Just Not A Club Kinda Guy

[Mike Hendren]

Tony Muldoon's thread asking "Which club would you like to be a member of" got me to thinking.  I just recently resigned from the second club I've been a member of, neither of which had a true private club culture which was fine with me.  I'm just not a club kinda guy.  Never had a regular game.  Didn't dine, drink, party or play poker there.  Rarely hosted clients.  Didn't care of the staff or professional knew me from Adam.  None of my closest friends belonged, including members of the reknowned Other Senior Tour. 

Don't get me wrong.  Clubs are cool and I understand the attraction.  I just have little appreciation for the culture. 

Can anyone relate?

Mike

[Andy Troeger]

Mike,
I've never belonged to a club, although my Dad did as I was growing up so I'm familiar with that one. I can't say as I have any great desire to join a local club, mainly because I just don't play enough to make the costs worthwhile. Almost all of my golf is travel related--I've played a total of 3 rounds in and around Albuquerque in a year and a half! I probably played 40 rounds overall last year and might only get to around 30 this year.

[Tim Gavrich]

I am reminded of the line Woody Allen uses in Annie Hall (one of my favorite movies)--"I would never want to belong to a club that would have someone like me for a member."  But I hear what you're saying; country club culture certainly isn't for everyone.  Now that I'm a wandering golfer in CT, I have found some of the most tight-knit groupd of golfers at public courses that they just play regularly.  It's a fascinating dynamic.

[Peter Pallotta]

Mike - interesting: you've belonged to two clubs, but left each time, and without having had the 'experience' I imagine club membership is all about. I'm fifty-fifty on this - I have never been a member anywhere: half of me really likes the idea of having a home club, of supporting ONE course and of being part of ONE long tradition - another link in the chain, as it were; but the other part of me, even though I should be more than old enough not to feel this way, just knows that I would be an outsider there, that I wouldn't belong. Reminds me of a series of entries I read once in Albert Camus' notebooks: in September 1938 or so, he has an entry that reads something like: "I've learned not to expect too much from my fellow men. A nod of recognition; the quiet sharing of a cigarette"; but a few months later, his entry reads: "It's no use. I expect too much from people".

Peter   

[Dean Stokes]

No....I cannot relate. The only thing in life I am missing, due to where I have ended up with work, is a golf club membership.

There is nothing better for me than Sunday morning on the putting green with sixteen or twenty good friends, some new friends, drawing for who you will play with. The inside jokes and jabs, the small bets and comraderie. Then afterwards an hour or two in the bar just being lads.

I was a member at a club since I was thirteen and I really appreciate my Dad looking after that for me. Playing with adults, entering club tournaments and playing for the club in matches, going to the annual dinners......it was all character building and somethingi will always cherish.

Obviously it is not for everyone but at present I really miss it and cannot forsee me joining anywhere soon....unless I hit the powerball.

[Sean_A]

Tony Muldoon's thread asking "Which club would you like to be a member of" got me to thinking.  I just recently resigned from the second club I've been a member of, neither of which had a true private club culture which was fine with me.  I'm just not a club kinda guy.  Never had a regular game.  Didn't dine, drink, party or play poker there.  Rarely hosted clients.  Didn't care of the staff or professional knew me from Adam.  None of my closest friends belonged, including members of the reknowned Other Senior Tour. 

Don't get me wrong.  Clubs are cool and I understand the attraction.  I just have little appreciation for the culture. 

Can anyone relate?

Mike

Mike

I know what you mean.  I too have quit two clubs I belonged to for reasons I can't quite articulate.  Perhaps the explanation of I am not a club kinda guy is the answer.  I still belong two other clubs as a country member and that seems to suit me better especially as at one club I have absolutely nothing to do with the club.  I just turn up with mates and play maybe six times a year.  After nearly 10 years I don't really know any other members and that is fine with me. 

Ciao   

[David_Tepper]

"I would never want to belong to a club that would have someone like me for a member."

Tim G. -

I believe Woody Allen was quoting the great Groucho Marx in this instance (and I pretty much agree with what he is saying ).

