Where would you?

[Matt_Cohn]

How does one answer this question without knowing the budget?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I'll continue doing what have been doing. I live in a little golf/ski resort. The golf is probably C+ but I live two hours from Ballyhack and I go there two out of three weeks for two days at a time and play 36 each of those days. I go to Hidden Creek two or three times a year for five days each. Same with Dormie. I spend five weeks in Summit County skiing every year. I play golf at the European Club for ten days every year. I'll keep what I have.

Tom,


Head out to Lake County during the summer to play Mt Massive for the fun of it. My sister lives in Leadville. Playing at almost 10,000 feet above sea level is something different. Perhaps ironically, Breckinridge is where my wife would like to spend summers. Wonderful for lots of reasons except perhaps the golf although the Breckinridge Municipal course is not bad.


Ira

I have spent a lot of time in the CO mts in the summer and have played the course in Leadville and found it fun but not a course I would like to play every day. The 27 holes at Breck are really pretty good. I think I might spend more time their if memberships at the private clubs were more affordable. I have played most of the courses in Summit and Eagle counties. I do love golf in the mts.

[Ira Fishman]

I'll continue doing what have been doing. I live in a little golf/ski resort. The golf is probably C+ but I live two hours from Ballyhack and I go there two out of three weeks for two days at a time and play 36 each of those days. I go to Hidden Creek two or three times a year for five days each. Same with Dormie. I spend five weeks in Summit County skiing every year. I play golf at the European Club for ten days every year. I'll keep what I have.

Tom,


Head out to Lake County during the summer to play Mt Massive for the fun of it. My sister lives in Leadville. Playing at almost 10,000 feet above sea level is something different. Perhaps ironically, Breckinridge is where my wife would like to spend summers. Wonderful for lots of reasons except perhaps the golf although the Breckinridge Municipal course is not bad.


Ira

I have spent a lot of time in the CO mts in the summer and have played the course in Leadville and found it fun but not a course I would like to play every day. The 27 holes at Breck are really pretty good. I think I might spend more time their if memberships at the private clubs were more affordable. I have played most of the courses in Summit and Eagle counties. I do love golf in the mts.

Yes, the private clubs are crazy expensive given the short season. We really liked Red Sky (Norman) so checked out the cost. Never mind.


Ira

[Stephen Davis]

I'll continue doing what have been doing. I live in a little golf/ski resort. The golf is probably C+ but I live two hours from Ballyhack and I go there two out of three weeks for two days at a time and play 36 each of those days. I go to Hidden Creek two or three times a year for five days each. Same with Dormie. I spend five weeks in Summit County skiing every year. I play golf at the European Club for ten days every year. I'll keep what I have.

Tom,


Head out to Lake County during the summer to play Mt Massive for the fun of it. My sister lives in Leadville. Playing at almost 10,000 feet above sea level is something different. Perhaps ironically, Breckinridge is where my wife would like to spend summers. Wonderful for lots of reasons except perhaps the golf although the Breckinridge Municipal course is not bad.


Ira

I have spent a lot of time in the CO mts in the summer and have played the course in Leadville and found it fun but not a course I would like to play every day. The 27 holes at Breck are really pretty good. I think I might spend more time their if memberships at the private clubs were more affordable. I have played most of the courses in Summit and Eagle counties. I do love golf in the mts.

Yes, the private clubs are crazy expensive given the short season. We really liked Red Sky (Norman) so checked out the cost. Never mind.


Ira

My favorite by far is Frost Creek (other than Maroon Creek), but I am not sure what the membership cost are there though.

[John Crowley]

Summer in Dornoch with excursions to St Andrews.
Winter in Roma also with excursions, but would have to solve winter golf club question.

