Private courses are for.........

[bplewis24]

You're kidding yourself if you think it doesn't play a part in some peoples' decisions.

[Kapanda]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

You're kidding yourself if you think it doesn't play a part in some peoples' decisions.

Afaik, there are no courses that guarantee race discrimination anymore, are there? So it doesn't make all that much sense to join a club because of race

[BuckeyeNut]

I didn't vote because the polling questions were ignorant and clueless...........

[NuclearMike]

Back when I had a job that required some travel I was a member of a club with reciprocal privileges at a lot of other courses, both in and out of town.  I played my home courses (there were two 18 hole tracks plus an executive course) every Saturday and Sunday, paying a trail fee to ride in my partner's cart. We didn't have a food minimum charge to meet, although the grille was great and we ate there quite often.  My wife and I used the pool and I hit a lot of balls at the range after work, and with the nine rounds per month played (on average) it cost me about $30/ round.  With the downturn in the economy the club was sold and closed.  It was purchased three years ago by the city and is now a high quality muni, with course rates at $32 for one and $52 for the other.  The executive course wasn't reopened.  What I miss most about being a member of the club was the camaraderie and the ability to get good tee times with little effort.  The members were anything but stuffy, just a group of guys who wanted a well-conditioned place to play where they could hang out with their friends and have a good time.  We had members of multiple races, from South Asian and Asians to Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and more, and we all got along. We were just golfers.  I didn't see any of the listed reasons as applicable to why I was a member.  I just wanted a nice place to play.

[SnumfaGolf]

None of these really apply for me either... But I chose the bottom one....

I joined my country club, (Mill Creek Country Club) not to be pampered, or to only play with "high class" people. I joined for two reasons, one is to play a nice course for a reasonable rate whenever I want to play, and the other reason is so I can play golf without having to wait on people every hole.... Unfortunately, here in the Seattle area, most of the nice courses are either private, or really expensive to play, and there are a lot of really crappy overpriced courses. Back when I lived on the central coast of CA I wasn't a member of any country club because there were plenty of really nice public courses that I could play at for ~ $50/$60 a round... Loved it down there... I think the nice courses around Seattle are so much more expensive because they have such a short golf season compared to playing year round in CA...

[Shorty]

Private courses are for golf .

[wolfsburg2]

We are newb private club members and love it. From the family friendly atmosphere, to the  lack of needing your wallet to everyone on property knowing your name. It's awesome.

It's not as snooty as people think it is, neither is golf in general.

[Jeffrey71]

I grew up in Atlanta, GA. In the 80's my dad joined Druid Hills, a private club where you had to "sponsored" in. That's where I learned to play golf. I loved the private club atmosphere. These days I play anywhere I can, mostly public courses that can't afford to really keep up the course. It's a real treat when I can go play a better maintained public course. There is a private club about 30 miles south of where I live and my wife has said the next raise I get we can join !!!!! I would prefer a private course, even though I've played a few pretty well maintained public courses.

[ruascott]

The enjoyment level at private clubs exceeds anything at even the nicest of public courses. You know everyone, they know you, the greens aren't a plinko board, which is common on even high end publics. People really care about the course and it's condition. There aren't corporate outings filling up half the week. There are constant leagues, tourneys, etc. There is actually grass on all the tee boxes in August, rather than a mine field of divots. There are no idiot hackers taking 6 hours to play a round....common on even $100 public courses. You have immaculate conditions, surrounded by respectful people, who love the game as much as you do.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by ruascott

The enjoyment level at private clubs exceeds anything at even the nicest of public courses. You know everyone, they know you, the greens aren't a plinko board, which is common on even high end publics. People really care about the course and it's condition. There aren't corporate outings filling up half the week. There are constant leagues, tourneys, etc. There is actually grass on all the tee boxes in August, rather than a mine field of divots. There are no idiot hackers taking 6 hours to play a round....common on even $100 public courses.

You have immaculate conditions, surrounded by respectful people, who love the game as much as you do.

This, plus presumably the ability to walk out there any time of day or week and play 18 (or 9, or 4 or whatever) is why I would like to belong to a private club someday.

[ruascott]

that sir is the CORRECT ANSWER!!! LOL i called a local private club and they said it was $300 to join, 250 a month for golf and if i played more than twice a week and liked to use a cart i needed to add the cart special for an extra $100 a month. it allows you to play 2 courses 15 miles apart from each other. i cant afford that but if i could id have to really be impressed with the courses

That's pretty cheap actually, unless the course is really not very nice at all. Don't rely on pictures on a website though.

[ruascott]

This, plus presumably the ability to walk out there any time of day or week and play 18 (or 9, or 4 or whatever) is why I would like to belong to a private club someday.

Yep. Most clubs around here don't even take tee times, even on weekend mornings. You just show up, and find a game and go. Compared to the typical Saturday morning at a public course where the tee sheet is jammed up with groups every 7 minutes.

[Arthur L]

Hi. You mention that clergy play for free at your course.  Would you mind sharing the name of the course with me?  I used to be a member of Moon Valley (they had a clergy program - not sure if they still do), but the prices doubled and made it out of reach for me.  I'm always looking to play nice courses at a reasonable rate.  Any insights into clergy membership would be appreciated. I just learned that the Wigwam has clergy memberships, but it's been limited to 5 members, and nobody has left for years.  Thanks, in advance.

[Rick Martin]

Most CC that I've gone to here in FL consist of rich people who have the best clubs but can't play worth lick but enjoy the pampering and obsequiousness of the pro stop staff.

[scopek]

Most CC that I've gone to here in FL consist of rich people who have the best clubs but can't play worth lick but enjoy the pampering and obsequiousness of the pro stop staff.

As an example, my father-in-law belongs to a CC in FL and won his course championship by something like 18 stokes. He's a scratch golfer, but there's nobody even close.

[David in FL]

Most CC that I've gone to here in FL consist of rich people who have the best clubs but can't play worth lick but enjoy the pampering and obsequiousness of the pro stop staff.

You're playing the wrong CC's.  My buddy's club has over 200 members under a 5 hcp and 17 with a + hcp.

[meenman]

You're playing the wrong CC's.  My buddy's club has over 200 members under a 5 hcp and 17 with a + hcp.

exactly, at my club there is less than 10 of us (non seniors) that have a course HC over 20. Very few scratch or plus, but most are 5-15.

[Rick Martin]

As an example, my father-in-law belongs to a CC in FL and won his course championship by something like 18 stokes. He's a scratch golfer, but there's nobody even close.

For some reason my group always seems to get behind the group of high handicappers at the CCs we play.