What benefits do you find of joining a golf club?

[aguybadatgolf]

3 minutes ago, Jnoble89 said:

I’ve thought about this route living in Wisconsin as well. Mat, net and MLM2 Pro would cost about as much as a single membership for next year, and I could use that all winter plus in the summer to practice 

Exactly! And you can join sim tournaments to add some more competition. I also know I’d have plenty of friends coming over to play so the social aspect would still be there 

[Javs]

We live in a 55 plus community. That is a golf cart community. We have three courses with about eight different sets of tees for each course. We can join as a full member, punch cards or pay as you go. There is no initiation fee.The full membership is about 4,000 a year. Unlimited golf, practice balls and facilities. There are no trail fees for your cart. We all have the option to join the men’s club and the Texas Golf Association and the club keeps our handicap.The men’s club weekly play only cost 4 dollars to enter. Big tournaments cost more. There are about five of those a year. They cost between 85 to 125 a person. These include at least two days of play, door prizes, closest to the pin and long drive each day. Plus an awards banquet with door prizes. We have weekly groups that play everyday and the usual buy in is 3 dollars. These games are either individual or team. Different formats and pay outs. There is no problem getting tee times. This is a no brainer for me since I play way over 100 rounds a year. Cost per round averages about 16 dollars for the amount I play.

Edited September 30, 2023 by Javs

[Preeway]

3 hours ago, Javs said:

We live in a 55 plus community. That is a golf cart community. We have three courses with about eight different sets of tees for each course. We can join as a full member, punch cards or pay as you go. There is no initiation fee.The full membership is about 4,000 a year. Unlimited golf, practice balls and facilities. There are no trail fees for your cart. We all have the option to join the men’s club and the Texas Golf Association and the club keeps our handicap.The men’s club weekly play only cost 4 dollars to enter. Big tournaments cost more. There are about five of those a year. They cost between 85 to 125 a person. These include at least two days of play, door prizes, closest to the pin and long drive each day. Plus an awards banquet with door prizes. We have weekly groups that play everyday and the usual buy in is 3 dollars. These games are either individual or team. Different formats and pay outs. There is no problem getting tee times. This is a no brainer for me since I play way over 100 rounds a year. Cost per round averages about 16 dollars for the amount I play.

Not jealous of that at all. Nope…

[Javs]

7 hours ago, Preeway said:

Not jealous of that at all. Nope…

I think maybe you might be….

[Preeway]

[Nick_D]

On 9/30/2023 at 9:45 AM, aguybadatgolf said:

Exactly! And you can join sim tournaments to add some more competition. I also know I’d have plenty of friends coming over to play so the social aspect would still be there 

This is exactly what led to me building a sim setup in my garage. Figured it would be the same cost and I could use it more than just one year. Needless to say, the wife and I have been thinking about joining a private club down the road from us as well... slippery slope! haha

[Rygolf32]

On 9/30/2023 at 8:36 AM, aguybadatgolf said:

I’ve looked into semi private memberships for my wife and I. Just doesn’t seem worth it unless you go to a private club which I can’t afford yet. Maybe sometime in my 30s if we don’t have kids . 
 

I also live in Colorado and you’re lucky to play 2-3 times from November-March. Tempted to spend the money on a simulator instead so I can at least play year round. 

My wife and I have a semi-private membership locally. The good news, it's WAY cheaper than private and we can make times 10 days in advance where the public can only do 5 days. There are plenty of club events, etc to play in which is nice also. We also have a Monday night league that's pretty competitive with a 1st flight of hdcps of +2 to 10 which is great, I'm not giving 20 strokes on 9 holes. 

 

Bad news, lots of public players that don't really give a $hit about the golf course so I'm constantly repairing ball marks on greens, etc. Times do fill up from the 5 days in so it is tough to get any type of last minute times.

 

Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. Considering I've played more golf this year than I've probably played in any year in the last 20+ years, I think we'll keep the membership next year too. Now I'm just hoping we get some decent weather Nov-March so I can play some then (like you said bad weather those months, it's like that in Nebraska here too).

