[Mark Chaplin]

Muirfield is very welcoming to visitors.

[Terry Lavin]

I doubt any one of us can name 50 GCA members they would want to be partners with on this project.

If that. But please don't attempt to ban mental masturbation here. Some days it's all we got!

[Mark Pearce]

(much better than they do at Muirfield)

I shouldn't rise to the bait but this lazy crap needs answering.  I've played at Muirfield half a dozen times on a Tuesday or Thursday as a paying visitor and have never been treated anything other than extremely well.  Nor do I know anyone who has a real gripe about treatment of visitors in the past couple of decades.  The fact is, Muirfield is a very efficient business and treats its customers extremely well.  Tales of Paddy Hanmer are funny and appalling in equal measure but pretending that Muirfield is anything like that anymore is simply nonsense.

[Carl Johnson]

Mark Chaplin and Mark Pearce:  I played Muirfield with three of my friends (all visitors from the USA) in 2007 and based on that one experience, they were "not very friendly".  I could give you the details, but it's not really worth it, so I will not.  Maybe the folks there were having a bad day.  The weather was awful.  However, I will say that the shower stalls (rooms, really) were outstanding, absolutely the best I have encountered at any club anywhere, and much welcome after our cold, wet, morning round.  I think it's wonderful that many others have, apparently, had a better experience than we did.


I did have a funny experience though.  In spite of rain gear, we were soaked after the morning round.  Only a couple of other groups on the course.  A USA-ian in another group did not realize he had to change for lunch, and wanted to borrow my soaked wool pants to wear for dining (I'd brought a change with me).  Crazy, but I said he could wear them.  Fortunately, and a plus for Muirfield, the locker room attendant, if that's what they are called in Scotland, had a complete outfit the man could borrow and wear for dining.

[James Brown]

Yes to outside play like the Cypress model. Limited and in early am during the week.


Personally, I would hire a proven project manager who may be building his first solo design.


Given that "300 of us" are members, I would hire Jim Urbina to do "Old Mac II" and hit all the template holes. Put a premium on "fun".


One small building like Dunes Club or Black Sheep.


First tee times are for 2-3 balls seeking to play in under 3 hours.

Which Cypress?  Does Cypress Point allow unaffiliated outside play?  If so, I am buying a ticket to SF tomorrow!

[Matthew Mollica]

Tara Iti have it right. A phrase I find myself saying more and more.
Visitor play possible. High tariff, must stay on the property, and you can only do it once.
I'd love this GCA club to take off. If only Zac Blair could design it, and Tommy could occupy the role of benevolent dictator.

[Terry Thornton]

I'd love this GCA club to take off. If only Zac Blair could design it, and Tommy could occupy the role of benevolent dictator.

Agree, I'd however add you as running the pro shop where you re-shaft everybody's steel with hickory

[Tom_Doak]

One of the problems with the U.S. club model is that memberships are too small.  If people don't have time to play as much as they used to, the solution is 500-600 members and lower initiations and dues.  And with more members, more limited outside play.


I'm Not paying to join a template course, though.  There are plenty to choose from already.  If GCA won't support original design efforts, who will?

[Mark Pearce]

I could give you the details, but it's not really worth it, so I will not. 

So you're happy to rubbish the place in a throw-away line but not willing to provide any substantiation?  I note that even 10 years ago they were accommodating enough to keep an entire change of clothing for someone who had failed to read the (very obvious) notifications about dress code.

[BCowan]

One of the problems with the U.S. club model is that memberships are too small.  If people don't have time to play as much as they used to, the solution is 500-600 members and lower initiations and dues.  And with more members, more limited outside play.


I'm Not paying to join a template course, though.  There are plenty to choose from already.  If GCA won't support original design efforts, who will?

+100


I've been saying this for years.  U basically described Radrick Farms!   if there is only 200 members it cant be the price some morons think

[Ian Mackenzie]

I'm Not paying to join a template course, though.  There are plenty to choose from already.  If GCA won't support original design efforts, who will?

Can't disagree.
But the context of the hypothetical question was if 300 people HERE built their own club.


