't be a starter, so you play hole 1 last. No one will ever question you if you act like you belong. If you feel guilty, just send them the guest fee in cash in an anonymous envelope.

More than likely you'll be caught, arrested for trespassing, and probably prosecuted. At the very least you'll receive a lifetime ban. These uber-clubs are no fools. There are usually plenty of marshalls zipping about. Someone I know pulled this stunt at the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club, where I used to be a junior member many years ago. He started on #2, was stopped by a marshall around 5 who asked for his guest green fee receipt. When he couldn't produce it and there was no evidence of a tee time booking, he was escorted off the premises by security and received a permanent ban. They went easy on him.

Like many have said before, either ask about becoming a member -- that's the best way. If they don't have a long waiting list, you'll probably get to try the course. If, like the aforementioned Hong Kong Golf Club, there's a 20+ year wait, go find another club

[tjy355]

The easiest way to get on a private course you are not a member at is to pretend like you are interested in becoming a member. They will give you a free round 9/10 times. I've done it several times (legitimately) and they haven't even made me play with a member. However, many better private courses have closed memberships.

Good advice for clubs that are seeking members, but the way it works at OHCC and most of the other high profile and ultra exclusive country clubs is THEY INVITE YOU to join. If you are lucky, you might get on the WAITING LIST.

And sneaking on... really? Anyone on that course that was not with a member would stand out like a turd in a punchbowl.

[Uthinkso]

Ok I have a line on this finally at Oakland Hills. The South course is members only, no exceptions. I will be able to play the north in October though. Towards the end of the season they open guest rates at $200 and it is caddy mandatory. I'm ok with all of that. So in October a good friend of mine are going to take on the North course at Oakland Hills. I'll be sure to post up when I do.

[alf174]

Ok I have a line on this finally at Oakland Hills. The South course is members only, no exceptions. I will be able to play the north in October though. Towards the end of the season they open guest rates at $200 and it is caddy mandatory. I'm ok with all of that. So in October a good friend of mine are going to take on the North course at Oakland Hills. I'll be sure to post up when I do.

Cool. Looking forward to your review.

But I think its "the South course is members only" and their guests ; my boss played it not long ago with a member.

[JerseyThursday]

While I was in collage, I caddied for three years at the Muirfield Championship Course (Dublin, Ohio). The bastards never let us on the course once!
I was an A caddie and knew every inch of that course. To this day I have never played there. Pure torture.

[Redbird]

get a job there lol

[toogood]

While some private clubs will let you on if you say you're "interested in joining" most will require some sort of back up. Our club for example requires an interview with the Membership Chair of the Board in order to play as a prospective member.

For most clubs as well, there are a group of members who play with prospective members to show them around, answer questions etc. Think about it, most private clubs want new members, they're not going to just send someone out on the course without someone. They're going to make sure they're taken care of.

As far as sneaking on, might work on some courses. Our club for example, is not one of them. There are houses that border all but 2 holes, and members that live on pretty much every hole. They are our best (and worst) friends when it comes to unauthorized play. We get phone calls quite often informing us of people who shouldn't be on the course.