Access to Private Clubs

[Dan Kelly]

You can play anywhere in the country, besides ANGC, if you simply:

1. Learn to break 90 without taking practice swings.
2. Research the course you want to play and be able to discuss it with a measure of charisma.
3. Contact someone at the club who is not a dick.
4. Don't be a dick.
5. Pay.

This may be true, and I'll take your word for it, John ...

... but I can't make it FEEL right to beg for access, even when I'm fully prepared to meet your conditions (1), (2), (4) and (5).

I haven't played several really fine (by all reports) courses in the Twin Cities because my access to private courses has been almost exclusively (A), and I don't have any friends at those clubs who've invited me to play there with them.

Perhaps this is because I have too often violated condition (4) -- and because I don't believe in the process that leads to all of these rankings of courses.

Maybe I need an agent!

[John Kavanaugh]

Where did I say beg?  If you play number two correctly you don't even need to ask.

[Pete_Pittock]

The Northern California Golf Association has operated an excellent inter-club league for the past 25 years or so. The participating golf clubs are organized into divisions of 4 clubs. The clubs in each division play a home & away match against the 3 other clubs in the divisions. The clubs in the divisions do change over the years.

By playing in these matches, I have gotten to play the Meadow Club, Peninsula, Lake Merced, the Olympic Club and Green Hills over the years.   

That may be coming to Oregon in the next couple of years.


F. Volunteer with your local golf association;
G. Get involved with committees at your club and work your way up to chairman or get on the board of directors.

[Sean_A]

Nearly always A, but a few using F (writing letters).  That said, I play very few privates in the US. 

Ciao

[Mark Johnson]

There are other ways, depending on where you live.

In Minnesota, clubs are very good about providing access to members of other clubs that host events.

If your club is hosting, say, the state amateur or any state event or USGA qualifier, usually other clubs in town will offer up tee times for free. Sometimes they might ask that you take a cart, other times not. There is a Twin Cities Senior League here where there are 18 or 20 clubs involved. Each week, the clubs not hosting give up two tee times to the club that is hosting.

Over the past few years, I've played clubs including Somerset, Interlachen, Golden Valley, Woodhill and other not so recognizable clubs because my club has hosted something.

It's even more than state events,   During the summer when most clubs have there invitationals, I have played several other  good private clubs,arranged through pro shop for only cart fees.   And likewise, there are members from these same courses at our place during the same time.

There are only a few clubs in Minnesota who don't other some type of reciprocity and these aren't necessarily the top 20 clubs that you'd expect.

[Mike Sweeney]

While reading the strand, The Last 10 Courses You Played, I couldn't help but notice some people play some amazing courses on this site. Being a teacher,  it got me thinking about putting together a multiple choice question.   Here it is:
When you get a chance to play an exclusive private club, do you usually get the chance to play by:

F) Other-Please specify

Meet the Caddie Master at Newport Country Club at The Wharf Deli in Newport, Rhode Island, catch a ride with him at midnight to Middletown, RI for last call, show up at work the next morning.

Following Monday, play Newport CC!!

[Peter Pallotta]

Or just be a completely likeable, thoroughly decent, comfortably laid-back, wisely moderate, and perceptively engaged and informed fellow like Mike Sweeney, and you'll be playing anywhere you want!

But of course that only works for one person. (Okay, maybe two -- throw Jim Sullivan into the mix).

Peter

[jonathan_becker]

F) Writing nice letters - it often works and is mainly down to the generosity of the pro doing you a favour

I forgot about this one.

This is a step that a lot of people don't attempt but it can work.  I've been denied a few times, but I've gotten more answers of yes than no.

[Mike Sweeney]

But of course that only works for one person. (Okay, maybe two -- throw Jim Sullivan into the mix).

Peter,

Big difference. Sully can bring a REAL game to the Top 100 and he has waaaay more kids than me. 

I still can't believe I spent four years drinking alot of beer one town away from the The Country Club (Brookline), and I never figured out a way on. 

[Mark Chaplin]

.

[James Boon]

Fi, know a PGA professional who can get courtesy at the course and bring a friend along

Several years ago before knowing all the wonderful people on this site, while on a family holiday in the USA I managed what at the time I thought would be impossible, by getting a round at a private course. We were in Texas and my brother was a PGA professional at the time over here in the UK so he contacted Colonial to see if they would give him courtesy, as most courses do over here and they were kind enough to say yes. I was going to be happy enough to just caddy for him, but they were good enough to say that he could bring a guest with him. I think its still one of my most expensive rounds of golf ever, but it was a great experience never the less.

A, B and C

or, move to the U.K

Stewart,

Before I considered my first answer above, my answer was going to be along those lines  so:

Fii, Live in the UK were getting to play other private courses is virtually always as easy as contacting the club in advance and coughing up the visitors green fee. 

