Yes, there are a range of individual circumstances ....
I live in Tidewater VA, 10 minutes from Riverfront, an early Doak, which is a public access course (prepostrously cheap for the value). Practice facility is great. However the conditions of play (management, slow play, too many jerks and sandbaggers in the golf association, too many outings when I want to play, cart girls throwing it around, inferior tee times) are making me re-think why I have bought a yearly there for the last 2 years. I would like to see management turn it into a semi-private that I would be willing to pay up for.
Golf in my area is really a good bargain and value relative to many other parts of the country....
My conumdrum is this:
- put up with what I have, superior course being the big plus
or
- pay up (a lot for me) for a private and play there all the time for the investment (good courses, play when I want, better maintenance)
or
- play across the street at another public access course, not a bad course, cheaper, much better golf association and tee times, thus allowing me to take golf trips when I like