Private Membership

[Boston33Celtics]

So this past season I bought my first golf membership at a semi-private golf course. I paid $1300 for the season (April through November) gotta love New England, average round without membership is about $40 walking. Course is in above average shape for a public track. I played about 150 rounds getting more than my monies worth. Minus the free range. A private course (The International GC) is offering an under 30 full membership for $2500 next season with no minimums. Two immaculate championship courses, Unlimited range balls, pristine practice green, bunkers etc. They have recently opened only one course for public play at $129 per round. Course is also home to a division of Rick Smith Golf Academy. I will be graduating from college this May and plan to follow my dream to play professional golf, moving to Florida after next season, looking to compete on mini tours. I feel this is a no brainer but does anyone feel spending double what I did last year to improve my game before I head South is a bad idea? Also investing in a Titleist Tour Fitting at Acushnet facility, spending about 1000 for new fitted clubs. Mind you I do not come from money, have saved on my own and am fully investing all of my time and resources on golf. Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts. -Matt

[Hammer 4]

First, welcome to TST. I take it your a Celtic's fan..? I'm sure your to young to remember the Lakers, Celtic's rivalry years ago...They had some awesome games in Boston.

Now to answer your questions..I'd say if you can afford it, go for it. If you have the talent to play well, you'll never know unless you try.

Best of luck to you..

[GoodGuyGreg45]

  Boston33Celtics said:

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A private course (The International GC) is offering an under 30 full membership for $2500 next season with no minimums. Two immaculate championship courses, Unlimited range balls, pristine practice green, bunkers etc. They have recently opened only one course for public play at $129 per round. Course is also home to a division of Rick Smith Golf Academy.

I will be graduating from college this May and plan to follow my dream to play professional golf, moving to Florida after next season, looking to compete on mini tours.

I feel this is a no brainer but does anyone feel spending double what I did last year to improve my game before I head South is a bad idea?

Also investing in a Titleist Tour Fitting at Acushnet facility, spending about 1000 for new fitted clubs.

I would suggest you choose which ever club will help you achieve your dream faster.

By that I mean there are more things to look at than dues, fees, and 18s. Which course has the higher concentration of members that play to a handicap similar to yours and better? The opportunity to compete against quality players cannot be expressed as a dollar value, or maybe it can? Which layout(s) is/are the toughest? Can you usually get a tee time when you want it and how you want it (i.e., just show up in the late afternoon and play 9 and/or play early in the morning and not be forced to use a cart?) I know public courses can get large crowds regularly, especially if they are in superior condition like you described. If one course has already opened to the public, there is no guarantee the other won't in the future. How far away is the club from where you will be living. Gas will add up if one club is 5 minutes away vs. 45 minutes if you expect to be showing up at least 5 times per week. Are you positive the potential new club is all inclusive, uncapped? I will admit that quality practice facilities do make me want to use them more. These are just a few possible questions you may or may not have already answered in regard to your situation.

Is a Titleist tour fitting $1000 alone excluding any custom ordered equipment? Unless you're gaming some award winning forged MacGregor blades from the 70s, maybe hold off on that until you put in a full year of full time work and craft a swing that will benefit more from a tour style fitting. Use that money toward quality instruction instead?

I  do not know your current situation, so these questions are just food for thought. Many may not apply to you. But best of luck on your journey.

[Boston33Celtics]

Thanks for the responses! I appreciate it! Greg, the drive time is slightly shorter, (over the time frame I estimate saving about $250 in gas), I play in a league at a 9 hole affiliate right next door to the new course which I get free access to (save me $500 over the season), the two new courses play over 7000 yards v compared to 6600, with one of them being the Pines course (from the Tiger Tees over 8000,known as the longest course in the US with a rating of 80 LOL). There is not a whole lot of public play and because one one course is public I have full access to members only course. To your question about opening to the public in full, I've worked there a couple different times and some of the members include professional athletes, billionaire CEOs, etc. This is the first year they are offering this under 30 membership, otherwise the membership is 8000 per individual with minimums. Also the fitting is $200 clubs are about $1000. I'm selling my current set to a friend to help the cost a bit. Hope I've given you a better idea!

[Pretzel]

  Boston33Celtics said:

Thanks for the responses! I appreciate it!

Greg, the drive time is slightly shorter, (over the time frame I estimate saving about $250 in gas), I play in a league at a 9 hole affiliate right next door to the new course which I get free access to (save me $500 over the season), the two new courses play over 7000 yards v compared to 6600, with one of them being the Pines course (from the Tiger Tees over 8000,known as the longest course in the US with a rating of 80 LOL). There is not a whole lot of public play and because one one course is public I have full access to members only course.

To your question about opening to the public in full, I've worked there a couple different times and some of the members include professional athletes, billionaire CEOs, etc. This is the first year they are offering this under 30 membership, otherwise the membership is 8000 per individual with minimums.

Also the fitting is $200 clubs are about $1000. I'm selling my current set to a friend to help the cost a bit.

Hope I've given you a better idea!

6600 yards won't really prepare you for the courses you would play on the mini-tours or in any professional tournaments, so it might be a good idea to see if you could safely afford the other course while still saving for when you go to play on the mini-tours (you will need a good bit of savings to keep going).

[Boston33Celtics]

This is all great advice. To be honest I've been thinking the same way you all are I am just looking for some validation to my thoughts. Mostly because I'll be spending as much this year on golf as I paid for my car LOL.

[boogielicious]

  Boston33Celtics said:

This is all great advice. To be honest I've been thinking the same way you all are I am just looking for some validation to my thoughts. Mostly because I'll be spending as much this year on golf as I paid for my car LOL.

Wouldn't it also help if you played a bunch of courses instead of just one?  Best of luck.

[Boston33Celtics]

  boogielicious said:

Wouldn't it also help if you played a bunch of courses instead of just one?  Best of luck.

I will also plan to play elsewhere at times but for the amount of rounds I'll be putting in, the cost would be way higher than having a membership. Playing 8+ rounds per week on top of range short game practice and workout. 8 to 12 hour days. They also have a gym at the course as well.

[MacTS]

I have no advice for you (other than I think your plan sounds good), I just want to say: Go for it! Good luck in your quest to be a proffessional!