DT

[Ronald Montesano]

David, you beat me to it...Tim is so damned young, probably never heard of Groucho Marx and his Communist Manifesto, nor his brothers, Karl, Pepto, Zippo, Kudzu...

Seriously, Mike, I'm in your group!  Here's my sitch:  parents didn't golf so we didn't belong to a club.  I teach and most teachers don't join clubs until they retire and have fat benefits and nothing to do with their time.  I love playing the private clubs, but I can't imagine getting caught up in the social circles, the politics nor the pettiness of a private club.  I don't have a regular foursome, although guys who write for my web site seem to be able to put up with me long enough to play.  Ironically, I play most of my golf with teenagers, as I coach boys in the Fall and girls in the Spring.  I can absolutely relate to your feelings.

[Bill_McBride]

I am reminded of the line Woody Allen uses in Annie Hall (one of my favorite movies)--"I would never want to belong to a club that would have someone like me for a member." 

Tim, you're probably too young to remember Groucho Marx, who coined that line many years.

By the way, I had a great weekend in Lexington for the Memorial Day wedding party.  You go to school in a lovely place.

[Tim Bert]

Having been a member of the 2nd club Mike references I will chime in with my thoughts. I don't think our club was full of politics, at least from my perspective. I would guess Mike would agree but maybe not. We had mostly a golf club. No pool. No assessments or food minimums. The food was good and there when you needed it but not imposed on you. Plenty of families and walking was ok any time.

I had no friends going into the experience but quickly met an early morning group of walkers and I fit right in. A really good regular group.

I loved it. I recently resigned because I began traveling a lot for work. I have two young boys, one is starting to play golf but probably 4-5 years away from the "big" course.

I quit because I was spending too much on something I use too little. I have enough money to enjoy golf an trips for golf but not enough money to pay someone monthly for something I don't have time to use.

I really want to join a club again someday, perhaps the same one I just left. As I said I love it, but solely for the golf and a small, comfortable group of regular players. Not interested in the politics or the social atmosphere or any of that.

[Anthony Gray]

  I'm not a member at the course where I live any more. The bank took over the course a couple of months ago and HMS golf management company is running the club now. The changes that have been made are family unfriendly. The sense of comunity has changed. On friday nights it seems that they want to clubhouse to be a bar insted of a neighborhood gathering.

  Anthony

[Tom_Doak]

Mike:

I can certainly relate.

I didn't grow up in a club culture, for one thing ... grew up on a public course, and was keenly aware that my family would have had to wait years to get into a private club even if we'd wanted to.  That probably soured me on the idea from the start.

I belong to one of the great courses in the world, and would never think of giving it up, even if I don't use it enough to get a reasonable average green fee.  I am happy to pay for the privilege of playing there occasionally.  But, I've always acted more like a "country member" as Sean describes; my lifestyle just doesn't allow me to be a part of the club culture even if I wanted to.  And even after twenty years, I do feel like a bit of an outsider, as various club policies make it clear that homeowners and family legacy are prioritized over newbies such as me.

If I lived in the UK, I think I would have a different attitude toward it and be a more active member of a club.  They seem to be better at inclusion ... holding weekly and monthly competitions on the weekends, for example.  Most of American golf is still about a member and his guests, and that's how I tend to use Crystal Downs.  But it's a privilege to be able to do that.

[Bill_McBride]

When a club is where you like to hang out on the weekends and hit balls and have lunch during the week, it's great.

If you start calculating your average green fee, it's not great.

[Dan Herrmann]

Culture is everything. 

In my case, I want a culture that accommodates families, even though it's just me and Laura.  I want a club that puts golf first, second, and third.  I want a club that charges a fair fee.   I want a club where people are friendly and fun and not snooty.

And, to be honest, not having a monthly food minimum is heavenly.  My club is a for-profit enterprise, but I can't see spending $9 for a burger when I can get a better tasting one at Five Guys.  And I work for a living - I can't afford a $100 dinner more than a few times per year.  I really with golf clubs would down-scale their food service.

