Dormie Club - Coore & Crenshaw's Best?

[Tim Bert]

I am curious as to how "southern elitism" is somehow different than the elitism one may encounter at Chicago Golf Club, Merion, Fisher's Island, etc.

Southern elitism more frequently involves Bermuda grass.

[Jud_T]

I am curious as to how "southern elitism" is somehow different than the elitism one may encounter at Chicago Golf Club, Merion, Fisher's Island, etc.

It comes with more charm and a better accent...

[Bill_McBride]

Thomas, your comments about Ran and the Dormie Club and "southern elitism" may have hit a nerve with some GCA members, but you also need to understand that a lot of non-GCA.com members "lurk" on this website and could get the wrong impression.

[Thomas Patterson]

I'm really confused as to why it's suddenly wrong for me to state my opinion on a discussion board.  If I think DC is portraying an attitude, I have ever right to state my opinion...

I grew up in the South.....so I also have every right to bitch about southern elitism all I want.  I was done with this thread until being attacked for stating an opinion.  

[Tony Gorski]

Very well said Bill.

[Matt_Ward]

Chip:

I am still waiting for the reply your promised me.

thanks,

[Adam_Messix]

In an effort to get some clarification, I've talked to a couple of individuals that are involved with the Dormie Club and one thing came out of it.....

From Day One, The Dormie Club has been and remains a private golf club. 

[Brent Hutto]

I'm really confused as to why it's suddenly wrong for me to state my opinion on a discussion board.  If I think DC is portraying an attitude, I have ever right to state my opinion...

You've chosen to repeatedly criticize in very strong terms a club that many people on this forum are familar with. How are you possibly surprised that you get responses which are critical of yourself in very strong terms? You have every right to state an opinion but you should not expect it to stand with being refuted by those who disagree with it.

Personally, if I were going to make as big an ass of myself as you've chosen to do on this topic I'd at least hope it were something worth the cost. I can't see how your interest in Dormie Club could possibly be worth what it is costing you.

[Mac Plumart]

Wow!  This thread is hilarious!  Seriously.

I saw it orginally and read Chip's post and looked at his pictures and they are awesome.  I am inspired to play not only the Dormie, but also more and more Coore and Crenshaw courses.  

But then I left the thread for a few days and haven't look back at it until just a few minutes ago.  WTF is going on?  Read the posts again with a detached mind's eye.  It is comical!  

Anyway, back on track...

Is Dormie C&C's best?  

Of course, I don't know.  I've only played Cuscowilla, Chechessee Creek, and Sand Hills.  But the Dormie looks great...but so does Clear Creek, Friar's Head, Lost Farm, Hidden Creek, Colorado Golf Club, Bandon Trails and Old Sandwich.  I don't think it will go down as their best, as Sand Hills was/is so epic and such a groundbreaking and game changer of a golf course I think it HAS to go down in the history books as their best.

But from what I see, it looks like if you get the chance to play any Coore and Crenshaw course...you need to!  They seem to produce quality golf courses...plain and simple.

[Jeff Dawson]

In an effort to get some clarification, I've talked to a couple of individuals that are involved with the Dormie Club and one thing came out of it.....

From Day One, The Dormie Club has been and remains a private golf club.  

They did go public for a few days last month. They changes back a few days later.  The decision to go public was one of the reasons why the superintendent left.  

[Mac Plumart]

How good is the course Jeff?

Is it worth it to make the effort to get to the Pinehurst area and play it?

[Jeff Dawson]

#

[Mike Sweeney]

I am curious as to how "southern elitism" is somehow different than the elitism one may encounter at Chicago Golf Club, Merion, Fisher's Island, etc.

Sarge,

We make things clear up North!!

[JR Potts]

I just read this thread.  Jesus!

Thomas - please stop posting on this for one week and then reread what you wrote.  Hopefully the week off will give you some perspective.

BTW - I heard Cypress Point is open to the public....just call.

[Roger Wolfe]

I would say the majority of private clubs will allow "public play."  They refer to it as
"unaccompanied guest" play and reserve the right to decide who qualifies.  Usually
sponsorship by a member or membership at another private club is enough to "cull
the herd."  I suspect this is the case at the Dormie Club.