[Peter Pallotta]

For me, the people who live on Long Island in the summer and Manhattan the rest of the year have it the best --especially since even in the winter they can nip down to Archie's place on the Atlantic and still get a game. But that lifestyle seems quite 'exclusive' and hard to get. How does one go about getting it? [Anywhere in Manhattan is fine with me, I don't have a specific neighbourhood in mind; and almost any part of Long Island is good too, it doesn't have to be in the Hamptons specifically] Is it expensive -- I mean, you know, very expensive?

[Ken Moum]

My wife just the other day said we should move to Scotland. Our last two trips were six weeks and seven weeks.


If I thought we could pull it off, it would be Mesa AZ for ~7 month and the Highlands for 5. They're pretty serious about only staying six months, I think.


Given that both love Brora, an overseas membership there would be ideal. Highlands Council recip. rates are good enough that...well, I'll leave it there.

[John Emerson]

I am dead set on retirement in Scotland.  After my first trip to Scotland I left with a couple realtors contact info.  I look almost daily.  A one or two bedroom flat close to a place that’s not overrun with tourist is just what I want.  Best part is the the wife said “I’m in!”.  I plan on living there from approximately May to September.

[Mike_Trenham]

Two rental properties:


Summer - St Andrews - Student Rental property with a tenant 9 Months
Winter - Pawleys Island SC - Beach Rental property with weekly rentals May - October
Rest of year travel and Airbnb

[John Crowley]

You would have to be an absolute and total idiot to retire to California.  The taxes alone will kill you.  California only works if you are already well placed in the 1% and the taxes don't seem to bother one.

Must be what they are saying on that cable “news” channel.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

St. Andrews or Tara Iti

These were my first two thoughts as well.


Unfortunately ny wife has both feet stuck firmly in Traverse City.  Had I realized that, I'd have done more to save High Pointe.

I suggested St. Andrews which she really enjoyed after she rejected North Berwick on the theory it is a bit larger and has the University. Still opposed to overseas for family reasons. But I am going to sneak up on her next with Dublin, a city she loved and one with more direct flights to the US.


Ira

If it's a larger city, then how about Edinburgh? Train from Haymarket station to No. Berwick is 45-60 mins, if I'm not mistaken.

[Buck Wolter]

My wife just the other day said we should move to Scotland. Our last two trips were six weeks and seven weeks.


If I thought we could pull it off, it would be Mesa AZ for ~7 month and the Highlands for 5. They're pretty serious about only staying six months, I think.


Given that both love Brora, an overseas membership there would be ideal. Highlands Council recip. rates are good enough that...well, I'll leave it there.

Brora had some unbelievable membership deals early on in Covid -- not sure if they still exist.

[Ira Fishman]

For me, the people who live on Long Island in the summer and Manhattan the rest of the year have it the best --especially since even in the winter they can nip down to Archie's place on the Atlantic and still get a game. But that lifestyle seems quite 'exclusive' and hard to get. How does one go about getting it? [Anywhere in Manhattan is fine with me, I don't have a specific neighbourhood in mind; and almost any part of Long Island is good too, it doesn't have to be in the Hamptons specifically] Is it expensive -- I mean, you know, very expensive?

Peter,


Very is not a strong enough term. A couple of years ago our daughter's first job out of college was with a terrific non profit in Manhattan. She lived in not a "hot" part of Manhattan. It was a 5th Floor walk up that probably was smaller than 400 square feet. The rent still was $2275 per month. Rents have leveled off because of Covid but still expensive.


My wife and I both love NYC, but we figured out it was more cost effective to spend a few weeks a year in a decent hotel than to own or rent.


Ira

[jeffwarne]

Tasmania, (Hobart) Melbourne a $55 flight away
St. Andrews-(so many side trips)


Realistically South Carolina is in the cards with the annual NZ/Aussie trip in Jan/Feb, and UK/northeast US trips in the warm weather.

[Jeff Schley]

For me, the people who live on Long Island in the summer and Manhattan the rest of the year have it the best --especially since even in the winter they can nip down to Archie's place on the Atlantic and still get a game. But that lifestyle seems quite 'exclusive' and hard to get. How does one go about getting it? [Anywhere in Manhattan is fine with me, I don't have a specific neighbourhood in mind; and almost any part of Long Island is good too, it doesn't have to be in the Hamptons specifically] Is it expensive -- I mean, you know, very expensive?

