Play the same course or explore new ones?

[Middler]

13 hours ago, HardcoreLooper said:

Club membership is definitely a matter of personal preference.  I belonged to a private club for a couple years, I loved my course, the membership was pretty good, but overall, I hated it.  I love playing different courses, and paying greens fees when you're paying dues just ate away at me.  And when I did the math on what my per-round cost was, I realized that I could do better going back to playing public courses.  I grew up working at a private club (caddying/pro shop), so my relationship with private clubs is... complicated.

With all that being said, my status might change in the next month (public course with memberships, not private at all).  Probably not, but we'll see.

I’m part of a regular group of 10 that plays two foursomes away every Wednesday (there are usually 1-2 absences, bringing us to 8). And I’m part of a group of about 20 that play our regular home course three or four foursomes on Mondays. Most of the Monday group are home course members and almost never play away because the home course is “free.” They play the home course almost exclusively. I’m on the waiting list to join the home course, but I’m on the fence about actually joining as breakeven is about 1.5 rounds per week - and I wonder if I’ll feel guilty about playing away?

One of the regulars I play with is a member at 3 different courses. But he plays so much it’s probably worthwhile for him, last year he had a stretch where he played over 90 consecutive days!

[DiscipleofPenick]

From my area there's over 100 public 18 hole courses within an hour, so it's hard to want to stay put. Add another 40 private clubs, and who knows how many 9 hole and par 3 courses. We don't get mentioned nationally but this area has a lot to offer.

Take Dead Aim

[Hook DeLoft]

I'm lucky.  The course I belong to is actually 3 courses scattered over about a 30 mile area.  My monthly dues give me full access to all 3, so I can get a little variety if I want.  The reality is I play 90% of my rounds at the course closest to my home.

[Shapotomous]

There are only 3 courses in our county and they are about 20 minutes away.  But two of those offer very affordable membership deals with tee time constraints as trade offs.   We are under $2500 for both and it includes all the range balls I want to hit!!  The wife gets more than our moneys worth with the number of rounds she plays.  Their condition isn't good but its perfect for me as a practice junkie to get out early evening and get in as many holes as possible before dark jumping around if necessary.  Since my investment in those is small I don't mind traveling to pay at other courses for a 'real' round of golf.

[tony@CIC]

3 hours ago, Larryd3 said:

I'm fortunate to belong to a private club that has 36 holes and both are different from each other and challenging.  One way to change it up is to play from different tees periodically, really makes it a different course, especially playing from the Red (women's) tees.  totally different course and takes a different mindset to play it that way.  We also have ability to play 3 other courses in the Tampa area for just cart fees.  One is fairly close and has 27 holes but not anywhere near as good as our home courses.  The other 2 are on the other side of town so with traffic issues, probably around an hour commute.  Kind of irks me when I got to one of those 3 that I have to pay for a cart since I'm on an annual cart plan at the home course.  I'll play somewhere else every once in awhile but really runs up the monthly golf costs.  

Just curious which Club you belong to. We're on the southside of Tampa Bay  

[Larryd3]

1 hour ago, tony@CIC said:

Just curious which Club you belong to. We're on the southside of Tampa Bay  

East Lake Woodlands in Oldsmar so west of Tampa, just north of Clearwater.  We have access to Hunters Green and Tampa Palms which are east of us and then Countryside which is a little south of us.  

[tony@CIC]

1 hour ago, Larryd3 said:

East Lake Woodlands in Oldsmar so west of Tampa, just north of Clearwater.  We have access to Hunters Green and Tampa Palms which are east of us and then Countryside which is a little south of us.  

A bunch of us played in your "area" last week at Saddlebrook. As an FYI @fozcycle  and @revkev live near you if you're ever interested in playing with other forum members. 

[fixyurdivot]

I pretty much play the same 4 courses in Yuma, AZ and same 4 courses at home in Montana.  I did add 6 new courses played in 2020 and, if things go as we hope with the 2021 PNW Spy Meet-up, add at least 4 new ones this year.  While I don't mind playing the same courses frequently, it is always fun to test new tracks.