Not allowing unaccompanied guest play is the only true way to maintain ultra-exclusivity
at your club.  I applaud and respect the clubs that adhere to this policy.  It takes
a lot of discipline.

Thomas, I am sure you called and were polite and as friendly as can be.  However,
lacking either of the qualifications mentioned above, you could be a cutoff wearing,
malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer.  No offense, but there are other places
in PH for these folks to play.

Join a private club.  Its a wonderful thing.

[Thomas Patterson]

I would say the majority of private clubs will allow "public play."  They refer to it as
"unaccompanied guest" play and reserve the right to decide who qualifies.  Usually
sponsorship by a member or membership at another private club is enough to "cull
the herd."  I suspect this is the case at the Dormie Club.

Not allowing unaccompanied guest play is the only true way to maintain ultra-exclusivity
at your club.  I applaud and respect the clubs that adhere to this policy.  It takes
a lot of discipline.

Thomas, I am sure you called and were polite and as friendly as can be.  However,
lacking either of the qualifications mentioned above, you could be a cutoff wearing,
malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer.  No offense, but there are other places
in PH for these folks to play.

Join a private club.  Its a wonderful thing.

Roger - Agreed with you 100%  However, the small detail that makes Dormie a different situation is that Ran announced PUBLICLY, on this forum that it became public, hence my phone call.   As stated previously, that was my first call to a "private" club that, as far as I knew, wasn't private at all, and had become public.  It's not my personality to call private clubs to try and play their course, no matter how badly I want to. 

Golf clubs taking the attitude that if you don't belong to another private club, or know a member of their club, then you're a "cutoff wearing, malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer" is the elitism BS I've been talking about. 

I wish it were that easy Roger....here in Charleston, there aren't too many options unless you were born with a small fortune.  I think $75,000 is the cheapest initiation fee around here. 

[jeffwarne]

I would say the majority of private clubs will allow "public play."  They refer to it as
"unaccompanied guest" play and reserve the right to decide who qualifies.  Usually
sponsorship by a member or membership at another private club is enough to "cull
the herd."  I suspect this is the case at the Dormie Club.

Not allowing unaccompanied guest play is the only true way to maintain ultra-exclusivity
at your club.  I applaud and respect the clubs that adhere to this policy.  It takes
a lot of discipline.

Thomas, I am sure you called and were polite and as friendly as can be.  However,
lacking either of the qualifications mentioned above, you could be a cutoff wearing,
malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer.  No offense, but there are other places
in PH for these folks to play.

Join a private club.  Its a wonderful thing.

Roger - Agreed with you 100%  However, the small detail that makes Dormie a different situation is that Ran announced PUBLICLY, on this forum that it became public, hence my phone call.   As stated previously, that was my first call to a "private" club that, as far as I knew, wasn't private at all, and had become public.  It's not my personality to call private clubs to try and play their course, no matter how badly I want to. 

Golf clubs taking the attitude that if you don't belong to another private club, or know a member of their club, then you're a "cutoff wearing, malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer" is the elitism BS I've been talking about. 

I wish it were that easy Roger....here in Charleston, there aren't too many options unless you were born with a small fortune.  I think $75,000 is the cheapest initiation fee around here. 

Actually there is an option,you could MAKE a small fortune
how's that for a little "southern elitism"

[Rory Connaughton]

"Golf clubs taking the attitude that if you don't belong to another private club, or know a member of their club, then you're a "cutoff wearing, malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer" is the elitism BS I've been talking about."

  I am unaware of any golf club that takes this attitude. 

[Roger Wolfe]

Roger - Agreed with you 100%  However, the small detail that makes Dormie a different situation is that Ran announced PUBLICLY, on this forum that it became public, hence my phone call.   As stated previously, that was my first call to a "private" club that, as far as I knew, wasn't private at all, and had become public.  It's not my personality to call private clubs to try and play their course, no matter how badly I want to. 

Golf clubs taking the attitude that if you don't belong to another private club, or know a member of their club, then you're a "cutoff wearing, malt liquor in a paper bag toting, public golfer" is the elitism BS I've been talking about. 

I wish it were that easy Roger....here in Charleston, there aren't too many options unless you were born with a small fortune.  I think $75,000 is the cheapest initiation fee around here. 

