Club Membership

[Shortknocker]

My local club use to be 18 holes. They sold and turning it into a resort/RV type deal. They kept 9 holes (6 from front and 3 from the back) it's a hybrid 9/18 (there's 2 different sets of tees) you play one set first 9 and another set 2nd 9. 

Anyway my question is would it be worth me joining a Course like this? I do play 3 days a week and it's there 90% of the Time. It does get old at times cause of playing just the same 9 holes even though some holes play different depending on Tee box played from. So was just wondering about memberships and if it's worth my time and money on joining a club like this?

[CLenahan]

Would be a no from me.  Being limited to just 9 plus tourists wouldn't make it worth it unless it was incredibly cheap.

What are they looking at charging and what does it include?

[Shortknocker]

9 minutes ago, CLenahan said:

Would be a no from me.  Being limited to just 9 plus tourists wouldn't make it worth it unless it was incredibly cheap.

What are they looking at charging and what does it include?

It's 110 a month and it includes your normal golf Membership stuff, Advanced Tee times, Discounts, Lower tournament prices ect.. Now when it's all complete I don't know what else they will include. When I play just 9 holes it's 20 bucks and 30 to play 18 each time. 

[CLenahan]

5 minutes ago, Shortknocker said:

It's 110 a month and it includes your normal golf Membership stuff, Advanced Tee times, Discounts, Lower tournament prices ect.. Now when it's all complete I don't know what else they will include. When I play just 9 holes it's 20 bucks and 30 to play 18 each time. 

At what you are paying for 18, plus monthly membership, you aren't far off what I am paying monthly for a 36 hole private club.  Granted, there are thigs like initiation at provate clubs to consider, I would do some shopping around unless you absolutely love this course.  If you do, go for it.

[Shortknocker]

27 minutes ago, CLenahan said:

At what you are paying for 18, plus monthly membership, you aren't far off what I am paying monthly for a 36 hole private club.  Granted, there are thigs like initiation at provate clubs to consider, I would do some shopping around unless you absolutely love this course.  If you do, go for it.

No I don't pay for 18 plus monthly. If I join it's just the 110 monthly unlimited plus I have to pay the cart fee each time. There's no initiation. But just not sure it's still worth it because Im really probably only saving 40 bucks or so a month playing 3 times a week. But the other stuff and saving some money may be worth it. That's why I'm asking. The course is in great shape, and I was a member there for years before the change. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Shortknocker

[Dweed]

Hey man. If you feel satisfied with the course then do it. If not don't. 

[Golf2Much]

Here in Key West, we have one 18 hole golf course within 130 miles.  I also play it three times a week and I joined as a member after doing the cost per round financial analysis.  I've been a member here for over 15 years and play about 150 rounds a year.  People will ask if I get tired of playing the same course over and over?  My answer is no.   Every day we have changing wind direction and strength and other conditions that makes the course play different.  I'm never board playing the same track over and over again.  

[tony@CIC]

13 hours ago, Golf2Much said:

Here in Key West, we have one 18 hole golf course within 130 miles.  I also play it three times a week and I joined as a member after doing the cost per round financial analysis.  I've been a member here for over 15 years and play about 150 rounds a year.  People will ask if I get tired of playing the same course over and over?  My answer is no.   Every day we have changing wind direction and strength and other conditions that makes the course play different.  I'm never board playing the same track over and over again.  

I think it really depends on the course. We belonged to one here in Ohio that was 18 holds but very challenging, from the 5,700 yd tees it was rated 123. And just like your course in Key West (which I've played) we had weather and other environmental challenges that made it interesting. Our course in Florida is 27 holes and we constantly mix up the 9's to play 18 and that's pretty interesting. On the other hand where we use to rent in Marathon, there was a 9 hole course that was exceptionally boring, I would go there once a week more to practice short game rather than 'play'.   

