Most exclusive clubs in the world?

[Gib_Papazian]

P.S. to Klangone.

Do not bother to send me any more Bullsh*t private messages. You are either:

A. A Liar.

or

B. Have my friend mistaken for somebody else.

Trust me on this one. Shivas is the last person breathing on this planet who would be guilty of any of your slander. He does not suck up to anybody - part of that Midwestern thing he carries on his sleeve.

[TEPaul]

I'd say a club outside Montreal by the name of Mt Bruno (Park) is very exclusive. We asked a couple of places within a mile or so of it (one a VW dealer) where it was and they said they'd been aware of it for years but couldn't tell us how exactly to get there. When we finally found it I could certainly see why!

[RE Blanks]

klangone
Guest

[james soper]

hole in the wall, naples
everglades club, palm beach proper
card sound club, key largo (a private club within a private club)
burning tree

[PThomas]

  good one Dave ...for the uninformed someone tell us who did Card Sound and a bit about it  please

[Steve_Roths]

Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch
Camp David
Keiser's other larger Sheep Ranch
Floridian
Elleston

[James Edwards]

We have a new David Kidd course (1.5 years old) in Surrey called Queenwood which is without doubt the most exclusive in our area.  Swinley may argue with that and so might Sunningdale and Wentworth, but Queenwood is a close doors facility unless you pay the 120K to be a member there of course!

[hick]

Cherokee Plantation near Charleston.

[james soper]

card sound- devlin and von hagge

[Martin Del Vecchio]

When I caddied at Burning Tree in the mid-1980s, word was that there were 125 members.  Does anybody have more up-to-date or more accurate information?

I guess the exclusivity of Burning Tree lies more in the quality of the members than the quantity, or in the wealth.  At least in the mid-80s, power was valued more than money.  That's before Bryant Gumbel joined, though.

For a caddie, a small membership was often bad news; you were guaranteed to get out every weekend morning, and most weekend afternoons, but during the week it was deserted.

That turned into a huge positive on Monday mornings, when they let us play the pristine course.

[TEPaul]

Actually the most exclusive club in the world is that one that only has 23 members who paid a staggering amount to join it with the intent of having the most exclusive golf course in the world. Only problem is the course is soooo exclusive that none of the members can remember where the hell it is, and those that thought they could can't seem to find it anymore!

[Anthony_Nysse]

That might be Cherokee Plantation!!

[TEPaul]

Anthony:

Is that the course I heard about where some guy arranged to play it at 1:30 and he could see he was going to be late and he rushed into the pro shop around 1:37 and said he was terribly sorry to be late only to be told that wouldn't be a problem seeing as the next group wasn't going off until 2:30 the next afternoon?

[david h. carroll]

Please remember the nature of this thread--"Most exclusive in the WORLD"--not USA

my vote: Morfontaine--north of CDG in France.

[TEPaul]

I tell you one that really probably could be considered exclusive these days. That would be the old Atlantic City C.C. These days they don't seem to let anyone on the course except some of the casino's (who now owns the place) high rollers. I went over there about three years ago with Kye Goalby and we walked around the whole course for about four hours on a really beautiful July day and there wasn't a single golfer on the course that entire time. I think we actually asked if we could play it and were told;

"Of course not!"

I actually did play, though, although I didn't have any clubs. I had one of the best rounds I've ever had. I don't recall missing a shot the entire round. I think I was something like 5 or 6 under and really putted great. I was reading the breaks incredibly well all day.

[Dustin Knight]

I would say Ellerston would definately qualify as exclusive, Story has it that it would be lucky to have a dozen rounds a month.
 A 'friend' of mine was invited by a senior member of the green staff to have an early morning round and when he enquired if he could bring one of his loyal clients along to just walk the round with him he was politely told he should be greatful that he was allowed near the place. Word has it that even the green staff have to be very careful about when they have a game if at all .
Mr Packer is extremely selective about access to his prized course.