[Rygolf32]

On 7/10/2023 at 8:55 AM, Hobert said:

We decided to join a private club in March and have no regrets (we had previously joined and left a semi-private years ago). For me, I knew it would get me out playing more often which has been a goal of mine for years. The initiation fee was fairly modest compared to the high-end member-owned clubs near me. The monthly fee is about half of my former car payment (that end last September). We have a quarterly food/beverage minimum that is fairly low (and alcohol counts towards that minimum). As far as benefits go, there are many:

• Unlimited range time
• Amazing short game practice area (multiple greens, each with a bunker (one deep, one less so))
• Spread out tee times which allows/encourages walking (more than half do walk)
• Generally can get a tee time for the same day even on weekends
• Teaching Pro is regarded as one of the best in the area (construction is almost finished on an instruction facility for him (simulator, garage door opens up out on to range, etc.); he has already helped me tremendously (member rate for teaching is quite affordable)
• New to Golf for Women Clinic has encouraged my wife to start practicing and playing/helped her meet a group of friends at the club to play/practice with
• Fun social events (e.g., Around the World events on Friday evenings comprising 9 holes of Captain's choice; chef has food/beverage stations between some holes to have themed appetizers and drinks)
• Networking and meeting new people (and seeing them again). For example a father and son joined me and a friend for a round a few weeks after I joined. The son was a freshman in high school and put on a show (Eagled the Par 5 7th after his dad applied pressure saying "this is his eagle hole" as we walked onto the tee box (he bombed a drive to 160ish out, put his second within 6 feet, and drained his putt). Father and son were extremely nice and I got to watch a show first hand.
• Free tees 
• Lack of congestion resulting in rounds under four hours
• Organized tournaments
• I'm sure more will come to mind

I have not yet grown tired of playing the same course and I do still play other courses in the area from time to time with friends/colleagues.

Wish I was close to that, sounds way better than our current semi-private and probably not that much more monthly! 

 

I always keep my eyes open at the private clubs locally just in case they decide to drop those initiation fees or discount them to my level! I'd love to have a club where I can get a time at any point and we'd meet even more people, just not in the cards as the least expensive private club around here has a $7k initiation fee and I think $300/mo food requirement. That's just too rich for our blood considering my wife is still learning.

Edited October 2, 2023 by Rygolf32

[chisag]

57 minutes ago, Rygolf32 said:

Wish I was close to that, sounds way better than our current semi-private and probably not that much more monthly! 

 

I always keep my eyes open at the private clubs locally just in case they decide to drop those initiation fees or discount them to my level! I'd love to have a club where I can get a time at any point and we'd meet even more people, just not in the cards as the least expensive private club around here has a $7k initiation fee and I think $300/mo food requirement. That's just too rich for our blood considering my wife is still learning.

 

... Like real estate CC's have a similar mantra: Location, location, location. I hear great stories of low initiation fees and monthly dues in smaller cities or rural areas. Living in the Chicago suburbs for 43 years CC's were prohibitively expensive and $50,000 - $100,000 initiation fees were the norm. Some higher. So moving to Phoenix I was hoping for something more affordable but it is pretty much the same here. There are some less expensive CC's but in this case less expensive can be translated as cheap. One of the biggest problems is most have one rate for residents and another for those not living on the course. The one I was really interested in joining is just too expensive for a non resident and this is pretty typical for Phoenix. https://www.mytrilogylife.com/encanterra/golf/

 

Golf Membership - $60,000 Exclusive to Encanterra Residents 
Dues: $550/month

Invitational Membership - $85,000 Inclusive of Social Membership
Available to those not residing within Encanterra
Dues: $814/month

 

[Rygolf32]

11 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Like real estate CC's have a similar mantra: Location, location, location. I hear great stories of low initiation fees and monthly dues in smaller cities or rural areas. Living in the Chicago suburbs for 43 years CC's were prohibitively expensive and $50,000 - $100,000 initiation fees were the norm. Some higher. So moving to Phoenix I was hoping for something more affordable but it is pretty much the same here. There are some less expensive CC's but in this case less expensive can be translated as cheap. One of the biggest problems is most have one rate for residents and another for those not living on the course. The one I was really interested in joining is just too expensive for a non resident and this is pretty typical for Phoenix. https://www.mytrilogylife.com/encanterra/golf/

