Golf in the South Bay area of SFO (and other questions lol)

[Kanoito]

Hey fellow spies!

This is not 100% golf related, but kind of... lol...

So I might get the opportunity to relocate to the South Bay area of SFO and had a few questions:

Is it really that freaking expensive? I'm talking about Palo Alto, San Jose, Fremont area...

1) Assuming the company takes care of the housing (5-6K for a 4 bed/3 bath house), car leasing and kids tuition, how much fun/grocery money is needed to have a comfortable life? Yes, I know different lifestyles, etc... but just to have a rough number for a family of 4 (wife, me, kids will be 9 and 6)
This has me confused, cause some Redditors say $150K is alright other say $350K is just middle class (pre-tax).

2) How does health insuarnce work in the US? Offered by the company? Shared with the employer? All private?

So if housing, car and tuition is already taken care of, I guess the salary itself is just groceries, utilities, fun money, travel, vacation, afternoon classes for kids? Anything else I'm missing?

So now to the golf part:

1) How are the golf expenses in this area? Are there mostly private clubs? Municipal? Semi private? I believe weather is nice all-year round, so a membership is probably the better way to go?

2) Are there any incentives for junior golfers? For example in Germany, membership and weekly training lessons are subsidized by the club that it's almost free. Or only possible with schools that offer a golf program?

To the mods, sorry if I misplaced the thread, I didn't know where to put it. Please feel free to move it as required.

[Ignacio]

Hi @Kanoito, I live in the East Bay Area of San Francisco. See below for answers on your questions. 

Non-Golf related:

1. I believe the word comfortable is relative as to level of activities. But assuming we’re only talking about activities, $150K is more than ample for a comfortable lifestyle. 

2. Health insurance is usually offered by the company and how much the employee may or may not share in the cost is definitely the decision of the company. Some companies opt to pay all premiums while others opt to have the employee pay a nominal amount. There are usually co-pays when visiting the doctors and the co-pays increase to see specialists. Those costs are on the employee.

Golf Related:

1. There are a mix of private and public courses here in the Bay Area. Cost of green fees are anywhere from $50 to $150 based on the course you play. Cheaper green fees for Executive Courses (9 holes) are also available throughout the Bay Area. There are options to walk and ride as well and there are courses that are ride only or walk only as well. Weather is typically good throughout the year but can be too cold for some during the colder months) December to March. Temperatures can dip into the low 30s to high 20s. That said, if you can play in those conditions, then definitely all year round golf. Private clubs can get very expensive, especially on the initiation fees, typically over $100k, on top of the monthly dues.

2. In reference to junior golfer incentives, I am assuming that you are referring to your children. I believe there are some clinics that they give. I cannot speak too much about this area as I personally am not a member of a private club. This gives me the freedom to play more courses than members who do not want to waste their dues on not playing in the private club that they are a member of. 
 

Hope these answers was able to assist you in any way. 

[Kanoito]

Hey @Ignacio

Appreciate the input, hope it materializes in the end and we can go shoot a few rounds! Thanks!

[Ignacio]

Hey @Kanoito, hope everything goes for you. If things materialize, let me know. I live about 30 mins from the Fremont area. I’d love to shoot a few rounds with a fellow Spy. 

[OptimalJ]

For the kids there is a program called Youth on Course - many courses offer $5 twilight youth rates - amazing deal:  https://youthoncourse.org/

 

[pbclub]

Good luck in the most expensive place to live in the USA. Also the most overrated place in the USA. Its filthy, full of homeless and garbage/graffiti, the crime rate is outrageous and, did I mention expensive? If you like rude, spoiled, self-important people than the south Bay Area is for you. Be ready for water restrictions, outlawing fireplace usage, road rage, brown everything because there is no water, incredibly bad traffic (seriously bad), overpriced housing to the extreme. You will see brown air all year long while you golf from the overpopulated pollution. All this with the highest taxes of all kinds in the country, and the highest gas prices in the country. Golf? Sure. The munis are the best deal, but grab your wallet, and be prepared to wait for everything because it is massively over crowded everywhere. Grew up there. 55 years a resident. It has been thoroughly ruined. I will never step foot in that dumpster fire of a state ever again. But good luck to you if you go. 

Edited October 28, 2023 by pbclubdude

[ryan.mzzz]

in the bay area, if you can afford housing everything else is fine. 

as far as golf,  i lived very happily in palo alto and my regulars were baylands moffett and cinnabar.  

if you get to choose, i would recommend palo alto and south on that side. i would not recommend fremont.