I’m looking to join a club for the first time and I’m stuck between a couple of options so I figured I would seek some insight from people who have been through this before. I’ll start with the fact that the financial difference between the two is immaterial, and I know and handful of people at both clubs who I enjoy playing with. One of the clubs is far more challenging than the other which I enjoy as I feel like it will help improve my game at a bit of a faster pace, however the condition of the other course and its practice facilities are much nicer. Is there anything that I should take into consideration that I might not have? Like I said, first timer here so any and all insight is much appreciated.

@Jake Course conditions would dictate the decision for me.

Practice facilities for me. Unless you're playing every day. For me, if I can go practice for 2 hours and not get in trouble with Momma because I have been gone 5-6 hours teeing it and having cocktails after then I'm winning

Course conditions, practice facilities, and the big one location.

LSkip gfranktw7 Noyes26 Thanks guys, this is helpful

Throw in staff. Sucks when the salaries of the employees that your dues pay couldn't give a sh!t about you.

Location is probably the biggest factor. If it’s too far you won’t go. Like the others said, conditions, practice facilities, reputation of membership, quality of staff

For me, it is location and track layout. First, is it close enough that you can run over and play a quick 9 (or 18) or hit the range for 30 minutes and it be worth your while? Second, is it a track you can see yourself playing 2-3 times weekly and not getting tired of it? That's what it came down to me for joining my current course. Another club was in play but I could not see myself playing it every week, let alone multiple times a week. Final thing to think about financially is the club's current condition and if you are buying in/equity. That makes a big difference on the non-golf side of it.

Layout conditions accessibility Long term plans

How cool is their logo? ...... obviously I'm kidding

I went by - Course condition Price & fees (I was really focused on no food minimums and no monthly adjustments) Ease of getting a tee time / # of membership

What is most important to you when considering membership to a new club?

TB3GOLF

cwboylan if you ever get the itch to head to Sarasota shoot me a note. Would love to show you Sara Bay

cwboylan

TB3GOLF For sure. only 45 minutes away, definitely will take you up on that!

denamart88

definitely about the atmosphere there too. I was fully about to join a club right across the street from my work, went in and talked to the gm and memebership, told me one number per month, to find out it was about $140 more per month than that really. Also a lot of tools are members there, so i did not want to deal with that. It’s honestly a private “muni course” vibe and they act like its a $100,000 initiation course.

PureStickGolf

DennisMTZ that’s the worst.

OffTheDole

cwboylan If you're up in the Jacksonville / Amelia Island area I'd be happy to host you.

cwboylan

OffTheDole Anytime Damon. Bring back the first time we played a few years ago at BATB.

Putterho

cwboylan Roadtriiiiip

Cdnrockies

I'm guessing that covid has changed things for some. Accessibility has to now be a more important factor than in years past.

My club is only semi-private so the number of rounds we put thru last year was absurd. We have too many members (650...200 of which used to be out of towners) and high demand. We've moved to a lottery system for tee times this year.🙄

The only other option is a $25K initiation (was $50K when I moved here) that is also technically semi-private without any amenities...except for the gym that is smaller than my master bedroom.

Currently being able to play whenever I want would be my number one factor.

PureStickGolf

Cdnrockies how many rounds did your club do last year?

Cdnrockies

PureStickGolf

35000....in our 4 1/2 month season last year. 🙄

Skip1234

@TB3GOLF Have a good friend who recently joined Sara Bay, I believe he just won the club championship.

TB3GOLF

LSkip Blanton is a great dude

Skip1234

@TB3GOLF he comes up and plays in our member/guest every year. He’s a pretty solid stick.

TB3GOLF

LSkip he’s from KY originally I believe. I gave him a ton of sh*t for bringing a caddy to the club championship.

maxbianchi

Putterho save a spot for me, and bring your wallet @OffTheDole

PureStickGolf

Cdnrockies Giphy - James Earl Jones Reaction GIF

Cdnrockies

PureStickGolf

Moving to a lottery this year for tee times on the weekends. Not going to be much for weekend golf this year as a result.

dbenick3

A club near me did just under 53000 last year. Had 8 days of 300 plus. Yikes. We did like 13500 haha

illest

Cdnrockies fuck that

PureStickGolf

Cdnrockies wait lottery weekends? That’s a no go for me What’s the point of being a member if you have 5 hour rounds and hope to get lucky on a lottery tee time system. No thank you

Cdnrockies

geaux

Agreed. Not thrilled. We need to reduce our membership. We keep granting "lifetime memberships" but also continue to add more regular members too. It's way out of hand.

We'd pay more to reduce it....and most of us are good with that if it it means better access.