[garyt1957]

I can't imagine playing the same course over and over. I try to go to a different course each week and then play a rotation of 5 or so courses once a week with my BIL. I love going on a golf vacation where every course I play is new to me. Just did that in Myrtle beach in March. Do you lose a stroke or two due to lack of course knowledge? Probably, who cares? I love standing on the tee box of a hole I've never seen before.

  I do like the idea of joining a club though. It would have to have 36 holes though at least.

[Jason at Golf Travel Shop]

This is a great thread. I'm interested to learn how many of us travel with golf a primary reason. I work for a software company that has just created a golf travel network for golf tour specialist who use our software.

This is one of the first itineraries we have created promoting our local partner in Monterey, California. 

https://golftravel.shop/itinerary/a-pebble-beach-adventure-with-golf-fishing-and-biking-17-mile-drive/

Would this interest anyone?

[Kenny B]

On 3/25/2021 at 2:06 PM, fixyurdivot said:

I pretty much play the same 4 courses in Yuma, AZ and same 4 courses at home in Montana.  I did add 6 new courses played in 2020 and, if things go as we hope with the 2021 PNW Spy Meet-up, add at least 4 new ones this year.  While I don't mind playing the same courses frequently, it is always fun to test new tracks.

My wife and I play the same course 99% of the time, except when traveling.  Since we both play, it costs less to be members of a club (muni in our case).  We do play our sister course across the Columbia River in Pasco because we get 1/2 off any rate.  She does play other courses in the area occasionally when her Ladies League travels.  I play another course in town occasionally for free as a sub for a Wolf game.

Our vacation travels always include golf.  We are looking forward to meeting up with @fixyurdivot and @Thin2win to play in Spokane next week in the 2021 MGS Meetup.  Playing:

Hangman Valley GC
Circling Raven GC on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene ID
Indian Canyon GC
Chewela GC
The Creek at Qualchan

We've previously played all of the courses many time; my wife grew up in Spokane playing all of the Spokane courses.   Chewela will be new to us.

We are headed to Palm Springs in January for two weeks; probably play 3-4 courses while we are there.  Our condo is across the parking lot from one course we like to play.

Pros of playing the same course:

Familiarity - you know where to hit it and where not to hit it.  Course conditions change from day-to-day and season-to-season, but it's not extreme, which helps learning how to hit off the turf and putting
Always someone you know to play with if you want.
Easy to check progress when learning or trying to maintain your game
Less expensive, especially when paying for two!

Cons of playing the same course:

No variety - different courses provide different challenges
Familiarity - handicap is likely lower than if you play different courses - I see about 6-7 shots higher scores when playing a course for the first time or one I haven't played in a long time, but that probably varies depending on your skill level
More chance to lose focus on shots; getting lackadaisical.

 

[Middler]

I’m on the waiting list to join my home course but I have a couple significant reservations.

1) Many of the guys I play with there are averse to going anywhere else because they “have to pay” - some never play “away.” At the home course it’s “free” so the more they play there, the cheaper each round is.

Though I play there, I also play away at one of many other area courses once a week.

2) More recently the home course has been scheduling more and more corporate events, leagues and tournaments, which blocks off lots of tee times to members, even entire days some. I’ve heard members complain home GC has about twice as many events scheduled this summer. Home GC is a business after all, and their owners want them to be profitable - I’m not sure what the proper balance is between member access versus (more lucrative?) corporate events? Corporate events probably help keep annual membership costs down, but I don’t think members realize that - all they see is fewer available tee times…

[M. Parsons]

I would love to have one of those golf scooters to ride from my house to the closest course, play my round and then ride back home...leaving the golf bag hooked to the back 24/7...however, that's fantasy world for me.  

When I first started golfing, I was stationed in Japan, and golf is very expensive in Japan...however, it was only $185 for an annual membership to the base course, which was about a 20 minute drive off base (depending on traffic).  There was a bonus 9-hole par-3 course actually on base, with a driving range that was also a part of that membership.  So, those two courses were the only ones I played for 3 years, unless I traveled, which was rare.

When I left Japan, I got stationed in England, and the base didn't have a golf course, so I had to play the courses in town (I think I played about 4 or 5 different courses, but mainly stuck to the 2 closest).  When I came back to the states (GA, then NV) I would play on-base and in town (especially in Vegas).

