I've been thinking about this for sometime now and feel that some of this golf savvy group will be able to supply answers to my question.
We can all go to England this Summer, handicap certificate in hand, and phone the golf shop/secretary of many tremendous PRIVATE clubs. Ganton, Woodhall Spa, Silloth, Wentworth, Swinley Forest etc. etc. all accept bookings from visitors. We can go and play, sit in the bar afterwards and enjoy a beer with the very proud members of these clubs, and if we like - report back to GCA.
We can also go to Australia and play Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath etc. - some of the most beautiful PRIVATE clubs in the world and play them without needing to know members to "get us on".
What on earth makes the PRIVATE clubs in the US so special that they don't take visitors groups? I love golf, respect the rules and etiquette of the game, dress appropriately on all occasions and play sharpish. However, unless I hit the lottery or befriend members of such clubs as Shinnecock, Merion, Riviera, Hazeleltine, Seminole (the list is endless) I am going to be able to talk about them, visualize them, look at photos of them - but never play them!
Golf courses are meant to be played and most of these courses are well underplayed.
Where are the visitors tee times at PRIVATE clubs in the US?