Good luck picking an architect.

[BCowan]

I'm Not paying to join a template course, though.  There are plenty to choose from already.  If GCA won't support original design efforts, who will?

Can't disagree.
But the context of the hypothetical question was if 300 people HERE built their own club.


Good luck picking an architect.

That's the easy decision.  Doak is a shoe in

[BHoover]

Will the clubhouse/grille room serve street tacos? That's key for me.

[jeffwarne]

...and commissioned our ideal golf course, would we welcome outside play?

Three rules:


1) Cash or credit card, no checks.


2) Carts with a medical note.


3) Play in 4 hours or get charged a $100 premium on the green fee you played. If a member slows you down, report him or her.

Would you be allowed to report the 296 singles that played through on their way to somehow bragworthy 3 hour rounds and therefore prevented you from meeting your allotted time while playing a 4 ball match?

[Brian Finn]

Will the clubhouse/grille room serve street tacos? That's key for me.

Nae fish tacos, nae full membership roster.

[Mike Hendren]

Will the clubhouse/grille room serve street tacos? That's key for me.

Nae fish tacos, nae full membership roster.

Please.  I'm thinking a self-service bologna bar - perfect for this crowd.

Bogey

[Kalen Braley]

I think Tom D makes a great point..why build a template course?


If such a hypothetical like this ever came to fruition, I would love to see it have loads and loads of quick.  Unconventional stuff mixed in with a shit-ton of variety....because if this group couldn't stomach something massively out-of-the-box, I don't know which group could..

[Keith Grande]

Would twosomes have to pair up if they catch a foursome that is slowing them down?  Most munis or daily fee courses, twosomes pair up in this case.  In my experience playing golf, US and abroad, many members playing as twosomes will refuse to pair up, as if they don't enjoy playing with other club members....oh the irony!

[Bruce Wellmon]

Let's not forget.


http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/the-carthage-club/

[jeffwarne]

Would twosomes have to pair up if they catch a foursome that is slowing them down?  Most munis or daily fee courses, twosomes pair up in this case.  In my experience playing golf, US and abroad, many members playing as twosomes will refuse to pair up, as if they don't enjoy playing with other club members....oh the irony!

At a real club worth joining, the two ball would embrace joining another two ball, and conversely, the 4 ball would embrace waving the speedy 2 ball through, who would actually speed through, and politely greet and thank the 4 ball.
But multiple singles and pairs that refuse to pair up and insist on blowing through multiple properly paced 4 balls are a social parasite and defeat the purpose of a "club".


I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the stern chastising and "education" a new member was given by the club President when his 2 ball refused to pair up on a busy day at a (GCA) well known local club

[corey miller]

Jeff

Shouldn't the "new member" understand how clubs work prior to being "educated" by the club president? What's up with the admissions committee?

[Bruce Katona]

Geesh..... John K appears to be on the correct path on a good portion of this IMHO.


200 members gets you'all the access you desire and fill in with walk on play... those 200 will support the club until there is enough interest in public play (walking or otherwise) to cover the operational costs annually.


You'all wanted to pony up $15,000 for 300 slots, now its $22,500 to get to the same $4.5 million plus the annual dues. A bargain in this neck of the woods but not everywhere.


BK

[Sean_A]

My ideal club would not allow 4balls out early.  Times up to about 11:00 would be reserved for 2ball play.  I could buy perhaps 1 weekend a month where 4balls can play after 9ish and few weekdays each week where 4balls can go out early.  Still, as a 2ball, I would expect to be asked to play through a 4ball holding us up. I also wouldn't expect to be forced to join up with another 2ball...sort of defeats the point of 2ball times.  The older I get, the more I appreciate 2ball clubs, but I do like the idea of some leaway for 4ball play. 

My ideal club would also be no cart paths...carts only allowed when the course can take it.

Ciao

[Mark Chaplin]

Bruce I can think of no more than ten clubs in the UK that charge the equivalent of $22.5k or more joining fee.  Needless to say only one or two are member owned clubs.

[Bruce Katona]

$22.5 K in the Northeast US is a pretty attractive price...

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