 

Golf Membership - $60,000 Exclusive to Encanterra Residents 
Dues: $550/month

Invitational Membership - $85,000 Inclusive of Social Membership
Available to those not residing within Encanterra
Dues: $814/month

 

HOLY $HIT! And I'm complaining about $7k initiation and $300/mo. LOL

I wish someday (probably not likely since I'm rapidly closing in on 50) that I had that kind of disposable income to join a place like that! Honestly, size of our city is probably the main issue where I live in Nebraska...we only have 4 country clubs (fully private) in town and they are all pricey. The one I mentioned above is the cheapest, the rest are all $20k+ initiation and $500+/mo. I have a daughter in college, not a chance I'm pulling that off while helping her with tuition! 

[Jim Shaw]

so, we had a fun “member appreciation” nine and dine last night at OV. Blind draw gave me 3 good guys to play with and we finished 4 under and won the darn thing, nothing fancy for dinner, appetizers really but sushi, beef on a bun chicken or shrimp tacos, oh and desert, all put on by the club, plus the pro shop let you draw a golf ball out of a bucket that represented a percentage off your purchases, I drew 50% and my wife 55%. I went for the “sun ice” rain jacket and a couple of fall seasonal shirts that I really didnt need, she got a new Ogio golf bag, as you an tell we kindof wait for this sale. All in all a fun night, saved some money played some good golf and were fed… oh and a free drink ticket as well, very nice.

another benefit of joining a club.

[Dead Solid Bogey]

I like the fact that my club is reciprocating with other clubs in the state and out of state…. In my personal life, I need as many sanctuaries as I can get…

[SteddyGolf]

Late to the party here.  It really depends on how often you play.  You kind of have to do the math from there.  Let's take one club in my area. The monthly fees are approximately $500 a month.  You also have to pay $24 if you are riding in the cart. This course is a very hard walk. If you play 10 rounds a month then $500 + ($24 x 10) = $740 or on average $74 a round. The public fee is $79.99 a round.  There is a norminal savings in this case.

My club cost $450 a month plus $150 for an unlimited cart plan. This includes premium Tee Times and unlimited range balls.  The total cost to me is $600 a month and I play 15 to 20 rounds a month for an average green fee equivalent of between $30 to $40 a round. That is a pretty good deal.  Living on the course, the unlimited range balls are a huge perk.

I think you have to do a cost to benefit analysis to really make a decision.  

[Golf2Much]

Back in the late 1990's a very nice country club in our area was having a membership promotion.  At the time, most of our friends were associated with the respective employers, so social events often turned into talking shop.  In a weak moment, my wife agreed that we should join so I could play golf, she could learn and to meet new people.   On the plus side, I loved the golf course, it had great facilities (lockers, driving range, etc.) and high-quality food and service in the restaurant which helped justify the monthly minimum.  My wife took lessons and we'd regularly play on Friday night scotches.   I became accustomed to the amenities like having my own locker, getting my shoes cleaned after a round and being known by the staff.  We still had to "fight" for early tee times as the better players always seemed to have them locked up for some reason?  After about four years my wife and I sat down and had a serious discussion about our experience so far.   We quickly concluded that if the goal was to meet new people, that most people we met there were not the ones we wanted to know!   So, we resigned and never looked back. 

The board was stacked with single digit golfers who had no interest representing the majority of members' interests.  The "clicks" were too pervasive.  You could tell that there were members who were there just to put on a show and it was more important to be seen at the club than to truly enjoy what the club had to offer.  As I'm writing this, it's funny how our situation was just like high school!  The jocks ruled, clicks dominated the social scene and what you wore and who you were seen with made all the difference in the world.   I guess we never learn!

