Hacks To Get Into Private Clubs?

Other than making a ton of rich friends with memberships to exclusive courses is there a way to play a round on a private course? Seems a shame to miss out on some of the ones I'm seeing in the area...

A pair of kneepads

The Easiest way, although expensive, is through fundraiser tournaments. Look for local private schools, affluent churches, and charitable business organizations.

I have a friend said that he and his dad would always approach the country clubs and tell them they were wanting to try out the course as they were interested in joining. From what he said, it worked pretty well.

Good luck with it.

Make friends with someone in the business- head pro, super etc. Sometimes they can get their friends on other courses during the off season.

The First Tee has frequent fund raisers in my area and the privates, even the exclusive ones, are supporters. As Hollabachgt said, it can be pricey and will usually require that you play with a hosting member, but it will get you a tee time.

Phred

Join you're local golf association. As a marshall, spotter, rules official ...etc. One of the perks is playing the (private) courses that hold association tournaments.

Fundraisers is probably the easiest way. I've played a local private course and I believe the entry was $500. However, I "knew a guy" and got in for free... I just promised him I would buy some raffle tickets, which I did ($200 worth).

The other way I have played a private course is by getting lessons at one. At least by me... the private clubs are all pretty much hurting for money/membership. My old instructor got a job at a private club over by where I live and I was allowed to go there to take lessons from him. I played a few holes with him and obviously get to use their sick grass range hitting ProV1's. I know that while getting a lesson, you can pay something like $800 or $900 and get a full playing lesson which I assume means you just play one of their 18 hole tracks and the coach gives you feedback, etc.

Honestly it's not worth it though, unless you're talking about maybe playing Augusta or something like Shennecock. These places aren't that nice compared to really nice public courses. I'm about to play Streamsong this Sunday and pay $250 for peak season. In June or July I think you can pay $100-$125, and I'm willing to bet that it's even more fun and has a better layout than your run of the mill private club. Other than the "pristine" greens, even a place like Trump National here in NJ probably isn't worth the $600 or $700 it would cost to buy your way on via charity if all you want to do is play a nice course.

Fundraisers are an easy way, but you likely end up in a scramble. Generally they don't do fourball formats.

Simply askimg as prospective member is a good way, but you may get vetted by the membership team prior to playing. All depends on the club.

Volunteer as help in a tournament and get a free round of play is another way, but not all course have tournaments on them.

OP, where are you located?

This, I must have played 10 different private courses last year, without being a member of any.

Depends on where you are located. If you're talking top 100, charity events as everyone said are your best bet (https://www.charitybuzz.com/ often has private course auctions on it. Many private courses donate rounds to the following every year too https://www.eifg.org/research/rounds-4-research). Another option is boxgroove.com. Some privates have decided to earn extra income and offer non prime times through that website.

Otherwise, if it's an average private, call/email and mention you are looking at joining a club and ask about a preview round and you'll get on somewhere if you are flexible on the day you can play and don't talk/look like a raving lunatic. Expect to pay at least double whatever the local top public's are charging and you'll likely have somebody playing with you pestering you with questions throughout the round trying to get your information and sell you on joining. It's not the most enjoyable experience.

And if you want a top 100 course, I'll plug the Ballyneal Chop Hills Classic 2-3 day tournament. It was around $1000 last year for the weekend which ended up being about the same price you would pay as an accompanied guest when factoring in the golf, included room, food and prizes. https://www.ballyneal.com/about-us/chop-hills-classic/

The problem is bankruptcy can be the best thing that happens to a struggling private course assuming a new owner buys it and didn't have to take on a bunch of debt to do that and at the same time it's the worst thing that can happen for all the other struggling privates in the area. Instead of reducing the supply and strengthening all the remaining privates, the new owner can undercut them on dues, spend money and introduce a bunch of improvements and cause the other remaining privates more pain. Until a bunch of courses truly go out of business and the supply equation in an area is balanced, the cycle will continue.

I’ve done it once just by asking the club. I told them this Course was on my father in laws bucket list (sort of true) and they told it’ll be alright. I just couldn’t book my tee until a week before or so. Just be honest

OP says he's from Dallas and played his first real round less than a month ago, in the intro forum. He didn't answer so I thought I'd fill that in.

OP - I'd focus on learning the game and there are plenty of nice courses at your disposal. There is a separate Texas sub-forum in the travel section here that has a lot of threads dedicated to Texas courses, including your area that would likely be helpful. But the whole private course concern might be a little cart before horse.

Yep from Dallas!

Yeah wasn't really planning on doing private clubs for awhile as I don't want to be the noob on a nice course. I was just thinking out loud for the future years.

I just bought a monthly membership at a public course to play around on for now.

A lot of state golf associations have events designed for public golfers to experience private tracks. For you in Dallas, check out Play days in TXGA.Org (https://www.txga.org/tournaments.php?region=&category=5&year=2020). You would play in a foursome of other non-members and all handicap levels are welcome.

Extortion.

RH

Local tournaments as mentioned If you are really serious about potentially joining - you could go that routeNot sure how good of a player you are, but if your Index meets criteria, look at some of the local qualifying for some of the USGA events (not the US Open) but some others with a little higher index minimum from time to time your local qualifying sectional will be held at private clubs.

private*

You may already know this but if the course has a lodge, resort or similar facility you may be able to play the course if you book a stay at the lodge/resort.

Good plan! And if you investigated and wanted to join a private club, wasn't discouraging you at all, plenty of new golfers at many clubs I'm sure. Just might not be the best value for you as a high greens fee paying guest, so to speak. You may very well meet folks who want you to come check out "their" course - even if you are a "noob", I'm sure they know that if that invite you - take advantage.

Solid advice about boxgroove. Just signed up. Obviously I can't say it's successful, but just reading thru the FAQ, seems if u request a reasonable tee time should be successful. Thanks dancin

Play your way in for a tournament.Have a club pro help you out. Join another private club and hope for reciprocals. Win something or qualify for something notable. Know people. That’s all I got. If you’re talking real exclusive stuff you gotta know people. If it’s for a corporate thing you need to be high Up the chain to get the invite.

I’ve found the better player you are the more doors that get opened.

Or, the more successful you are the more places you get invited to.

In my experience, it comes down to those two things - be a good player and/or be successful financially.

If you have both - the doors will open.

This isn’t a commentary about right/wrong - it’s just what it is.

One issue with boxgroove is the people at the individual courses aren't always aware of the agreement with boxgroove. I've had the private course try to charge me more on top of what you paid to boxgroove so bring printed receipts etc.. for any you do book through them. And they pretty much never answer any support questions unless you happen to get lucky and catch them on the phone. It seems to be run by just a couple people at most but it did work for the private courses offering times through it.

A ton of them are going out of business

Forget about playing at your local Bushwood, it's probably not that good, get a passport

Fundraisers, member guest events, the first tee is a great resource to get into some of these clubs, and honestly talking to the pro has helped me to get on a few courses playing Saturdays with the regulars