[Shortknocker]

5 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

I think it really depends on the course. We belonged to one here in Ohio that was 18 holds but very challenging, from the 5,700 yd tees it was rated 123. And just like your course in Key West (which I've played) we had weather and other environmental challenges that made it interesting. Our course in Florida is 27 holes and we constantly mix up the 9's to play 18 and that's pretty interesting. On the other hand where we use to rent in Marathon, there was a 9 hole course that was exceptionally boring, I would go there once a week more to practice short game rather than 'play'.   

The 9 hole course I'm speaking of in my original post is 5600yds but it's pretty wide open. But now I've got a 18 hole course just 2 more miles from me that is 5800 but it's very tight and lots of doglegs. You have to hit irons off of many Tees or you will be in creeks or ponds. There's lots of Streams that run through the whole course. It's very fun yet even though short it's very challenging. I've thought about membership there but it stays Packed daily! Still at 100 month plus cart fees may be worth it over the 9 hole course. For one thing without being member there it's pretty steep price (for our area) to just go play there. 

[Headhammer]

I'd get very bored playing the same 9 all the time and that course you describe with 18-holes would frustrate the hell outta me!

[Shortknocker]

Just now, Headhammer said:

I'd get very bored playing the same 9 all the time and that course you describe with 18-holes would frustrate the hell outta me!

Why you don't like challenging courses that makes you have to think about every shot?

[Headhammer]

21 minutes ago, Shortknocker said:

Why you don't like challenging courses that makes you have to think about every shot?

Doesn't matter what I think you're the one that needs to make the decision.

[Shortknocker]

Another thing with courses around me is it doesn't really benefit financially because I'd only be saving like 40-50 a month. Unless I played basically everyday but 3 at the most 4 times a week is all I play. The only benefits that come with our memberships are 10-15% discounts and lower tournament prices which I don't play in too many tournaments. And advanced tee times. Other than that, that's it. Just trying to weigh my options. Im really starting to question what is really the use in Joining anywhere 

[Hook DeLoft]

I've belonged to a few courses over the years and always found that having a regular group to play with made all the difference.  If I mostly played with whoever the pro shop grouped me with, I would probably not pay for membership and play as many courses as I could in the area.  Of course, you could have a regular group and not be a member but my experience is it's harder to maintain a group of non-members.

[Shortknocker]

7 minutes ago, Hook DeLoft said:

I've belonged to a few courses over the years and always found that having a regular group to play with made all the difference.  If I mostly played with whoever the pro shop grouped me with, I would probably not pay for membership and play as many courses as I could in the area.  Of course, you could have a regular group and not be a member but my experience is it's harder to maintain a group of non-members.

I usually play by myself and the clubs around here never has paired me up with anyone. The 9 hole course I'm speaking of above is never really crowded at all except early on weekends. Through the week theres maybe 10 players at a time on the course. I can play 18 holes in 2.5hrs. My Wife does go and rides around with me cause she loves being on the course plus I can't leave her at home by herself as she has some health issues. She use to play but can't now but she loves being out there. 

[Hook DeLoft]

1 hour ago, Shortknocker said:

I usually play by myself and the clubs around here never has paired me up with anyone. The 9 hole course I'm speaking of above is never really crowded at all except early on weekends. Through the week theres maybe 10 players at a time on the course. I can play 18 holes in 2.5hrs. My Wife does go and rides around with me cause she loves being on the course plus I can't leave her at home by herself as she has some health issues. She use to play but can't now but she loves being out there. 

In that case, I would lean toward not having a membership.  That way you can play different clubs without the guilt of paying for one course and playing at another.  Well, "guilt" may be too strong a word, but you get the point.

[Shortknocker]

1 hour ago, Hook DeLoft said:

In that case, I would lean toward not having a membership.  That way you can play different clubs without the guilt of paying for one course and playing at another.  Well, "guilt" may be too strong a word, but you get the point.

Another thing I run into is the 18 hole course that is close to me that I enjoy playing charges a lot more than the 9 hole course I mentioned in my OP. So when I play there it cost me much more. As for memberships the 2 courses are the same Monthly dues and same cart fee prices. That's the reason I end up just going to that 9 hole course 90% of the time.