After that I joined a semi-private golf club about 45 minutes away from my house.  I loved it.  It was a great course layout that was a pleasure to walk.  Members had set tee times from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Because of that and being out in farm country, no one liked to play early.  So I'd get up early and be the only one out there at 7 am.   I didn't get to meet too many people, but after my country club experience, I just wanted to play golf!   Most members didn't even knew I existed as I only played once a week and when no one was there when I did.  I'd get the strangest looks walking off 18 when they were just walking up and heading to the first tee.  

[Tom the Golf Nut]

2 hours ago, Golf2Much said:

The board was stacked with single digit golfers who had no interest representing the majority of members' interests.  The "clicks" were too pervasive.  You could tell that there were members who were there just to put on a show and it was more important to be seen at the club than to truly enjoy what the club had to offer.  As I'm writing this, it's funny how our situation was just like high school!  The jocks ruled, clicks dominated the social scene and what you wore and who you were seen with made all the difference in the world.   I guess we never learn!

After that I joined a semi-private golf club about 45 minutes away from my house.  I loved it.  It was a great course layout that was a pleasure to walk.  Members had set tee times from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Because of that and being out in farm country, no one liked to play early.  So I'd get up early and be the only one out there at 7 am.   I didn't get to meet too many people, but after my country club experience, I just wanted to play golf!   Most members didn't even knew I existed as I only played once a week and when no one was there when I did.  I'd get the strangest looks walking off 18 when they were just walking up and heading to the first tee.  

How funny but how true. Your experience was the same as mine. But I stayed until I moved. I stayed because my wife was the bookkeeper, and it came with free membership. 17 years of not paying for golf was worth it. Having been gone since last December I was in town last week and decided to play my old course. (Still free as my wife still work remotely) I get into the clubhouse after my round and one guy says. Hey, I know you don't I. My NY wit said "Well I have been a member for 17 years. Played twice a week so maybe you have seen me."

I was not part of any click. I always felt as I was there on a free ride. I also played early and was done before most even showed up to play. 

I hate the people that think they are entitled. They would go off in large groups and draw cards to see what tee they started on. Regardless of who was out on the course. They would drive up the fairway in the wrong direction, jump in front of you and tee off. I really miss the fantastic course but not a good portion of the membership. 

I have met more friendly golfers here at my new course in 9 months than 17 years at my last club. 

 

[Jim Shaw]

3 hours ago, SteddyGolf said:

Late to the party here.  It really depends on how often you play.  You kind of have to do the math from there.  Let's take one club in my area. The monthly fees are approximately $500 a month.  You also have to pay $24 if you are riding in the cart. This course is a very hard walk. If you play 10 rounds a month then $500 + ($24 x 10) = $740 or on average $74 a round. The public fee is $79.99 a round.  There is a norminal savings in this case.

My club cost $450 a month plus $150 for an unlimited cart plan. This includes premium Tee Times and unlimited range balls.  The total cost to me is $600 a month and I play 15 to 20 rounds a month for an average green fee equivalent of between $30 to $40 a round. That is a pretty good deal.  Living on the course, the unlimited range balls are a huge perk.

I think you have to do a cost to benefit analysis to really make a decision.  

I am not sold on the cost to benefit being the be all end all, there are a lot of other factors that can go into it, I believe if that is the deciding factor then membership isn't for you. 

[GaDawg]

56 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

How funny but how true. Your experience was the same as mine. But I stayed until I moved. I stayed because my wife was the bookkeeper, and it came with free membership. 17 years of not paying for golf was worth it. Having been gone since last December I was in town last week and decided to play my old course. (Still free as my wife still work remotely) I get into the clubhouse after my round and one guy says. Hey, I know you don't I. My NY wit said "Well I have been a member for 17 years. Played twice a week so maybe you have seen me."

I was not part of any click. I always felt as I was there on a free ride. I also played early and was done before most even showed up to play. 

I hate the people that think they are entitled. They would go off in large groups and draw cards to see what tee they started on. Regardless of who was out on the course. They would drive up the fairway in the wrong direction, jump in front of you and tee off. I really miss the fantastic course but not a good portion of the membership. 

I have met more friendly golfers here at my new course in 9 months than 17 years at my last club. 

 

Been there done that! Glad things are great since you moved.