You are way off my friend.  We don't assume you wear cutoffs or drink out of a paper bag... but you have to admit there is at least a slight risk that you are.  If the club is financially sound enough to eliminate that risk by NOT taking public play... its a better club.

When I was an undergraduate at Cornell we used to hold our annual formal in Canada for obvious reasons (drinking age).  We would put on suits and travel up there and call ourselves a "Young Alumni Foundation."  The various hotels (every year in a different city) would fall all over themselves for sixty rooms and two banquets on an off weekend in early Spring.  Had they known it was a three day fraternity party with folks ranging from 18 to 22 years old I doubt they would have let us into the parking lot.

This is the same parallel with a lot of private clubs.  If you can afford to be selective... then it is in the best interest of THE MEMBERS to insist someone vouch for any non member play.  We trust either an existing member or the GM/Pro at other private clubs.  Even if the GM/Pro from
a semi private facility calls and vouches for someone... we allow that.  Calls off the street... no way.  Anyone can be polite and respectful over the phone.  You can call that "elitist" but really we are just protecting our members and facility from cutoff wearing, malt liquor drinking yahoos.  We have members who loosely fit that description but they respect the course and their fellow members.  I cannot guarantee that from a phone call.

I am sure there are some great clubs in the Charleston area less than 75k.  Their GCA might not be up to your standards... but if you want the best... you need to pay for it!   

[Adam Clayman]

Thomas, Others have encouraged you to give it a rest. Is there a reason you've chosen to ignore those recommendations? Ran announcing publicly is not an official statement. Why do you choose to treat it as such?
It's been clarified that the club did an about face on the policy. So be it.

[Mike Sweeney]

I wish it were that easy Roger....here in Charleston, there aren't too many options unless you were born with a small fortune.  I think $75,000 is the cheapest initiation fee around here.  

I played with one of the owners of http://sneefarmcountryclub.com/history.htm over in Mt Pleasant. I would be shocked if it is $75 K. I can probably track him down if you are interested. They hold a pretty big Jr tournament:

http://thericeplanters.com/

[Michael Whitaker]

Thomas,

There are numerous options for you in the greater Charleston area that do not require a "small fortune" to join. They may not be the courses/clubs that you would prefer to join if you had that fortune, but such is life, isn't it?

Charleston is one of those towns that warms slowly to newbies... especially if you are originally from north of the Mason-Dixon line. Think about it... the War of Northern Aggression did begin in Charleston.   

[Thomas Patterson]

Michael- please enlighten me about the numerous clubs in Charleston that aren't expensive.  And I did grow up in the south...just not charleston.  Only in the south does a town have to 'warm up' to you. 

Roger -  that's why I don't call private clubs as that is not the right way to go about it. I understand where you are coming from but THIS situation with dorm was diff. It was announced they were public So i called.  

Adam - I keep coming back in this thread as people couldn't stop attacking me personally.  

[JR Potts]

 

Roger -  that's why I don't call private clubs as that is not the right way to go about it. I understand where you are coming from but THIS situation with dorm was diff. It was announced they were public So i called.  
  

And it wasn't so who cares?

What a waste of bandwidth.

[Bill_McBride]

Michael- please enlighten me about the numerous clubs in Charleston that aren't expensive.  And I did grow up in the south...just not charleston.  Only in the south does a town have to 'warm up' to you. 

Roger -  that's why I don't call private clubs as that is not the right way to go about it. I understand where you are coming from but THIS situation with dorm was diff. It was announced they were public So i called.  

Adam - I keep coming back in this thread as people couldn't stop attacking me personally.  

But Thomas, you've been such an easy target.

Criticizing our host.  (Do you think GCA.com just popped up out of nowhere?)

Ignoring some well-intended advice.

Going on and on about something YOU established when you called the Dormie Club yourself - they don't take unaccompanied guests they don't know.

Subjecting southern elites to some slander, apparently - as you just revealed - because you were snubbed when you moved to Charleston.  I've got news for you - EVERYBODY who wasn't bred and born in Charleston gets snubbed.

Failing to let this miserable thread - which started off so well with Chip's excellent photo tour - die a natural death.  It stays alive because you won't let it die.  It's like a Halloween movie............