Cheers,

James

[Mike Sweeney]

F) Other-Please specify

Rick,

Stationers is a Golfing Society here in NY that runs one day outings at some pretty nice clubs. See http://www.sgagolf.net/course.html As noted by James Boon, they are not inexpensive days.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

F,
In addition to Stationers which, as noted, can be quite expensive as they are very similar to a one day member guest including lunch and dinner and prizes, I have played in Philly GAP Member Play Days at many of the top clubs in the area. Also, through my volunteer work for GAP, I have played in the annual Volunteer Day event over the years at local clubs.

When in AZ, the Southwest PGA Pass has some events at local private clubs as does the AZ Golf Ass'n.

[Tim Martin]

Do you think a letter from someone outside the U.S. requesting to play while in the states carries more weight than a letter from a U.S. citizen going through the same process ? It seems that guys from across the pond and Australia have quite a bit of luck with this. Thoughts.

[Robert Emmons]

Tim,

I think you are correct, a overseas letter does hold more weight...Best wishes, RHE

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Robert,

Thanks for the tip. 

F,

Local golfing clubs often have events at private clubs:

http://www.nsmga.org/cgi-bin/htmlos/index.html

http://www.sjgolf.com/curevnts/calendars.htm

[John Kavanaugh]

Do you think a letter from someone outside the U.S. requesting to play while in the states carries more weight than a letter from a U.S. citizen going through the same process ? It seems that guys from across the pond and Australia have quite a bit of luck with this. Thoughts.

That has to do with my point about charisma. Foreigners peak ones curiosity. Write a letter that makes the people at the club want to meet you.

One other reason that letters work is that dicks don't read letters.  To explain, even a dick has difficulty in throwing away a hand written letter, they will toss it to a kind person to deal with.

[Mike Sweeney]

One other reason that letters work is that dicks don't read letters.  To explain, even a dick has difficulty in throwing away a hand written letter, they will toss it to a kind person to deal with.

If raters were forced to write letters (not email) to private clubs (even clubs that want raters) and pay market rates in unescorted fees, would your view of raters change?

[John Kavanaugh]

One other reason that letters work is that dicks don't read letters.  To explain, even a dick has difficulty in throwing away a hand written letter, they will toss it to a kind person to deal with.

If raters were forced to write letters (not email) to private clubs (even clubs that want raters) and pay market rates in unescorted fees, would your view of raters change?

No.  Most of my friends who are golfers are raters.  This is like asking if I would like craps dealers more if they paid a hard eight 12 to 1.  I like or hate people irrespective of the scams they run.

Now my view of the process would change.  I would see it more as a contribution to the game rather than a negative.

[Mike Sweeney]

No.  Most of my friends who are golfers are raters.  This is like asking if I would like craps dealers more if they paid a hard eight 12 to 1.  I like or hate people irrespective of the scams they run.

Now my view of the process would change.  I would see it more as a contribution to the game rather than a negative.

If the process changes and it is a "contribution to the game", how can your view of raters not change? In your words the rating process would be a "contribution" thus implying that it is no longer a "scam".

Your friends are no longer scammers, the rating process would be contributing to golf and yet your view stays the same? Please explain.

[John Kavanaugh]

No.  Most of my friends who are golfers are raters.  This is like asking if I would like craps dealers more if they paid a hard eight 12 to 1.  I like or hate people irrespective of the scams they run.

Now my view of the process would change.  I would see it more as a contribution to the game rather than a negative.

If the process changes and it is a "contribution to the game", how can your view of raters not change? In your words the rating process would be a "contribution" thus implying that it is no longer a "scam".

Your friends are no longer scammers, the rating process would be contributing to golf and yet your view stays the same? Please explain.

Mike,

I have a personal policy of not asking people what they do for a living.  I find it insulting and judgemental.  I hope that I have never asked someone if they are a rater.  It has zero bearing on if I would consider someone my friend.

I like to think my friends represent all aspects of society both good and bad.  I love to spend time around interesting people.  I'm kind of like Jesus that way.

I still remember the day I found out one of my friends is an abortion doctor.  I could not hate the man no matter how much I hated his job, he was just too damn much fun to be around.  It was an epiphany for me of the human condition.

[Dan Kelly]

I'm kind of like Jesus that way.

LOL!

[Tony_Muldoon]

I'm kind of like Jesus that way.

LOL!

What we need round here is a thread about boasting. 

Anyone...anyone...?

[Colin Macqueen]

Chuckling here!

"I'm kind of like Jesus that way."

Now that's a revelation!

Cheers Colin

[John Kavanaugh]

The greatest gift Jesus ever gave us is the freedom to love sinners. I would hate to live my life any other way.