[SteddyGolf]

47 minutes ago, Jim Shaw said:

I am not sold on the cost to benefit being the be all end all, there are a lot of other factors that can go into it, I believe if that is the deciding factor then membership isn't for you. 

I don’t want to be argumentative here but for a lot of people cost is absolutely the leading factor.  Most golfers are between 44 and 60 which means they are most likely still working, paying a mortgage and putting kids through college.  Yes, the average household income of a golf family is over $100,000.00 US annually but even at that number if you still have kids on the payroll then the cost of leisure activity is a major factor. 
 

Cost may not be an issue for you but that’s not what you asked. You asked about the benefits and or reason to join.  I simply listed one.  

Edited October 15, 2023 by SteddyGolf

[Jim Shaw]

2 hours ago, SteddyGolf said:

I don’t want to be argumentative here but for a lot of people cost is absolutely the leading factor.  Most golfers are between 44 and 60 which means they are most likely still working, paying a mortgage and putting kids through college.  Yes, the average household income of a golf family is over $100,000.00 US annually but even at that number if you still have kids on the payroll then the cost of leisure activity is a major factor. 
 

Cost may not be an issue for you but that’s not what you asked. You asked about the benefits and or reason to join.  I simply listed one.  

@SteddyGolfnot argumentative at all, I have said this before, I believe this is what a forum is for, to view our opinions openly, I respect your and others opinions, and totally understand the cost included in a membership may be prohibitive for some. Another one of my favourite quotes is "fun is expensive" any hobby people have can add up. I am sure some people on this site have travel as a hobby, that can add up as well... anyway I enjoy the back and forth and opportunity to hear other golfers takes on almost every subject. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

3 hours ago, SteddyGolf said:

I don’t want to be argumentative here but for a lot of people cost is absolutely the leading factor.  Most golfers are between 44 and 60 which means they are most likely still working, paying a mortgage and putting kids through college.  Yes, the average household income of a golf family is over $100,000.00 US annually but even at that number if you still have kids on the payroll then the cost of leisure activity is a major factor.

Face it, golf is expensive and based on where you live it can be very expensive. I did a lot of research before I moved where I did. I’m between Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach. The courses near me can’t compete so the best way to get members and people on the course is to keep the rates or membership low. My membership is $110 a month for the first year and $150 a month after that. Includes unlimited play, tennis, and the pool. Carts are $20.00. Walking is free. Financially a no brainer. I play at least 8 rounds a month. As you get closer to the two big areas I mentioned, you are looking at $80 up to $400 or more for one round of golf.  I’m not willing to shell out that amount for one round on a regular basis. Once a year on a special trip maybe. 

[chisag]

1 minute ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Face it, golf is expensive and based on where you live it can be very expensive. I did a lot of research before I moved where I did. I’m between Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach. The courses near me can’t compete so the best way to get members and people on the course is to keep the rates or membership low. My membership is $110 a month for the first year and $150 a month after that. Includes unlimited play, tennis, and the pool. Carts are $20.00. Walking is free. Financially a no brainer. I play at least 8 rounds a month. As you get closer to the two big areas I mentioned, you are looking at $80 up to $400 or more for one round of golf.  I’m not willing to shell out that amount for one round on a regular basis. Once a year on a special trip maybe. 

 

... Of course value is subjective. And "value" covers more than the expense. Those lucky or smart enough to move to someplace they can enjoy and take advantage of a private club is pretty much ideal. With over $200 courses here in Phoenix and ideal weather 9 months out f the year and intermittently playable the other 3 months, Phoenix was a good tea off for me after 42 years in Chicago. 

... As much as I would like to find a private club that was more Ty Webb than Judge Smalls (no easy task in a big city) I am not prepared to spend $75,000or more just to join. With over 200 courses within about 50 miles of home I have plenty of options and my home muni is awesome. Still, I will continue to look for a CC that fits my life style and I can join what I am willing to pay. 

[CFreddie]

19 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Of course value is subjective. And "value" covers more than the expense. Those lucky or smart enough to move to someplace they can enjoy and take advantage of a private club is pretty much ideal. With over $200 courses here in Phoenix and ideal weather 9 months out f the year and intermittently playable the other 3 months, Phoenix was a good tea off for me after 42 years in Chicago. 

