The Eighty Club

[Tim Martin]

These virtual setups sound like a more formalized way of facilitating reciprocal play, which has been happening since pretty much the beginning of the private club structure.


I guess I just don't understand the controversy here, but maybe i'm missing something....

Kalen-Reciprocal play is usually facilitated by a PGA professional on behalf of one of their members and does not require a member of said club to be involved in the transaction. The model at The Eighty Club bypasses the pro and attempts to accomplish same through the member and also requires the member to play with the prospective “guest” if I understand correctly. I can only imagine how often some of these members will get armed for play and this will increase on a scale commensurate with the course’s ranking. If you are a member of an iconic club be prepared to be pestered incessantly.

Uggh ... this post is so characteristic of the knee-jerk cynicism found on this message board, not to mention the assuredness with which one can opine on something he knows nothing about.  First of all, to say the Eighty Club "bypasses the pro" is such a spin ... one aspect of what the Eighty Club does is to introduce members to one another so they can network and get to know each other and hopefully arrange to play each other's courses. There is nothing sinister about that.  Second, the member is never required to play with any "guest" (side note: I love the pejorative quotation marks - in what way is this person not an actual Guest?).  Third, as an Eighty Club member and member of what may be considered a somewhat "iconic" golf club, I can assure you that I have never been pestered the least bit, let alone incessantly.


The Eighty Club is a community of like-minded golfers who belong to private golf clubs. There is an active message board (with 0.0001% the snarkiness and one-upmanship found here), there are occasional events, and there is the ability to network and make friends. Nothing about this is sinister - yes, there is a cost to join, which is entirely one's prerogative to weigh against what the club offers. But speaking as someone who has been a member of the Eighty Club since the beginning, I can tell you that I've made solid friends through it and played numerous enjoyable rounds of golf both in the US and GB&I with other members, as well as enjoyed the active discussion board. In many ways it's a breath of fresh air.

Matt-I don’t attach anything sinister to the mission or motives of the Eighty Club and hope you enjoy your membership. Personally I don’t want to get contacted constantly by guys I don’t know and feel obligated to arrange and play golf with them. I guess I just don’t see it as the intrepid adventure that you do.

[Simon Holt]

Tim,


I'd bet more people contact others randomly on GCA, with little or no relationship to them, asking to be hosted at a course.


As a member of one of these clubs I have not once been contacted cold about hosting someone.

[Jim Hoak]

Simon--I'm sure there is course sharing between GCA members, but isn't that secondary to the purpose of GCA which is to share a love and knowledge of golf course architecture at basically no cost.  I think what most people who object to these "access clubs" have a problem with is that their central purpose is access to other private clubs and they charge a fee for that.

[PCCraig]

I have a couple buddies who are Outpost guys, and their experiences have varied. 

I know a couple of Outpost Club members, and they are good people. Which is surprising given the number of asshole members I experienced at Sand Valley last year. I would rather grovel for access, write letters, and play with a member than have to play with some loud-mouthed and drunk jerk at a resort course.

[Simon Holt]

Simon--I'm sure there is course sharing between GCA members, but isn't that secondary to the purpose of GCA which is to share a love and knowledge of golf course architecture at basically no cost.  I think what most people who object to these "access clubs" have a problem with is that their central purpose is access to other private clubs and they charge a fee for that.

Jim,


It's about great events and meeting fellow members, not access.  Very few members of Outpost struggle for access.  [/size]Most are members of great clubs who's pros can get them all the access they want.[/size][size=78%] [/size]


I can't speak for the others but it is certainly not Outpost's central purpose; clubs that they do arrange access to are 100% above board and just the same as your club pro arranging a time for you. 


I assume many here have had their pro set up rounds at other courses, and you have been billed by the club?  Exactly the same.
[/size]
People need to stop thinking of it as access - it's a golfing society, just like the ones we have had in the UK for over 100 years.  Nothing new here.  [/size]I've been a member since 2010 and not once used it for access. [/size]


Simon

[Sean_A]

I am forever bemused that people generally care how others access and pay for golf.  Live and let live.


Ciao 

[Tim Martin]

If you are a member of one of these clubs that charges a fee then you are paying for access. People are not joining these new models to hook up with like minded individuals to play at resort/public courses and if you look at their website's this is abundantly clear. If you are a member and find value whether it's Outpost, Boxgroove, or the Eighty Club then that's great but to say that promoting access is not a part of the model is disingenuous. There's no shame in wanting access to play good/great private clubs.

[John Kavanaugh]

It's no different than sharing your Amazon Prime code with your buddies. Who cares if Jeff Bezos is out a penny? Live and let live.