For those with golf memberships........is anyone considering a course change in 2015?

[BuckeyeNut]

I might be ready for a change......( I am considering it)

I've been a member at Stone Canyon 2 years now, but never got settled into a new regular weekend group. The course is top notch........ an amazing tough track that I love, but I miss the camaraderie of my former club mates and staff.

I was a member at this previous course (Drumm Farm GC) for 8yrs, but I made a 'SNAP, I QUIT' decision when they changed the membership program because they are transitioning to become a private club.   I didn't want to pay for the pool and health club..etc, etc, etc....  This course recently sold and is under new ownership now, and I am VERY interested to see what membership plans they offer for the coming year. Stone Canyon is the bigger/tougher course, but I am considering leaving to re-join my old stomping grounds for social reasons.  I know all the members and they know me....we are like family.   I may return....

What's your story?

Is anyone considering a new golf home for 2015?

[Roblar]

I plan to remain homeless.

...though I do spend plenty of time day-dreaming about joining one of the four clubs nearby....

[MrFlipper]

I hear exactly what you are saying.

I was a member at a nice private club here for 15 years until 2008, really liked the course, good condition. Same group on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy as a clam, never got tired of the course.

Then one guy in our regular group left for another club nearer his house, he was a low handicap and kind of the glue for our group (he ended up quitting golf, didn't fall in love with his new club). Then another got ill, quit playing. Then the other was sick all the time, couldn't play well from familiar tees, wasn't competitive anymore, quit playing.

Still loved the course, but the social aspect, my group, was gone and wasn't coming back. And as much as I liked the other folks, it wasn't the same.

Now I play different public courses with another group of friends that have no interest in going private. I miss the course, but your golf buddies are by far the most important. Our golf buddies and those social ties turn into friends for life, hard if not impossible to replace.

All I'm saying is, for me, as long as you don''t get tired of playing the course and you enjoy it and it challenges you, the social aspect is HUGE and way bigger than what I would have said before I lost my group. The value of camaraderie is underestimated. And you are a low handicap so you already know the other low handicappers and obviously will fit back in with that group like you never left.

Good luck whatever you choose to do!

[newtogolf]

I considered a change this year but decided to give it one more year.  I love the course though it's a really tough and I do like the people there.  The problem is it's closer to my office than it is my house so I was thinking of switching to someplace closer to the house.

My wife really likes the events they host and the dining experience so we'll go one more year and then decide what to do.

[cipher]

I am just considering not renewing.  The price is right, but I just don't know that I can make it out there enough.  They have a very good deal for my son to play unlimited as well, so if he shows the interest I might renew.

[BuckeyeNut]

I'm as happy as can be and feel excited about playing golf in 2015.   I officially made the change by quitting and returning to Drumm Farm Golf Club as of today.   I teed it up for the first time and had a blast!!  Aside from the social benefits of changing, Stone Canyon was just too brutal difficult to play everyday and it sort of wore me down after 2 years of playing there...LOL

Drumm is no pushover either, (7121yds 75.1CR141slope from the tips) but I have to say I enjoy playing this course more.  Except during the heat of summer when the ball is flying 10 miles, I mostly play 1 set of tees forward (6564yds 72.5CR 137slope) which is a perfect fit for my game.  This course also has zoysia grass fairways that I prefer because they love the KC heat in the summer and stay in perfect condition.  I played my first 9 today and plan to play my first proper 18 in the morning tomorrow.  It feels good to get back playing with my old group of golf friends again!!

[cipher]

I am just considering not renewing.  The price is right, but I just don't know that I can make it out there enough.  They have a very good deal for my son to play unlimited as well, so if he shows the interest I might renew.

I ended up renewing after all at the private course I was playing at last year.  I added my son who will be 7 at $150 for the entire year.  We will just walk as many holes as he is able on Saturdays.  I am really looking forward to it.  I decided not to renew the public morning course I have been a member at for the past four years.  I had a couple bad experiences there last year that put a bad taste in my mouth.  Their new superintendent was a complete ass.  The course is just not as challenging either.

[WUTiger]

I'll stay put for 2015. If my wife decides she wants a more benevolent venue, I would consider switching next year.

