Join a semi-private club or stick with what I've got?

I moved to the Kansas City area a year ago and one of my first concerns was where I was going to play golf and how much it would cost. I moved from Topeka, KS and had a $30 per month golf membership (all the walking golf I wanted) to some crappy courses, but that's where I learned to play. Needless to say I knew I was going to be spending a lot more to play in KC.

I stumbled across this new "membership" called The Club Member (https://theclubmember.com) and basically it's $29.99 to be a member and then you pay $20 each time you play and that includes a cart. There are five nice, semi-private courses and one is about 15 minutes from my house. The others are all 30-45 mins away, which still isn't bad.

For some reason, I have the desire to join the club that's closest to my house (Tiffany Greens). I'd love to just be able to go out and play on week nights and not feel ripped off when I don't get 18 holes in and I think I would play more golf. It's only $2400 for a single and that includes a range pass (they have great practice facilities). I know I haven't spent $2400 this year with my current membership (usually play 2-3 times per week and try to hit the range once). However, I feel like I would play more if I could just go out whenever and not have to pay each time. There's also the dilemma of playing the same course nearly every time out as opposed to having the choice of 5 different courses.

So...what would you do if you were in my shoes?

Well from a financial standpoint the $2400 is the better move. 2.5 rounds a week @ $20 plus the buy in is $2630.

Personally I would do both. Pay the $30 for the other membership too so when you want to play somewhere else you can at a low cost of $20. Even if you only do it 5 times a year that equals $26 per round. I would kill to play nice courses for anything near that.

[quote name='bppry' timestamp='1352305141' post='5903189']
Well from a financial standpoint the $2400 is the better move. 2.5 rounds a week @ $20 plus the buy in is $2630.

Personally I would do both. Pay the $30 for the other membership too so when you want to play somewhere else you can at a low cost of $20. Even if you only do it 5 times a year that equals $26 per round. I would kill to play nice courses for anything near that.
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Hmmm...I hadn't really considered both. I guess I may have overstated how much I've played this year. Right now I'm close to 2-3 times per week but I looked back and I've only played about 55 rounds in the last year so I guess I'm under 2 rounds per week on average. I have an app on my phone that I use to track expenses and according to that, I've spent just over $1,600 in golf fees (membership, green fees, driving range).

In my experience, trying to account for "cost per round" is a sure way to end up playing punk-a** courses you hate. And it also takes the fun out of golf by making you feel like you've got to be out there playing so you don't waste money on your fixed costs.

As my wife points out, membership at my club costs $xxx/year for the privilege of playing a great course any time I like. The actual rounds of golf are free (actually the rounds each cost an extra $3 at our club for obscure historical reasons). I prefer my wife's point of view on the matter.

For my own part, if I'm not walking I'm not playing. So of the options you mention, it would matter greatly to me whether "includes a cart" is really code for "you must ride in a cart" vs. it being included if you want it but optional. In the area where I live one of the prime reasons to pay the considerable extra for membership at a private course is that so many public and semi-privates will not let me play (walking) at certain dates and times.

I miss my club like crazy!!!! I moved to a new area where the clubs are more expensive (not to mention having 2 mortgages until the old place sells), and it's super annoying to have to pay for stuff and be forced into a cart.

If you think playing the same course all the time will bug you, go with the semi private. Maybe ask the private course if they'll do a range only membership.... Does that $2400 include cart fees? Can you walk if you want? It actually seems a bit too cheap to include cart fees, which might be like $15 a round.

[quote name='highergr0und' timestamp='1352315579' post='5903941']
I miss my club like crazy!!!! I moved to a new area where the clubs are more expensive (not to mention having 2 mortgages until the old place sells), and it's super annoying to have to pay for stuff and be forced into a cart.

If you think playing the same course all the time will bug you, go with the semi private. Maybe ask the private course if they'll do a range only membership.... Does that $2400 include cart fees? Can you walk if you want? It actually seems a bit too cheap to include cart fees, which might be like $15 a round.
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Well, the $2400 course is actually a semi-private and it's included in the current membership thing I have and I play there pretty frequently since it's the closest course to my house. And yes, that does include a cart. In fact, I've played there at least 25 or 30 times this year and I've never seen anyone walking the course. I don't know if you're even allowed and I haven't asked. I used to like walking in Topeka but up here it seems like everyone rides in cart on the courses I've been playing in the KC area.

The KC courses you are considering, are public courses and very busy with fund raisers. Although one of the five is probably open, most days.

If the $2400 covers unlimited golf and the course is in "Private Club" condition, I'd jump on it. If you play 2 to 3 times a week it pays for it self.

I got an email from Tiffany Greens today indicating they now are offering the ability to play other courses in the area for just the cart fee so it's got me leaning more and more towards joining for the $2400 per year. I'm guessing the cart fees at the other courses are around $15 each so that wouldn't be too bad every once in a while to go to a different course. I called them up and it sounds like they're still working out the agreements with the other courses, but it sounds like it will include the same courses that are in the The Club membership that I'm in now.

I joined a private course a year ago and have loved it. It's so nice to be able to go out and hit as many balls as you want at the range, or just play 3 holes before night falls. Not having to get a tee time and never having a crowd sure makes it a dream.

Well this is a busy semi private course so it wouldn't be the same experience. They are pretty busy on weekends and tend to have tournaments fairly frequently. That's also weighing in to my decision. Right now if they have a tournament I would just play at one of the other 4 courses for the same price. If I joined I'd have to pay additional in a round about way.