Golf Course Membership Considerations

• Tweet

• Tweet

Finding the right country club to join is a difficult decision for most golfers. Many things should be considered in your search for the ultimate golf membership . A comprehensive analysis of golf clubs in your area will help you make a good decision. Factoring in many variables may cost you time now, but could save you a lot of heartache and money in the future. Before joining a golf course or country club give the following factors some consideration.

Location

One of the most important factors when purchasing a golf membership is the location of the course itself. The course should be of comfortable driving distance and easy to access. You shouldn’t have to drive more than thirty minutes to find a quality golf course. After 18-holes of play on a hot summer day you probably won’t want to drive very far home.  This is especially the case if you have family or business demands where time is limited. You also don’t want to have to drive far just to hit a bucket of balls or work on your putting. The best country club and golf course in the world won’t make you happy if the round trip travel time is unbearable. If you ever find a golf course that is special to you consider home ownership. Purchasing a home on the golf course of your dreams is not only convenient, but can also help you save money on membership fees.

Price

Many people say the only bad thing about golf is the price. Management and maintenance expenses make golf an expensive game by nature. It is said that you get what you pay for, but breaking the bank to join a country club is not reasonable for most people. Make sure you factor in how much you will be playing. Are you a serious golfer or just someone who likes to sneak out for a round every so often? It may be helpful to do a basic cost analysis by dividing the total yearly membership fee by the amount of rounds you expect to play in a given year. A hypothetical cost-per-round analysis will help you clearly see what you are paying for. You should also factor in the amount of practice you expect to partake in. When investigating courses in your area always be sure to ask about hidden fees. Country clubs have bars and restaurants which may force you to meet an annual spending quota. Some membership plans also have initiation fees , lock-in periods or even rate hikes. Be sure to ask about all these types of hidden costs before joining.

Course Style

Favorite styles of courses will vary with each golfer. Will you want to play a links type course? Do you want a course with a lot of water and trees? Although it may seem like common sense, be sure to play the course a few times before joining. Take note of the length of the course and the condition of the greens. If you are a low handicap golfer you will probably enjoy a challenging course with a high slope rating and fast greens. High handicap golfers will likely want courses that are wide open so they don’t spend too much time looking for golf balls out of bounds. It is extremely important to match the difficulty and style of the course to suit your skill level.

Amenities

Some people only want to play golf, while other players want a wide ranging country club experience. If you enjoy golf for more than just the game you should consider joining a country club with lots of amenities. First of all, be sure your country club or golf club has adequate practice facilities like a putting green and driving range. Most of your game improvements will come from practice on the range, not countless hours of course play. Factor in the amount of time you will spend using the facilities at your country club. Do you like coming in from a round and catching a shower in a locker room? Will you dine and lap up a few beers after your round? The social part of the golf experience can be just as rewarding as playing the game itself. For most people, country clubs serve more as a social function than anything else. If you have kids you may want to join a place that offers lessons and junior golf opportunities.  Golf courses are great places to meet new friends and form lasting relationships.

Intangibles

One of the most overlooked aspects of country clubs is the personalities of the people. Are faculty and staff friendly and accommodating? Nothing is worse than a country club with a poor environment. While it may seem like a great idea to join an expensive country club, you may be faced with fellow members who are rude. At the same time joining a cheap course to save money could also come back to haunt you. Be sure golfers at the country club you intend to play at have golf etiquette that you are comfortable with. Proper enforcement of dress code and course management is essential to your overall experience. Courses with lower cost of membership may lack both of these things.

• Staff Disposition
• Course Management
• Tee Time Availability

As previously mentioned, cost plays a major factor in selecting a course or country club. While joining a country club may provide added convenience and enjoyment, it comes with a price. Playing the same course hundreds or thousands of times can take the edge away from playing the game. While you may be a member at a given course, your friends may not be. While most courses allow members “guest” passes, you will not have enough of them for more than a few rounds. If you already have a select foursome of friends you like to play golf with with a membership may not be the best idea. Some membership plans involve something called reciprocals. This entitles members of one course to play a limited amount of rounds on one or more other courses. These types of plans are great for the active golfer since you can play at more than just one golf course. Most people like to play at the course they are a member of because of the cost factor.

Availability is also an important consideration. If the course is really busy with play you may become frustrated quickly. Waiting on every shot for players on upcoming holes lessons the golf experience. Be sure your course enforces the proper pace of play recommendations. Player traffic should be low enough that you can get out and play at will. However, having a course with very little usage may also be negative. It means you might end up playing by yourself often. Having someone to pair up with that matches your ability level is crucial to your golf experience. Make sure to find out about special event days. Some courses have men’s , ladies and couples days that restrict tee time availability.

It is important to take a comprehensive look at each golf course or country club you are interested in. Identify your goals and motivations in golf as well as your overall social experience needs. While price is often the most important factor for most people, never judge a course based solely on cost. Location, style, quality, atmosphere, and amenities should be factored in prior to joining. Remember, you don’t have to join a pricey course to have a good time. Its not always about where you play, but who you are with. The social part of the game is often the most rewarding part of golf.

Golf Course Membership Considerations, 10.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating