gt6974a

I think a private membership decision has more to do with where you live and your lifestyle as they both correlate directly with the economic side of the decision. I'm 36, started playing junior golf on a private course at 10 years old. My dad moved us into this exclusive neighborhood in 1988 that was brand spanking new. Initiation cost was $15K plus monthly dues and food minimum. At the time, it was great, 3 kids playing golf and both parents. Also had swim/tennis though you could opt for only the swim/tennis fee. Guest play rates were ridiculous. Fast forward to today, the course is still very nice, but my Dad has quit and rejoined the course several times. There's now no initiation fee, dues are relatively reasonable now, but there's still a monthly $250 food cost. However, instead of just a CC, the HOA built their own Swim/Tennis facility so you can join that and not even have to join the CC swim/tennis. Weird but nice. There's now a few private courses very close by and a public course that I live next to that is very nice, http://www.cobblestonegolf.com/ I pay for a Cobb County Card at $100 for the year and get $20 knocked of the $65 rate each round. Which $65 is expensive in this area where you can find deals for $35-$45 if you're willing to drive more than 10 miles. Now, a company called Canongate which is now http://www.clubcorpatlanta.com/members-atlanta.html has bought up several former private/single owner courses, so now, you buy their membership with a home course and can play the other courses. Still expensive. Most people have to work, and they have to work M-F, 9-5 and they have families and kids with other activities outside of golf, so financially a private membership doesn't make sense if you look strictly at the numbers. If you value the club stuff, then go for it. If you're like me and you're having to squeeze golf in, it'd be ludicrous to buy a membership, even if I lived inside the CC. I'd much rather get a steak at Ruth's Chris than the CC to meet my $250 food minimum. Just for the golf break down, it would be 5-6 rounds a month (every month including winter) to break even compared to local courses, which is actually not bad now, used to be alot more. I'll stick to no CC/membership for now. We just have several courses now, with great deals, compared to when I grew up playing. Maybe in 8 years when my kids are old enough, and into golf enough to bleed me dry, I'll think about a membership. To each their own, but I'd definitely trial for a year no strings attached and read the quit/sell policy. I know for my dad's $15K policy they would only allow one sell for every new member, so basically it was worthless by then. But he is a member again :)

Well, that depends on how your old clubs were setup. Golf companies have been deloft'n irons for a while now and instead of having just a PW and SW, most are carrying 4 wedges now. I know when I went to my R7's I was amazed that I was hitting a club farther. Then I checked the lofts and it made sense.

I'm another used club guy. The guy that drops $1200 on a new set, at a whim, is also the same guy that sales those clubs and I pick them up at a discount. Now, I'm not discounting the guys who spend that cash and really like the clubs, I just don't play enough to justify new irons every couple years when I usually hit them straight and screw up on my woods and wedges.

Used drivers are cheap, so I buy 1 or 2 year old drivers all the time to try out then keep, give away, or sell.

Irons, not so much, more like 7+ years, currently playing some TM R7's I've had for a while. Woods/hybrids/wedges - every year, every couple years, or every couple rounds. These clubs are the ones that get me in and out of trouble the most. I'm basically standard in every bit of my swing so I just buy slightly used clubs all the time. Also, I should admit, I also lose wedges alot, about 1 per year, so that kind plays into it. I've only used three putters in my life. One from Junior Golf, one from middle school through college, and one more since college (36 now)

I honestly wouldn't think it was a serious swing if I saw it out on the course. It has to be the absolutely worse swing 'I' have ever see.

Not trying to be an ass at all, but I think I gave up pitching fits at 14, I'm 30 now. I think it's a mental thing as I have friends that still throw clubs, after losing my ass with my 401k a bad shot is a walk in the park. Take your cost per round, divide your number of swings by that and that's how much your shitty shot cost you. Then go look at your 401K.

most course here in GA consider 200+ rounds a good day. Our avg. is 4 - 4.5 hours. If you took that long down here I think people might start playing through on their own.

Just to give the OP some hope, my broher-in-law runs a course and he fired a Marshall after he didn't get onto people for slow play. He asked the Marshall why he wasn't pressing people and he replied, "..well I don't want to start trouble..." He told the guy to go home and not come back to Marshall or to play for free.

I eagled a par 5 18th hole on my first round of the year. Probably the first eagle I've had in at least 5 years.

I actually watched more than I usually do. I streamed Amen Corner while I was at work on Thursday.

I don't own them yet, but I'm leaning towards them or the TM r7's. I hit the fp's better but the TM's feel better

Miller Lite

If I'm in a 4-some and there's a duce or single behind I'll let them play thru, if it's a 4-some, tough shit. It takes 20 minutes just to get someone to play thru. Golf is a game of patience, that's why I don't understand why people worry about the people behind them. If you're on pace for a 4 hour 30 minute round, then don't worry about it.

You don't need graphite shafts.