Peter,


Very is not a strong enough term. A couple of years ago our daughter's first job out of college was with a terrific non profit in Manhattan. She lived in not a "hot" part of Manhattan. It was a 5th Floor walk up that probably was smaller than 400 square feet. The rent still was $2275 per month. Rents have leveled off because of Covid but still expensive.


My wife and I both love NYC, but we figured out it was more cost effective to spend a few weeks a year in a decent hotel than to own or rent.


Ira

Yeah I haven't looked at prices since covid, but last summer played with a friend who is a Garden City member and after we went down to his house at Point Lookout which was less than 30 minutes drive and you are on the water. Weather was so much cooler than GCGC as well I thought it was a genius location for him. It isn't the Hamptons and thank god for that as the traffic and distance to travel there needs to be timed perfectly to not take forever. I'm sure Jeff W can tell us all about that. The day before I played at Maidstone and while a great place I can't imagine playing there unless you have a house there. It had to be over 2:15 hours from Garden City to Maidstone without traffic and 3 or more easily with. Of course you are in the Hamptons and loving life if you are a member at Maidstone so never going to be an issue, but that is a haul to get to.

Also the housing cost at Point Lookout wasn't obscene either. He bought a fixer upper for like 650k and put a couple hundred into it and is a very nice place now. Closer to airports and NYC by hours and great weather.

[Ira Fishman]

For me, the people who live on Long Island in the summer and Manhattan the rest of the year have it the best --especially since even in the winter they can nip down to Archie's place on the Atlantic and still get a game. But that lifestyle seems quite 'exclusive' and hard to get. How does one go about getting it? [Anywhere in Manhattan is fine with me, I don't have a specific neighbourhood in mind; and almost any part of Long Island is good too, it doesn't have to be in the Hamptons specifically] Is it expensive -- I mean, you know, very expensive?

Peter,


Very is not a strong enough term. A couple of years ago our daughter's first job out of college was with a terrific non profit in Manhattan. She lived in not a "hot" part of Manhattan. It was a 5th Floor walk up that probably was smaller than 400 square feet. The rent still was $2275 per month. Rents have leveled off because of Covid but still expensive.


My wife and I both love NYC, but we figured out it was more cost effective to spend a few weeks a year in a decent hotel than to own or rent.


Ira

Yeah I haven't looked at prices since covid, but last summer played with a friend who is a Garden City member and after we went down to his house at Point Lookout which was less than 30 minutes drive and you are on the water. Weather was so much cooler than GCGC as well I thought it was a genius location for him. It isn't the Hamptons and thank god for that as the traffic and distance to travel there needs to be timed perfectly to not take forever. I'm sure Jeff W can tell us all about that. The day before I played at Maidstone and while a great place I can't imagine playing there unless you have a house there. It had to be over 2:15 hours from Garden City to Maidstone without traffic and 3 or more easily with. Of course you are in the Hamptons and loving life if you are a member at Maidstone so never going to be an issue, but that is a haul to get to.

Also the housing cost at Point Lookout wasn't obscene either. He bought a fixer upper for like 650k and put a couple hundred into it and is a very nice place now. Closer to airports and NYC by hours and great weather.

Jeff,


The couple of people I know who own in the Hamptons take the helicopter flights from Manhattan. Which is obvious evidence of how expensive it generally is there.


Ira

[jeffwarne]

For me, the people who live on Long Island in the summer and Manhattan the rest of the year have it the best --especially since even in the winter they can nip down to Archie's place on the Atlantic and still get a game. But that lifestyle seems quite 'exclusive' and hard to get. How does one go about getting it? [Anywhere in Manhattan is fine with me, I don't have a specific neighbourhood in mind; and almost any part of Long Island is good too, it doesn't have to be in the Hamptons specifically] Is it expensive -- I mean, you know, very expensive?