... As much as I would like to find a private club that was more Ty Webb than Judge Smalls (no easy task in a big city) I am not prepared to spend $75,000or more just to join. With over 200 courses within about 50 miles of home I have plenty of options and my home muni is awesome. Still, I will continue to look for a CC that fits my life style and I can join what I am willing to pay. 

Have really enjoyed this convo - I wish Atlanta had better public options. It’s the only reason I’ve ever considered private - it’s near impossible to find a good / great track within the city that doesnt take more than 5+ hours to complete. And if I want quality, I’m driving 60+ mins both ways for a round (there goes the whole day). 
 

Cost is 100% a factor for me, but the ability to play as much golf as I want (and as quickly as I can) is a huge selling point.  And as my kids grow older, I’m hoping it’s a great activity for them to get involved with as well. The search continues…

[chisag]

7 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Have really enjoyed this convo - I wish Atlanta had better public options. It’s the only reason I’ve ever considered private - it’s near impossible to find a good / great track within the city that doesnt take more than 5+ hours to complete. And if I want quality, I’m driving 60+ mins both ways for a round (there goes the whole day). 
 

Cost is 100% a factor for me, but the ability to play as much golf as I want (and as quickly as I can) is a huge selling point.  And as my kids grow older, I’m hoping it’s a great activity for them to get involved with as well. The search continues…

 

... I wish you good luck in your search amigo! I have been lucky as far as muni's are concerned as my home course back in Chicago was one of my favorites all things considered: cost, conditions, lay out, staff and pace of play. Then found the same thing here in Phoenix and was able to move nearby, so 4.2 miles from my garage to the parking lot. If I hit the lights just right it takes less than 5 minutes and never more than 10 minutes. I use around 3% of my EV battery round trip. Playing for $32 walking with a $30 a year city card using my ZIP at twilite while other comparable courses are charging $200 or more is a no brainer. 

[funkyjudge]

10 hours ago, Golf2Much said:

Back in the late 1990's a very nice country club in our area was having a membership promotion.  At the time, most of our friends were associated with the respective employers, so social events often turned into talking shop.  In a weak moment, my wife agreed that we should join so I could play golf, she could learn and to meet new people.   On the plus side, I loved the golf course, it had great facilities (lockers, driving range, etc.) and high-quality food and service in the restaurant which helped justify the monthly minimum.  My wife took lessons and we'd regularly play on Friday night scotches.   I became accustomed to the amenities like having my own locker, getting my shoes cleaned after a round and being known by the staff.  We still had to "fight" for early tee times as the better players always seemed to have them locked up for some reason?  After about four years my wife and I sat down and had a serious discussion about our experience so far.   We quickly concluded that if the goal was to meet new people, that most people we met there were not the ones we wanted to know!   So, we resigned and never looked back. 

The board was stacked with single digit golfers who had no interest representing the majority of members' interests.  The "clicks" were too pervasive.  You could tell that there were members who were there just to put on a show and it was more important to be seen at the club than to truly enjoy what the club had to offer.  As I'm writing this, it's funny how our situation was just like high school!  The jocks ruled, clicks dominated the social scene and what you wore and who you were seen with made all the difference in the world.   I guess we never learn!

After that I joined a semi-private golf club about 45 minutes away from my house.  I loved it.  It was a great course layout that was a pleasure to walk.  Members had set tee times from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Because of that and being out in farm country, no one liked to play early.  So I'd get up early and be the only one out there at 7 am.   I didn't get to meet too many people, but after my country club experience, I just wanted to play golf!   Most members didn't even knew I existed as I only played once a week and when no one was there when I did.  I'd get the strangest looks walking off 18 when they were just walking up and heading to the first tee.  

I find that in the vast majority of private golf/country clubs in my area (Philadelphia suburbs in both PA and Southern NJ), the boards and golf committees are dominated by low single-digit handicap golfers who have virtually no interest in the needs or preferences of other members outside of their respective "cliques". In addition, several of these low single-digit players are members at more than one (often far more than one) area private club.  I don't know where they get the money to be members at multiple clubs because most clubs around here are far from inexpensive to join and have sizeable monthly and annual fees that members must pay.