I happen to live just over one hour from the place and not many who have been lucky enough to play it will ever be stupid enough to admit it for fear of never being granted the priveledge of another round. It is a very touchy subject with any golfer in the area. Even though Ellerston is owned by an individual I still think this is worthy of a mention in this thread.

Any thoughts as to a more exclusive "world class" golf course?

[Joe Perches]

I would say Ellerston would definately qualify as exclusive

http://www.ausgolf.com.au/ellerston.htm
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewoliver.html

It looks like I'll have to buy the book "Australia's Finest Golf Courses".

[Chris Kane]

Dustin, I don't think Ellerston qualifies as a "club", because its owned by an individual.  I'd imagine that most courses that are privately owned would be similarly exclusive.  

[Dustin Knight]

I see your point Chris, I just thought even though Kerry Packer does own the course it deserved a mention in this thread.
 The fact that many know of it but very few know of its exact location was more the reasoning behind my post.

[Robert Thompson]

Darva: Hasn't this grown tired -- every time someone gets back on topic, yet another person has to write five paragraph note in support of Dave.

Fine, he's a great person. Walks on water apparently.

Doesn't matter to me either way.

Now can someone tell me what's so interesting about Burning Tree?

Robert

[THuckaby2]

shivas is a complete prick and all this praise and support of him is making me want to puke.  I hate the guy personally.  And klangone was right - the guy not only sucks up to people who can get him on golf courses, he sucks up to senators, congressman, aldermen, metermaids and his plumber.  The guy defines the word sycophant.  He needs to be utterly cryit down.

Burning Tree is a very exclusive place.  It's interesting because playing there one tends to see shivas sucking up to a politician, and it's amusing to watch.

Feel better, Robert?
 

TH

ps - actually I can understand your frustration as your well-meaning topic continues to be derailed.  But taking it lightly seems to work a lot better than complaining... or at least I think so.  Hang in there.

[Steve Pozaric]

In St. Louis, you have Log Cabin Club and the Bogey Club.  

Each has 9 holes that can be combined to play 18.  Designed by Robert Foulis in the early 1900's (I believe).  Each has btw. 30-50 members & this is a 2nd (or perhaps 3rd) club.  

Other than the occasional outings sponsored by members, I believe they get a few rounds a day at most.

[wsmorrison]

Steve,
My brother lives near these two neighboring clubs, from the road (I forget the name) they look sort of mundane.  How are they up close and personal?  According to my brother they are old guard social clubs more than golf, but from what the head pro at St. Louis CC told me, that's pretty much true of the whole district SLCC included.  Thanks,
Wayne

[wsmorrison]

I agree with TEP that Pocantico Hills might be the most exclusive of the bunch and probably on the nicest estate in America by a wide margin.  Hard to beat 3500 acres overlooking the Hudson River and NYC in the comfortable distance.  Beutiful homes, carriage buildings, playhouse, greenhouses, etc abound.  Nelson Rockefeller's outdoor sculpture collection, some of the most impressive gardens I've ever seen (the Asian ones are outstanding) and specimen trees galore.  It is a beautiful place.

Pepper Pike Club next door to the Country Club is a very private men's club with a nice Flynn course that has been prettified (is that a word?) a bit too much.  

[Steve Pozaric]

Wayne:

They are on Clayton Road.  I would say they are pretty basic; not courses that you would say "wow" after playing.  Perhaps "subtle" would be a better word.  

However, still somewhat "fun" in that while power can play a huge role, the greens are designed to take shots from certain angles.  If you find yourself on the wrong side, you are pretty well done.  Further, it is not a course where you can blindly bang driver, you need to think a little.  Plus, the greens are turn of the century slopes with more modern day speeds (not 11 on the stimp), but the slopes exacerbate your problems if you do not approach them correctly.

While they are pure golf (no pool), I would think that they social aspect probably reigns supreme.  Can't speak from first hand knowledge about that.  

I will say it is an enjoyable round of golf when played.