Ummm.. people live and work all their lives in the hustle, bustle and congestion of Manhattan....so they can live the fantasies we all posted on this thread, not to retire there.
prohibitively expensive to do, unless you already are in the game.
Once there I can see staying if you have the means, but to relocate from elsewhere?
better be hitting it out of the park, and able to stomach a LOT of traffic and aggravation.

[Jeff Evagues]

Lived on Long Island for 30 years and though not a member anywhere played almost all of the top clubs. Couldn't wait to leave and now very happy in AZ.

[MKrohn]

Leaving aside being able to do winters one place and summers another, for me climate (temperate) is an important consideration.


This will take out massive parts of the US, Europe and all of Asia, given its either too cold or on the flip side too hot/humid. I then require somewhere English speaking, access to good/great golf, within 2-3 hours of an international airport/city.


Given where I have been the answer is Melbourne or the peninsulas, Southern California, Auckland (although the language aspect might count them out) or if you wanted to take a risk, the Western Cape in Sth Africa.

[Ash Towe]

What is the language issue with Auckland? Sure we may have an accent, to your ears but that is all.


Tara Iti for me. I am only 45 minutes away but the joining fee is the issue. Will be even more attractive when the two public courses to be built there are completed.

[Stephen Davis]

What is the language issue with Auckland? Sure we may have an accent, to your ears but that is all.


Tara Iti for me. I am only 45 minutes away but the joining fee is the issue. Will be even more attractive when the two public courses to be built there are completed.

Ash, I think the New Zealand accent is one of the most pleasant ones in the english speaking world. I'll meet you at Tara Iti

[Thomas Dai]

Harry Vardon apparently wanted to retire to Saunton. And presumably not play more than two rounds a day!
That was many decades ago however when SW England, the World even, was a different, quieter, more tranquil, slower paced place.
And whilst a combination of Saunton and Westward Ho has a strong attraction for me I’m not sure I could put up with the narrow roads and beach and holiday traffic during the summer season and at weekends and bank holidays during the rest of the year.
Same with a few other potential locations too. Be careful what you wish for, there are likely to be flip-sides as well.
If ever there was a need for a ‘Transporter-Teleporter’’ from Star Trek .... “Beam me up, Scotty”.
Atb

[Tim Leahy]

San Diego within city limits so you can get the resident rate at Torrey Pines. Best weather in the United States with many good public golf courses.

Are you trying to get kicked off of GCA?


Kidding, but rare to see any praise of Southern California public golf around here, aside from Rustic. Torrey resident perks are one thing, but the real question is are you enough of a gambler to gain status at Barona so you can play Barona Creek for free or heavily discounted rates?

Club Barona card is free gets you 1/2 off greenfees. Lots of great twilight rates at good courses like Maderas, Coronado, Encinitas Ranch, Steele Canyon, etc. Our own Pete Lavalee belongs to Balboa I think.

[Mark Kiely]

San Diego within city limits so you can get the resident rate at Torrey Pines. Best weather in the United States with many good public golf courses.

Are you trying to get kicked off of GCA?


Kidding, but rare to see any praise of Southern California public golf around here, aside from Rustic. Torrey resident perks are one thing, but the real question is are you enough of a gambler to gain status at Barona so you can play Barona Creek for free or heavily discounted rates?

Club Barona card is free gets you 1/2 off greenfees. Lots of great twilight rates at good courses like Maderas, Coronado, Encinitas Ranch, Steele Canyon, etc. Our own Pete Lavalee belongs to Balboa I think.

Pretty sure Barona tightened up discounts during Covid times. I think you have to be at least the third tier of their players club to get any savings now. Prior the lowest tier got you 20% off, not half.

[Dan_Callahan]

Northwest Ireland and it’s not even a tough choice. Already working on making it happen.