2004-07-21

Joining a Country Club

Not really a country club but an annual golf pass that lets you play unlimited golf at the club. I went back and forth on this one and decided to sign up. This golf course costs a little over fifty bucks to play (with cart). Carts cost $12 ($6 if you share) but because carts are not included in the golf pass and because I like walking anyway I will leave that out of the decision.

Lets say it costs $45 to play without cart.

$2,250 / $45 = 50. That means I would have to play 50 rounds of golf over the next year to break even. That is an awful lot of golf; I have never played more than 20 rounds in a year. But I think I can do it. If I hit it up twice a week that would be like only paying $23 per round and I would save a couple grand. If I have a stretch where I am real ambitious about golf I could play Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a month or so and really make my mon-ay back fast.

Drawbacks:
Lot of golf at same golf course - this is a real fun track though - with nice greens, plush rough, fairways like carpet, and real challenge to score on. I don't think I will get board of the course in only a year.
Ties you down to living near the club - what if I meet some hottie and she asks me to go away with her for the winter - let's say somewhere fun like Costa Rica (stop laughing)
Kind of puts a burden on you to go play golf at that same club - each time some golf buddy calls to see if I want to play golf next week, I'll be all "yeah, lets play Sterling Hills." As I play other courses I may feel like I am wasting mon-ay.

Positives:
Instead of hitting buckets, I can go play. I think playing 9 holes is better for your game than pounding range balls for 2 hours.
Nice course and facilities
Might get to know some of the good players (anyone that would prepay for unlimited golf can probably play a pretty good game)
I like playing the same course and trying to beat my best score there. I remember shooting in the 70s here from the blues but my best showing since starting this site is a weak 93 from the white tees that I would like redemption from
Bottom line is it is only a couple grand - big deal, I can spend that gambling in one weekend on a Las Vegas Golf Vacation - (booze and hookers extra)

Here are the details:

Charge Privileges
This is optional. I guess you can give them a credit card number they keep on file and then they total up what you spent and charge you once a month. Snack bar, breakfast, cart girl, buckets of balls, cart fees, pro-shop merchandise, bar tab, etc. I will probably skip this because everything at a nice golf course is kind of expensive and it would be real easy to spend more than I should.

Range
Discount on range balls ($40 for a $50 value card, $75 for $100)

Merchandise
10% discount on all non-on-sale stuff at the pro-shop

Golf Lessons
Save $5 per half hour lesson by their PGA Golf Professionals

Golf Cart
Optional
Unlimited cart fees............$500
I?ll skip this option

Annual Pass Fee:
Weekday Annual Pass..........$2,250
Monday - Friday anytime
Weekends at Super Twilight (currently 3:00pm)

Done and Done
I am going over there first thing tomorrow and signing up!

*** COMMENTS CLOSED ***