[teamroper60]

I made a change this year but to be honest, it was solely because of economics.   The course I have been a member of for the past three years, took on a new partner about 16 months ago.   They have been making a bunch of changes to the course (definitely for the better, as far as condition and playing characteristics go).   This year, they doubled the cost of membership.   I expected the course to raise prices somewhat but double was not the expectation.   That course is 6 miles from my house.

The course I moved to is 12 miles from my house and was offering memberships for roughly the same price I was paying at my old course, plus a 10% discount if you joined before Jan. 1.   This course is tougher due to some serious terrain changes and even includes a par 6 hole.   The fairways and greens are in similar condition to the other course but the location is more out of the way because it isn't within the city limits of any town.    Still, for the price, I felt it was the most cost effective move.

[JonMA1]

I'm very happy with the same course I've been a member at the last 3 years. It's just a 9 hole course but they finally got it rated for 2015. The unlimited membership is so inexpensive.

[Judah Ben-Hur]

I just joined a club for the first time.  I have only been playing for a year so I thought why not.  I was driving 25 miles away to a nine hole course with not much traffic just so I could learn a little and not be in anybodies way.  This course is less that a mile from the house and I played it for the first time this past summer.  That's 52 years of driving by it. I tried getting over there as much as I could last year before the weather turned cold.  The course is enough of a challenge to keep me busy with all the elevation changes and doglegs.  I never seem to be standing on level ground so that makes for some (alot) rookie mistakes.  I'm a righty and this course is set up for a lefty so it adds another element to my less than stellar shot making abilities.  I plan to walk it as much as I can because its free but might have to do a couple of nine hole rounds to see how I fare.

[RFKFREAK]

I'm as happy as can be and feel excited about playing golf in 2015.   I officially made the change by quitting and returning to Drumm Farm Golf Club as of today.   I teed it up for the first time and had a blast!!  Aside from the social benefits of changing, Stone Canyon was just too brutal difficult to play everyday and it sort of wore me down after 2 years of playing there...LOL Drumm is no pushover either, (7121yds 75.1CR141slope from the tips) but I have to say I enjoy playing this course more.  Except during the heat of summer when the ball is flying 10 miles, I mostly play 1 set of tees forward (6564yds 72.5CR 137slope) which is a perfect fit for my game.  This course also has zoysia grass fairways that I prefer because they love the KC heat in the summer and stay in perfect condition.  I played my first 9 today and plan to play my first proper 18 in the morning tomorrow.  It feels good to get back playing with my old group of golf friends again!!:-D

Nice. What did the membership plan end up being?

[newtogolf]

I'm sticking with my current course this year but may look elsewhere next year depending on how this year goes.

Last year was pretty frustrating between injuries and seeing my handicap go up due to them and the course being a lot tougher than what I was used to.  I'm hoping this year will go better and I'll enjoy the course more.

[DougJ]

I joined a private club 18 mos ago.   It is a very nice club and reasonable.   The course is known as one of the nicest in the area as well more difficult than most of the public courses.    I have been playing several times a week with a bunch of regulars.  That being said I enjoy playing with 95% of them and consider most of them friends.    I thought about quitting but all of the advantages of membership exceed the disadvantages so I have decided to stay with it.

Buckeyenut,  that being said I would quit my club and join wherever the lady in your avatar is a member!!!

Doug

[dfreuter415]

I will be staying put at River Forest for as long as they will have me. Even though my wife only plays there a few times per year, I still pay for her membership because it is 1) not very expensive, and 2) a way to support the club.

My only problem with the course is that about 10 years ago there was talk that the club was being sold to a contractor who was going to turn it into a housing plan. Then came the housing crisis and the plans were abandoned.  Now that the economy is turning around and golf rounds across the nation having been down for the last few years, I am always afraid that our club will be sold. Then where would I go?  -Not really sure and I don't like thinking about it.

[colin007]

I will retain my membership at my local muni... ;-)

[RFKFREAK]

I will retain my membership at my local muni...

I'm sure the Town of Colonie appreciates your business.

[mcanadiens]

For me and my budget, there is absolutely no way to play as much golf as I do other than my City of Dayton rates card. No change in the foreseeable future.

When I get rich (only a matter of time, wink wink), that may change.