Public golf course or private country club – which is better? It’s a debate that will continue on as long as the game of golf does. Unfortunately, it’s a rare occasion that your average weekend hack gets the opportunity to add a few divots to some exclusive private track. However, I was lucky enough to be given this chance and I can now offer my humble opinion. Right off the bat I can tell you, the country club life ain’t for everyone.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve played the very private TPC River Highlands (home of the Travelers Championship) right here in my home state of Connecticut, and it was downright amazing. The course itself was challenging, but not overbearing. The condition and maintenance of the course was exceptional and the staff was courteous and professional. All-in-all, this may have been the nicest course I’ve played up to this point. But, there’s more to this debate than just the course itself.
Some of the many fine points about TPC are rivaled by several public courses throughout the state at a fraction of the cost. At the time I played TPC, not only did I have to be invited by a member, but I had to shell out $180 to play. Other than Lake of Isles (ranked #85 on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play for 2008) this would rank as the costliest course in the state. Not to mention the necessary membership fee, which at last check started at $13,500 per year and could reach as high as $36,000! Many courses throughout the state, and all of New England for that matter, feature beautiful scenery – something TPC was lacking a bit. Most courses have friendly and helpful staffs. Also, all of the upscale public courses throughout the state (99 out of 100 times) are well-maintained.
Further, there’s the stereotype of the typical private course golfer. You know the one – nose-in-the-air, can’t understand how or why you would want to play a public course…they have the “it’s private so it must be better” attitude. It is just a stereotype and I would imagine most private course members do not reflect this, but there was a guy like that in my foursome at TPC. In my experience both on-and-off the links, the private course member seems to take his game a little too serious – almost as if it’s a job. Whereas a typical public course player is more about the fun of the game and the camaraderie that goes along with it. Again, these are only stereotypes and to each his own, but I’m out there to have a good time.
In my own opinion, spending the money to play a beautiful private course is worth it…one time – if you’re invited or playing in a tournament there, go for it. But ultimately, I prefer variety. I guess I could understand if all your friends were members – but I would still want to travel around to various courses and experience the differences each has to offer. It seems to me playing a different course week-to-week adds something more to the game, rather than playing at the same place time and again. I’m not sure about you, but in today’s economy, I would feel committed to only playing on that one course if I were shelling out the monetary equivalent of a small car every year. And I’m a man…stereotypically I’m not supposed to be good with commitment.
If everyone sat down and did a Ben Franklin list on joining a private club, very few would join.
Economically, it makes little sense, unless you are south of Virginia and play at least 3-4 times per week. And even then, it is very hard to justify an initiation fee and monthly dues, other fees, food minimums and CARTS are additional. Also, most golfer enjoy playing different tracks. When you are a member of a club, you feel like you are playing double when you play elsewhere.
The reason I have remained a member of the same private club for 30 years is laziness and I do like the course. We do not have tee times and a round of golf takes 3 – 31/4 hours. I do (until this year) play 4-5 times per week with a group of guys and we have fourball matches on weekends. You always have a group, you always have a match. Our golf pro knows the professionals from other local clubs (private & public) and we play those courses occasionally for cart fees only and we reciprocate. I enjoyed having my son walk 5-6 holes most nights after work before he got into high school. (He’s a 4.2 index now)
My club is within a mile of my house. I am too lazy to call for tee times, call to get a foursome together, drive many miles to a course, take 5 hours to play a round of golf and drive home. I am too lazy to drive around looking for a practice putting green and a practice short game area when we have one already. I am definitely too lazy to find another driving range to hit balls. I am too lazy and don’t enjoy shopping at golf superstores when my pro will match any price advertised and if something goes wrong, I take it back to him, not the golf superstore. I am too lazy to find a teaching professional when my pro will watch my swing and give me a few thoughts for free. I know I would’ve been too lazy to take my kids to various pools and golf courses when they could swim and play golf all year for free within a mile of my house. Also, I am too lazy to find a good Texas Hold ‘Em card game that meets every week and gin games 12 hours per day, 359 days per year.
I also know I would not have had the inclination or energy to find a couple hundred people I call friends and socialize with all year.
It makes zero sense to join a private club, unless you are lazy like me.
Did I mention a great restaurant and bar filled ONLY with people you know and like?
Spot on, Vince Spence. Belonging to a private club isn’t just about the golf. If it were, no one would join.
Sam Baker
http://www.twitter.com/GolfandGoodLife
I do live south of Virginia, and joining a semi-private club has offered me the best of both worlds. I get to play at a vastly reduced rate — per round, I must be paying something on the order of 8-10 bucks per 18 holes, all things considered. I play a LOT of golf, and most afternoons after work, you will find me somewhere out on the links. Being in the club has introduced cost certainty. Were I to play that much w/o a membership, it would cost over $1000 a month.
We have a restaurant/bar with no minimums and it is a neighborhood bar in every sense of the word. The faces are familiar, the costs are reasonable and best of all, if I have one beer too many, all I need to do is walk ten houses down the street to my own.
On the other hand, since we have public play, I get to meet all kinds of folks who come over to play the course. I have yet to meet someone I truly dislike. In fact, many folks are now friends that tee it up from time to time with us.
All in all, it is a perfect situation, except when I spend an afternoon regaling my golfing buddies with an open bar tab and my wife gets the bill and gives me the what-for. I am a generous guy, too much so for my own good all too often. But I will never go to my maker owing anyone a beer.
Chris, I love your point about how some of these private golf courses are a bit more challenging. I also love the idea of having shorter wait periods. My husband and I would love to find a good country club that would suit us.