Now that I'm retired from the military and live in NM, I typically just play the local courses in Albuquerque.  However, last year I joined the VGA and have been able to play some courses I wouldn't think about going to play at the spur of the moment.  When I look at my courses played so far this year...I've played 5 different courses, but 4 of those I've played twice.  Last year I played 5 new tracks, and this year, I'll play at least 1 new track.

[RobbyT]

I would say you should play different courses unless you are a member of a country club.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

42 minutes ago, Middler said:

I’m on the waiting list to join my home course but I have a couple significant reservations.

1) Many of the guys I play with there are averse to going anywhere else because they “have to pay” - some never play “away.” At the home course it’s “free” so the more they play there, the cheaper each round is.

Though I play there, I also play away at one of many other area courses once a week.

2) More recently the home course has been scheduling more and more corporate events, leagues and tournaments, which blocks off lots of tee times to members, even entire days some. I’ve heard members complain home GC has about twice as many events scheduled this summer. Home GC is a business after all, and their owners want them to be profitable - I’m not sure what the proper balance is between member access versus (more lucrative?) corporate events? Corporate events probably help keep annual membership costs down, but I don’t think members realize that - all they see is fewer available tee times…

I am seeing this at my course as well. More tournaments and fund raiser events. But my course is pretty good at either having an early tournament or after 11:00. This allows members some tee times. I think some of this will die down next year. Lots of events are geared toward outside activities due to COVID. I also think the mass of people getting into golf will fizzle down some as well. In my area camper sales are out the roof, no inventory, the camping supply isles in stores have a lot of empty shelves. Everyone is looking for an outside activity. Hopefully next season our courses will be back to normal. I'm all for people getting into golf but the massive influx this year is taking its toll on the golf industry as a whole.   

 

[Stuka44]

My brothers and I play different courses as much as possible.  We got the Tee Time Golf Pass, and enjoy the variety.  Its nice to play my most familiar course knowing what to hit, where to miss, which greens you have to concentrate on staying below the hole etc.  I find this becomes a little monotonous.  Make no mistake exploring new courses can be AGGRAVATING.  Played a place for the second time, first time was a year ago.  Didn't really remember it.  

It quickly came back to me.  It was enjoyable, but very tough.  The four prongs of death, very narrow, greens very sloped & contoured, fairway & greenside sand on every hole, and if the first three were not bad enough the greens were lightning quick. Almost to the point of being unfair I would say.  But its now a challenge, that I don't get playing the course I play most often.  Its now a challenge to learn the course a little bit more, and after a 93, and a 91, on the first two attempts, to get in under 90 on the next one.  To not let the greens mentally break me the next time, and learn some of the breaks, and speed, and to break 90, and not have 41 putts, Yeah they were that tough for me,  but that's the challenge I love about the game.

[ColoradoFife]

It is according to what my plans are. If I am playing a round with friends, I look for a new course, i.e. limit that home course advantage. I have one friend that will only play his home course, which is due to being within walking distance and his love for drinking. However many he drinks, he knows that course better than anyone and always shoots a good score. If I playing as that dreaded single, which I do 85% of the time (I love playing the first tee time of the day), I will find a course close to home with one course being my preference as a home course. When my children get older, I hope to take more golf vacations and try to new courses. Lately, I have been getting into the architectural aspects of a golf course. With that said, I will probably join a CC when I am able to play multiple times a week. I like the ideal of a community of golf and knowing your playing partners when you walk up as a single. 

[Josh Ross]

I live on the course I'm a member at and I play probably 35% of my golf elsewhere. I love the convenience of having a 15 second drive to the clubhouse and going out to play, but I love to play different courses too. I will travel a good bit to play something different, especially if it's new to me or really nice.  I usually stay within an hour but have gone further.

[Middler]

2 hours ago, Josh Ross said:

I live on the course I'm a member at and I play probably 35% of my golf elsewhere. I love the convenience of having a 15 second drive to the clubhouse and going out to play, but I love to play different courses too. I will travel a good bit to play something different, especially if it's new to me or really nice.  I usually stay within an hour but have gone further.

Living on a course is a different proposition WRT membership IMO. I can’t imagine anyone who plays golf and lives on a course not being a member at the course they live on. Said another way, why would anyone buy a home on a golf course without intending to play there regularly?