What does your current ideal club look like?

[Adam Warren]

Dave, I'm guessing you havent found a club to join b/c you don't want people to tell you what to do.  That's part of getting to use their facilities is they get to dictate how they want you to treat those facilities.  Sounds like you have been through a few clubs over the years, and its not terribly surprising. 

[Dave Doxey]

Alan ,..and I'm guessing that you chair the rules committee at your club.  Keep an eye out for those rascals that change their shoes in the parking lot....

[Dan Kelly]

Alan ,..and I'm guessing that you chair the rules committee at your club.  Keep an eye out for those rascals that change their shoes in the parking lot....

And I'm guessing that his name is Adam!

[Bill McKinley]

Nine holes
Designed by a "name" architect
Two sets of tees
Smallish greens, generally pushed up
11 total bunkers
No range - 300 yards practice field where you shag your own
3 par threes, leaving only 6 fairways to maintain
Fairways cut  Tues. and Fri. only
Greens and holes cut every other day
Green-to-tee walks not to exceed 25 yards
No tee times
Yardages:
365/425
180/205
425/455
525/560
125/155
290/330
465/475
400/440
225/275
Short, redan and biarritz (front as fairway) if topo permits
At least one blind approach
3rd hole returns to start so players can start on 1 or 4
Visitors comped Mon. thru Thursday accompanied by member
Visitors pay $75 Fri. thru Sunday accompanied by member
Canned beer, soda's, waters in cooler with chit system
Free make-your-own coffee before 9 a.m.
Water coolers on 4th and 7th tees
In warm weather iced down towels in cooler on 1st tee
Clubhouse has 6 4-top tables with comfy chairs and four fabulous showers - staff of one.  four 4-tops on patio
Barbisol comb cannisters,Club-Man talcum, Aleve and sunscreen in wet area which includes steam room
Nuts and pretzels on the tables at 3 p.m.
Club sandwich is the only item on the menu with other choices by deduction only (i.e., BLT)
Wall-to-wall storefront glass facing the course.  No other windows - a simple entrance door, locked at sundown
No signage anywhere
Balls and gloves only available for sale.
Initiation fee is full payment of one years dues
Annual dues equal member's pro-rata share of previous year expenses plus 10%
Bob Huntley is an honorary member

Michael,

This is tremendous.  Well thought out and excellent detail.  I can't believe no one else has commented on this.  Love it!!

[BCowan]

Are you describing the Dunes Club in Michigan?

[Adam Warren]

Alan ,..and I'm guessing that you chair the rules committee at your club.  Keep an eye out for those rascals that change their shoes in the parking lot....

Not sure how Alan is (your attention to detail is what you must be known for), but we don't have that rule, I am not over the rules committee, and I change my shoes in the parking lot.   

[Philip Caccamise]

If money was no object? Winged Foot without a second thought.

Because it is? Given where I currently reside, I don't see a lot of value in joining a local club. Most of the private clubs are country clubs first, with decent but not great golf courses- not a step up from the publics (which almost always play in 4:15 or less.) One thing I have considered for next year is a nonresident membership. One club in particular, NCR CC, is 2 hours away and offers two excellent courses at a very reasonable rate for nonresidents.

If I still lived in NYC, I would probably sack up and join somewhere, because I don't think I would be up to the battle of getting tee times at Bethpage anymore.

[Paul Gray]

It would be owned by me, wherein my benevolent dictatorship would prevail. 

[Mike Sweeney]

It would be owned by me, wherein my benevolent dictatorship would prevail. 

After 10+ years of being on GCA, I have learned that the last thing in the world I want to be is:

1. An owner of a golf club.

2. A member of a golf club where the owner wants to make money.

Paul Gray,

If I am worthy, sign me up for your money losing golf club, and be prepared to have visits from my 1498 friends who want to pay the escorted rate even when I am not there, or get a freebie with their rater card, or works in the industry, or….  

[Paul Gray]

It would be owned by me, wherein my benevolent dictatorship would prevail. 

After 10+ years of being on GCA, I have learned that the last thing in the world I want to be is:

1. An owner of a golf club.

2. A member of a golf club where the owner wants to make money.

Paul Gray,

If I am worthy, sign me up for your money losing golf club, and be prepared to have visits from my 1498 friends who want to pay the escorted rate even when I am not there, or get a freebie with their rater card, or works in the industry, or….  

You're in, free of charge, as is everyone that's ever contributed to GCA. This baby is going straight to bankruptcy with a huge smile on its face. It'll be a great three months.

[Steve Lang]

  61, chemical/environmental engineer,

Golfing highlight reel: played since 9 yrs old, lowest HI achieved… 5.3, have shot par from red, white, and blue tees,  3rd flight (all 7's) club champ for sheila in 1997 when she was BC challenged and fought through it...

my ideal gc:

- at least 3 good courses, one capable of pro events, others used for USGA, and other qualifying and state PGA events, one course 27 holes
- two of three courses with nice clubhouses, locker rooms, range of food service, one players course with grill
- pros that call you Mr. in public settings, by first name otherwise
- pros that you can entice out, for 9 holes to just play
- TPI certified instruction if you want it
- supporter of AJGA, (players and tournaments) and the local High School golf teams
- full walkin allowed all the time, carts available, special flags for the very seniors to allow them to drive up to greens
- full range at each course, with front and back lines (back for adults only)
- minimum four sets of tees
- daily pin placement sheets (+/- yards only)
- water jugs every 2-3 holes
- water / ice on marshall's carts roaming 9's
- bev cart ice kept in separate clean containers if person is thinking
- bermuda grasses, no overseeding except for tees in winter
- phone and internet tee lines
- international recognized tennis facilities, handful of indoor ones plus outdoor Laykold hard courts and Har-Tru clay courts.
- one pool available, though i have my own
- one or two exercise gyms available
- family friendly but not obsessive
- social members to soak  
- enough fair weather golfers
- MGA (Mens Gambling ASsoc.
- WGA
- Couples Golf

hmmm, seem to have seen that in my rear view mirror around noon today after an unscheduled 9 following breakfast

[BHoover]

Right now, my ideal club has a retractable dome so I can play in comfort when it's 20 degrees outside.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Very interesting thread.
Lots of talk about minimums and rules, clubhouses and tee times, and very little talk about architecture.  
I've long been a believer that most middle of the road golf courses (you know, the courses we hardly ever talk about here) in America suffer from poor golf architecture. I realize that is a giant generalization, but after living in So Cal, AZ, and Texas for most of my life, I've come to the conclusion that most golf courses are missed opportunities.

We love to talk about the great courses here, but I wonder if in day to day life we aren't just content to knock it around.

[Adrian_Stiff]

Very interesting thread.
Lots of talk about minimums and rules, clubhouses and tee times, and very little talk about architecture.  
I've long been a believer that most middle of the road golf courses (you know, the courses we hardly ever talk about here) in America suffer from poor golf architecture. I realize that is a giant generalization, but after living in So Cal, AZ, and Texas for most of my life, I've come to the conclusion that most golf courses are missed opportunities.

We love to talk about the great courses here, but I wonder if in day to day life we aren't just content to knock it around.

Don - I think your spot on. Its not so much about the thing we are so passionate about. Conditioning is much more important and the majority like things we dont here. Water coming into play is a big thing for most. People like trees too.
Everything is factored by money and value.

[Dan Herrmann]

What does it look like?  Merion

Seriously.  You have two golf courses - one of which is one of the world's best.  The other is a very fun course that would be a fantastic #1 at 90% of clubs.