Private courses, public courses, and coupons...

[formula428]

Purchased a coupon-type book at my local GQ...$20 coupon gets me 18 holes for free, just need to pay the cart. I get this for 9 different courses, each can be played once. It's a great deal, since playing one course already gets my money back, then 8 are free + cart. However, a couple on the list are private courses. Before I call and potentially sound like an idiot, do you think I can play the private courses since I have the coupon? Or would it only be valid for the private courses for those who are members. Kind of disappointing, but still a good deal.

[Timothy Voyles]

I've had several of these type of books. The private courses are in there to get the public guys there and playing. Most private courses aren't near capacity during the hot summer months. They get a few more people out and bring in some $$$ with these deals. Enjoy playing these places as you probably won't get to play them very often.

[Mattplusness]

Heh I remember winning one of those through a work raffle in 09. I saved so much money on golf and played so many different courses it was glorious.

[meenman]

For $20 you cant go wrong, but I have had friends buy these coupon books and the *cart fee* charge was often the same as what we could've played for calling ahead.

As Timothy said, you will get to play the private courses as most offer deals in the summer to try to get people to try them - I wouldnt expect a prime time weekend time, but you never know......

[dru925]

Sounds like a great deal, Formula.  Enjoy!  Read all the fine print carefully.  I had a Groupon type deal a couple of months ago and didn't realize until after that it came with a bucket of range balls included in the price.

[formula428]

Looks like it's 9 local course for 18 holes.  Cart fees for most are $10 or $11, but a couple are $14 and one is $20 (private course...maybe a gold-plated cart?).  I've played several of the courses and they are very nice for this area, especially considering the drought Ohio is in right now.

Additionally, you get one "what am i doing wrong" sessions with a local golf shop, advertised as a $45 value.  I might not take that up, but not sure.

Restrictions are before 2pm on weekdays (some before 4pm), and after 1 or 2pm on weekends.

[vo-man]

I got a promotional green fee 'bag tag' as part of the goodie bag at a tournament last year.  32 free rounds of golf.  Only downside was that the

'promotional' cart fee for each course was almost as much as the standard green fee.  At one course the cart fee was $25.  at another the promotional

cart fee was $40 and at that same course they had a Spring special of $33 including cart going on.

All those 'coupon' type golf promotions are BS if you ask me.  You can save money by visiting the course websites and looking for promotional discount

coupons, which is where the $33 with cart discount was.

[formula428]

Many probably are scams, but I've been to many of the courses on the list and it's for real...free golf plus $10 carts.