Public vs Private:  Where to Play in 2024

Woohoo! It’s golf season again! (Unless you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where you can play year-round. Then it’s always golf season.)

Time to tee it up, perhaps with new clubs. Maybe you’ll bring an improved swing and cash in on all that offseason work. But one big question must be answered: Where are you going to play? 

Golf might be simple recreation and a chance for some zen for you. For others, golf is a mountain to climb in a dedicated pursuit of a lower handicap. Either way, the whole event of getting out on the course can go downhill quickly if you pick the wrong track. In many cases, that decision starts with one basic start-of-the-season question: public golf versus private.

Course Conditions

There are lots of very nice public courses with talented maintenance staff that keep them in excellent condition. Courses that charge a higher rate can usually be counted on to be committed to maintaining the place. Semi-private courses (open to the public but with a limited membership with preferred access to the tee sheet) can rival the best private tracks. That said, it’s generally safe to say that a private golf club is likely to be superior in quality to the public courses in the surrounding area. Revenue at a private course is also constant no matter how many rounds are played in a given month, so the maintenance budget is basically fixed. Not so at a public course where a dip in rounds played could lead to a need to trim expenses, possibly by cutting corners or relaxing standards on the course itself.

Pace of Play

All it takes is one group, maybe even one player, to move like molasses and golfers will start stacking up behind them. Nothing kills the momentum and fun of a good round like slow play and it can happen at any public or private course.

Private courses already have your money. If there are seven golfers on the course or 72, it makes little difference to the club’s revenue stream. Not so at a public venue where the only real way to generate more revenue is through more play. It’s not uncommon to find public courses that have eight- to nine-minute tee-time intervals. As a result, the carts start stacking up at the first hole waiting to get out and it just gets worse as the round progresses.

Amenities

Most of the time, that private membership doesn’t just get you on the golf course. At the very least, there’s a good chance your membership will entitle you to unlimited driving range and practice facility access. Membership usually plugs you into reduced rates on lessons and equipment. Many “country clubs” offer a pool, fitness facility and/or tennis courts as part of your rate. Spa facilities, gourmet dining, upscale locker rooms … the list goes on. So before you declare the private club is too expensive, check what other amenities you’re getting for that membership fee and what it’s worth to you. Getting access to a gym and a pool for the kids might just make it worth it. Trust me, it’s an excellent way to pitch joining the local club to your spouse. “Honey, they have a pool. It’s for the kids, not me.”

Atmosphere

The vibe at a private track can be vastly different from your typical public experience. While plenty of clubs are open, friendly and fun for the whole family, there are still some clubs that perpetuate the “old boys’ club” stereotype. (That dynamic is one reason there is often a “young professionals” membership rate. Many clubs desperately need to get younger to keep the revenue stream flowing.) As a result, you’ll often find some interesting rules that you might not even think about at a public course. For instance, putting your golf shoes on in the parking lot is often frowned upon. Wearing a hat in the clubhouse or an untucked shirt could get you the stink-eye. Music on the golf course?  Out of the question, hippie. 

If you are going to look into a private club, most will offer you a tour and a complimentary round to help you along in that decision. It’s easy to get fixated on just the course, Pay attention to everything else in and around the clubhouse. Do you see anyone your age?  Do you see any kids there around the same age as yours? Try to gauge the vibe and atmosphere. You do not want to fork over those dues every month only to feel like an outsider. Many private club members enjoy the privacy, exclusivity and the sense of community and camaraderie. At some clubs, sad to say, that exclusivity turns to downright snobbery.

The Cost

About those dues. Amenities and perks aside, it’s often the sticker shock of a country club membership that pushes golfers to public golf. You’re going to have to pay for all those niceties and it often starts with an initiation fee. A sizable one, too. If you’re looking to join a top-notch club, plan on forking over enough to buy a good used car. Remember that beautiful new clubhouse, banquet hall and 24-hour fitness center that drew your attention? Now’s when you’re going to have to pay for them. But wait, there’s more! That application fee is just to get in the door. Now you’ve earned the right to pay monthly dues and you’re also very likely expected to agree to a minimum monthly food and beverage charge. Adds up quickly, doesn’t it?

Other Costs

There are other costs to a private membership beyond just dollars. Think of it as a “golf opportunity” cost. If you’re already sinking your funds into a private membership, how much room is left in the budget to go play somewhere else from time to time? Sure, there may be some reciprocals that will let you get on another club but that’s often at a guest rate and not covered by your dues. Unless you’re flush with cash, you’d better really like that private club course you joined because you’re not likely to see many others in a season. 

You may have set yourself up for a shift in golf buddies, too. Many clubs will offer a few guest passes each year to let you bring non-members. Unfortunately, once you burn those up, your buddies are going to have to pay the guest rate to join you. Chances are that rate won’t be cheap, especially when compared to the green fees at a local municipal course.  Sorry, but I’m betting the rest of your old foursome will decide to try their luck at their favorite public course down the road instead.

So Where Should You Play?

If you’re like me, you want to play a lot, play at a nice course, avoid slow play, have ample practice facility access and you don’t want to liquidate your IRA to do it. The public courses around me are nice but with golf at post-COVID heights, the tee sheets are jam-packed and a round turns into six hours. Fortunately, I found a very nice private club in the area that’s a little low on frills and amenities; think of it as a starter club. There’s a pool, but no fitness center, tennis courts or brand-new or recently renovated facilities driving crazy-high dues or application fees. I took the tour, I played the complimentary round and I joined. I suggest you do the same: do some research! At least investigate your options this year. If you decide you’re going to stick to your favorite public tracks, good on you. A quality public course certainly has its advantages, especially when it comes to your wallet. If you find the right one, the playing experience can rival even the best of private clubs. Wherever you play, here’s hoping you hit ‘em well this year.

The post Public vs Private:  Where to Play in 2024 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.