Fortunately, I found one,but it wasn't easy.

[David_Elvins]

Mike,

Golf Clubs are like women.  A lot of men think they are not the marrying type until they find the right women. And it will happen when you least expect it.  you can't try to find the right club.  One day you will be open to the idea of settling down and there it is, the perfect club.

[Brent Hutto]

A golf club is the only kind of club I've ever even considered being a member of (as an adult, I mean). My requirements are pretty simple. I have to be able to afford the membership, the golf course has to suit my game, there have to be plenty of members with whom I enjoy playing golf and there needs to be no policies restricting play while walking the course.

Fortunately such a club is available in my area so I'm a member. I have no desire to "join a club" per se, just a desire to play the game with like-minded golfers on a good course. There are no public-golf options that meet my needs, even though our area is quite overbuilt with public courses (and private, for that matter). The main disqualifier is the carts-first business plan at most of them. But that's fine, I like my club and am just as glad not to be tempted into cheaper public alternatives.

[Jason Hines]

I hear what you are saying Mike.  However, here was my experience with my golf club last saturday evening and this morning.  Last Saturday evening I took my 5 and 3 year old boys at 5pm, grabbed a cart and played 9 holes.  People high fivin’ them, saying here comes the next club champs etc.

This morning, tee off at 645 am, walk 18 holes by 10:15 am.  Two weeks ago I played a public course and walked off the 17 hole after 4 hours and 45 minutes.

I did not notice anyone being snooty, I did not notice anyone playing club politics or anyone looking at themselves in the mirror.  I am sure there were people acting that way, but that’s their problem.  I also did not add up how much any of this cost.

There’s a club out there for everyone.

[Tim Bert]

I hear what you are saying Mike.  However, here was my experience with my golf club last saturday evening and this morning.  Last Saturday evening I took my 5 and 3 year old boys at 5pm, grabbed a cart and played 9 holes.  People high fivin’ them, saying here comes the next club champs etc.

This morning, tee off at 645 am, walk 18 holes by 10:15 am.  Two weeks ago I played a public course and walked off the 17 hole after 4 hours and 45 minutes.

I did not notice anyone being snooty, I did not notice anyone playing club politics or anyone looking at themselves in the mirror.  I am sure there were people acting that way, but that’s their problem.  I also did not add up how much any of this cost.

There’s a club out there for everyone.

Jason

This is pretty much the club Mike had. I could be wrong but I don't  think Mike's post was aimed at the snooty culture and the country club feel because that isn't the way his club worked, at least through my eyes. I think he's just saying that being an independent contractor works better for him hat hitching his cart to one horse.

[Jason Hines]

I hear what you are saying Mike.  However, here was my experience with my golf club last saturday evening and this morning.  Last Saturday evening I took my 5 and 3 year old boys at 5pm, grabbed a cart and played 9 holes.  People high fivin’ them, saying here comes the next club champs etc.

This morning, tee off at 645 am, walk 18 holes by 10:15 am.  Two weeks ago I played a public course and walked off the 17 hole after 4 hours and 45 minutes.

I did not notice anyone being snooty, I did not notice anyone playing club politics or anyone looking at themselves in the mirror.  I am sure there were people acting that way, but that’s their problem.  I also did not add up how much any of this cost.

There’s a club out there for everyone.

Jason

This is pretty much the club Mike had. I could be wrong but I don't  think Mike's post was aimed at the snooty culture and the country club feel because that isn't the way his club worked, at least through my eyes. I think he's just saying that being an independent contractor works better for him hat hitching his cart to one horse.

Good deal.

[Tim Gavrich]

I am reminded of the line Woody Allen uses in Annie Hall (one of my favorite movies)--"I would never want to belong to a club that would have someone like me for a member." 

Tim, you're probably too young to remember Groucho Marx, who coined that line many years.

By the way, I had a great weekend in Lexington for the Memorial Day wedding party.  You go to school in a lovely place.