There are a few (but very few) private clubs around here that cater to average golfers who are not millionaires, and their families. Some of these clubs are ones that I would love to join; however, the wait lists are long at most of them.  At the others, I cannot afford the initiation and annual fees.  Besides, I like variety in my golf, and were I a member of a private club I would feel obligated to play the majority of my golf at one club.

Edited October 15, 2023 by funkyjudge

[Tom the Golf Nut]

On 10/15/2023 at 5:55 PM, CFreddie said:

Have really enjoyed this convo - I wish Atlanta had better public options. It’s the only reason I’ve ever considered private - it’s near impossible to find a good / great track within the city that doesnt take more than 5+ hours to complete. And if I want quality, I’m driving 60+ mins both ways for a round (there goes the whole day). 
 

Cost is 100% a factor for me, but the ability to play as much golf as I want (and as quickly as I can) is a huge selling point.  And as my kids grow older, I’m hoping it’s a great activity for them to get involved with as well. The search continues…

I hope you find a course for next season. Guess who will be playing a round of golf with you soon! My company has given me a new territory due to my move to the east coast. Atlanta will be one of my stomping grounds.         

[CFreddie]

1 hour ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I hope you find a course for next season. Guess who will be playing a round of golf with you soon! My company has given me a new territory due to my move to the east coast. Atlanta will be one of my stomping grounds.         

Amazing!!! Please reach out so we can plan an outing!

[vandyland]

Upside: Can always find good players to play with.
Downside: Gambling is rampant. 

I don't want to sound like a puritan here, I just don't like gambling on myself in golf. I have rather low risk tolerance. Unfortunately, country clubs seem to have a significant amount of gambling tied into all the golf. I generally oblige but it is not "additive" to me and I try to avoid the groups that I know gamble even though I like playing with those guys. It also prevents me from playing in the member/guest because there is a required calcutta buy-in and you have to buy your own team and usually the teams all get bid up by the richest guys. So you end up spending an additional $500-$600 just to buy your own team in addition to what you paid to get into the member guest in the first place. Maybe I am just cheap?

[StrokerAce]

10 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Upside: Can always find good players to play with.
Downside: Gambling is rampant. 

I don't want to sound like a puritan here, I just don't like gambling on myself in golf. I have rather low risk tolerance. Unfortunately, country clubs seem to have a significant amount of gambling tied into all the golf. I generally oblige but it is not "additive" to me and I try to avoid the groups that I know gamble even though I like playing with those guys. It also prevents me from playing in the member/guest because there is a required calcutta buy-in and you have to buy your own team and usually the teams all get bid up by the richest guys. So you end up spending an additional $500-$600 just to buy your own team in addition to what you paid to get into the member guest in the first place. Maybe I am just cheap?

My buddy I've played golf with the last few years joined a club and he wanted me to do it with him. I almost did it - the membership was around 5k, but then I saw that there is a mandatory dining charge which brought it to 7100. Although that's probably a decent deal I just couldn't do it. 

I recently saw him and asked him how it's going and he said that it's great because if you wake up one morning and want to play you just call and get a time.

He also was telling me about the "Bubba Train"; it's a weekly game with A/B/C/D players and you put in your entry fee (I'm guessing it was around 20?). I asked him about it and if he'd won yet. 
He said
1: not that he can recall but it's fun playing with some competition and something on the line.
2: he's ended up spending more than he expected so far.

He's not really a gambler but wants to join the group.
It's not even really golf season yet.
I'm a little worried for him and looking back on it I'm glad I decided not to join. I'm kinda frugal but I would have ended up doing the same thing he is.

[Woodrow72]

Belonged to country clubs for over 25 years !most of the enjoyment was playing first off the tee on weekends when I needed to get to work by noon and could play 18 alone in 2 hours , later the gambling was something I did just a couple times , lucky for me I lost so I withdrew from that play , still love CC life but haven’t been a member since 2016 , I know now I can live without it!