First time at a private course

[O.B. Right]

I played my first ever round at a private course yesterday. This course is not really fancy - more of a golf club than a country club. Based on the pretty similar distance, slope and handicap rating, I was expecting basically a nicer version of the municipal course I play on all the time.

It was, but I didn't realize how much nicer a golf course could be. We're talking:

1. Actual different tee boxes for the different tees. And 5 sets instead of 3.

2. Level tee boxes!

3. The greens had been aerated this year and were consistent from one to the next

4. The rough was a consistent length - at the muni this time of year, some parts of the rough are as hard as a cart path.

5. The fairways were really nice - no weeds, bare spots, dirt clumps, etc.

6. Trees! Big ones - everywhere.

7. More interesting and attractive holes (elevated tees, doglegs, etc)

8. Actual sand in the bunkers

And then, of course, the other stuff that I was expecting - like a grass range, nice chipping and putting area and less crowded course.


I honestly had no idea there was such a big difference. I thought a country club was like a "private muni".

Of course, this doesn't mean I don't love the muni - always have, always will.


Any Muni Regulars ever hit a private course once in a while? What do you think? How does your local muni stack up?

[colin007]

I2. Level tee boxes!

i have no idea what that even means....

[senorchipotle]

you'd be surprised how nice some of those super expensive country/golf clubs can be. which honestly makes it easier to play good golf. i'm a big proponent of flat teeboxes.

[Mrd19abhs]

i have no idea what that even means....

Flat Ground.

[majorchamp]

there is a local course in Zionsville called Wolf Run that is ridiculously private. I think its one of those courses where you have a $50k initiation fee, and like $500/month in membership fees (though given this economy, it might be much lower..this was back in like 2000 when I remember hearing this).

Anyways, very tough golf course too...one of their Par 3's is 260 yards, all carry from the tips. Back when the PGA Championship was held at nearby Crooked Stick (the one John Daly won), several of the players like Nick Faldo, etc.. got a chance to play at Wolf Run. Nick was quoted as saying holes 12-15 I believe are 4 of the hardest consecutive holes he has ever played.

anywho...found out last night I know someone who is a member there and he wants to take me out to play. SAWEET! :)

I played there 2 times in the early 2000's, so looking forward to going back.

[majorchamp]

you'd be surprised how nice some of those super expensive country/golf clubs can be. which honestly makes it easier to play good golf. i'm a big proponent of flat teeboxes.

Yea, I think some people take for granted the quality of courses the pros play, and how it affects their game/score.

You hear Tiger and such complain about "bumpy" greens at a Major Championship..but I am sure bumpy to them is pristine to the average person or our local golf course. The fairway quality isn't fluffy, so they get consistent lies (for the most part) which aids in them making consistent contact more often, because the greens are often high quality, they can control their spin better on them. I am not taking anything away from their quality..they are DAMN GOOD at what they do, but a high quality golf course which perfectly mowed fairways and greens helps a player score a bit better :)

[golfro]

my parents used to be a part of a very nice private course. 6 digit initiation fee + high monthly fees, etc. I golfed it extensively during my high school years so I was spoiled. not until I started golfing muni's and cheap courses around here did I realize how nice premier private courses are. The consistency in greens being a huge one. Divots are repaired on fairways and tee boxes thoroughly, the layout is just much more fun, basically agreed with everything the OP said.

[Chief Broom]

The moral of this story is that you get what you pay for. Every golf course is subsidized by the people who play it (although some munis can be occassionally subsidized by the taxpayer). That means all the expenses of the club are covered by the players/membership. The higher those expenses, say due to the course spending more money on upkeep and course improvements, the higher the rate you pay to play there. The revenue stream of private courses are met by the membership through their monthly dues, intial initiation fees, and assesments the membership usually vote on and agree to pay. Public courses have to rely upon the fees charged when you play, so that usually means those type course won't have the disposable income available to maintain the course at a higher standard. Unfortunately this means we can't have our cake (resonably low greens fees) and eat it too (tour quality conditioning).

[Stuart StAndrews]

And lets be honest some of the public courses are pretty reasonable when you consider what you pay for a round v's what you pay at a poncy country club. I'd prefer to spend my money on a few rounds, a nice meal and a few beers on a decent municipal course than splash out on 9 holes at a 'posh' course. Although i do admit I like to go on golfing holidays in Europe where i've played a few of the private courses which are beautiful. I played a public course in Vancouver, Canada - don't know where exactly and it was stunning.

[vct33]

The first time I played Firestone South my brother spent the entire round trying to find a weed or a leaf on the ground. I don't know how big their grounds crew is but that course is picture perfect.

Having said that, my favorite private club that I've played is Avalon Lakes in Warren, Ohio. I loved the layout, the clubhouse, the staff etc...

[nevets88]

I played a public course in Vancouver, Canada - don't know where exactly and it was stunning.

Furry Creek?

[Mattplusness]

This is why I love Michigan, it's so natural for big tree'd golf courses. Although they do become a bitch after a while.

[mdbuschsr]

I was an employee at Carolina CC in Raleigh, NC about ten years ago, and I got to play it twice. It is a very, VERY nice course. I played some of my nicest shots ever there. That is the only private course I have ever played.

I have also played some very well maintained munis. Chenango Valley State Park used to be a great course. It may still be, I haven't played it in eons.
I recently played a 9-hole executive course in Kirkwood NY (River Run 2). That is a very well maintained course, just too short!

Then there is the tract I normally play. They are making great headway, and turning it back into a nice course, but they have a long way to go.

[cougar978]

James River CC in Newport News is really nice (I think the dues are $30k/yr, ridiculous) - the only reason I get to set foot out there is I know some of the guys that work there.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's a 'country club' in Rio Rancho, NM (I think it's called Chamisa Hills now, used to be called Rio Rancho Golf and Country Club) that was in worse shape than most of the public courses in Albuquerque. I don't know how the members didn't revolt against the people that maintained that place.

[stacks04]

My local muni courses absolutely suck. Terrible fairways, rocky rough, hard pack sand ect ect ect. They also cost about the same. I pay 27 for 9 with a cart at my local muni, but pay 29 for 9 with cart at my local semi private/public home course thats 100x better. For that kind of money, I would rather support a local guy that enjoys and takes care of his establishment then the useless next city over big city govt establishment.

[chrisronline]

My local muni courses absolutely suck. Terrible fairways, rocky rough, hard pack sand ect ect ect. They also cost about the same. I pay 27 for 9 with a cart at my local muni, but pay 29 for 9 with cart at my local semi private/public home course thats 100x better. For that kind of money, I would rather support a local guy that enjoys and takes care of his establishment then the useless next city over big city govt establishment.

I've been playing a mom-and-pop owned golf course for the past few weeks and I really like the idea that I'm supporting local business. Plus, it's only $23 for 18 holes which is a steal IMO, especially when I play at 7am and there is no one else there until ~9:30.

[kevin.chan]

you'd be surprised how nice some of those super expensive country/golf clubs can be. which honestly makes it easier to play good golf. i'm a big proponent of flat teeboxes.

True and some clubs with caddie service will help the score too.

Once you get pampered with these quality and you go back to play at Muni TADA ! you wish you throw away the score card !

[alo1984]

This is why I love Michigan, it's so natural for big tree'd golf courses. Although they do become a bitch after a while.

Agreed. I used to live and St Joseph, Michigan and regularly played a CC converted to a semi private. The course was built in the 20's and had the largest most difficult and beautiful trees I've ever seen on a course. I love those old courses like that.