Gents--

Indeed, I know the great Woody Allen quotes Groucho Marx in the movie; I believe in the movie he says that he's paraphrasing, so I didn't want to assign that exact quote to Groucho.  But indeed, you're right; I ought to have been clearer.

Bill--

I'm very glad you enjoyed Lexington when you were there.  It's a bummer we weren't able to meet up; hopefully sometime soon.

Cheers.

--Tim

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Bogie Bogie, I understand your pain. I mean you are seeking a golf home in the land of beehive hair, country music, the Tennessee Vols and Jed, Jethro and Jethrine Bodine. I think the GCA world would like to be a Member of Cypress or Augusta National. However one for the most part has to bring their game with them to the grand clubs. I think being a Member of a club where you have a regular game, a good place to practice as well as pleasure of playing whenever you like for the most part. I agree the mindset of a certain element of the Membership can be a bit much at times as well as the politics. I can say without question one of the great pleasures of the last 2 weeks of healing up is hitting a few balls in the evening and catching  up with some old friends on the range. I assure you the mindset of a large part my Lafayette club as well as club politics are not the strong  parts either.

[Mike Hendren]

Tiger, around here we refer to the beehive hair style as a PHD - Pentecostal HairDo. 

Be well, friend.

Bogey

[Mike_Young]

MH,
I belong to an 80 year old club that has around 800 members.used to be 1000.  The last five presidents rarely play golf.  The last club manager was an excellent manager and manipulator that positioned the club as a club comparable to larger city clubs in the State.  We just took a six million assessment for golf course and clubhouse which had 800 votes and passed by 16( in other words..sway 9 votes and the other side wins).
And all of the above is the problem I see with many clubs thru out the States.  The maybe 400 of us that play golf are subsidized by the other 400 who rarely play....the managers all come from food and beverage and thus justify such to an unknowing board....the standard ten to twenty guys who try to run the show and convince the needed votes really have no clue.  And in the end you have a nice place....but will these nice places survive the next 20 years in the golf world?  I don't know.
At our place there are maybe 20 of us that are core golfers that play every friday afternoon....walking has increased to half the rounds and the club thinks they now need to charge to walk( or something)....I stay a member because it is close by and I can practice there....and around 8 of us always have a game together..but all of us have said we would go elsewhere if we did it as a group and I think one day that will happen.....smaller towns don't have the membership depth once dues reach a soecific point...and that wiil be sooner than later....
AND I blame the PGA for all of this....all over the country.....they allowed CMAA to get a stronghold on American clubs and convince the boards we needed $40,000 pool slides....

[Anthony Gray]

  Mike,

  My club just put in a pool slide.

  Anthony

 

[Bill_McBride]

MH,
I belong to an 80 year old club that has around 800 members.used to be 1000.  The last five presidents rarely play golf.  The last club manager was an excellent manager and manipulator that positioned the club as a club comparable to larger city clubs in the State.  We just took a six million assessment for golf course and clubhouse which had 800 votes and passed by 16( in other words..sway 9 votes and the other side wins).
And all of the above is the problem I see with many clubs thru out the States.  The maybe 400 of us that play golf are subsidized by the other 400 who rarely play....the managers all come from food and beverage and thus justify such to an unknowing board....the standard ten to twenty guys who try to run the show and convince the needed votes really have no clue.  And in the end you have a nice place....but will these nice places survive the next 20 years in the golf world?  I don't know.
At our place there are maybe 20 of us that are core golfers that play every friday afternoon....walking has increased to half the rounds and the club thinks they now need to charge to walk( or something)....I stay a member because it is close by and I can practice there....and around 8 of us always have a game together..but all of us have said we would go elsewhere if we did it as a group and I think one day that will happen.....smaller towns don't have the membership depth once dues reach a soecific point...and that wiil be sooner than later....
AND I blame the PGA for all of this....all over the country.....they allowed CMAA to get a stronghold on American clubs and convince the boards we needed $40,000 pool slides....

Too bad your 20 guys can't buy Longshadow.  THAT would be a great home course, and be a golf only club.