Jump to content
2024 Houston Open WITB Photos ×

First Timer - Affordable Clubs around Maplewood/Union/Ironbound, NJ


RSK7070

Recommended Posts

After years of wanting to join a club, the deck may finally be shaping up to pull the trigger Summer 2020. I'll be moving back to Jersey (somewhere in the Union/Maplewood/Ironbound area) and am looking for recommendations on affordable options (likely max out around $5k for the year all in, food minimums, etc.). Even better would like to do a season preview to see if the private club thing is for me before laying out an initiation fee. I'll be 31 so may qualify for some junior memberships but seem like different clubs vary their cutoff.

 

Wishlist:

- Above all, good golf. Would plan to make good use of the practice range and short game area and ideally shoot out for a few holes on weekdays. Being able to go 36 on a weekend if I have the time is big.

- <30 minute drive (realize its a moving target without having my housing locked in)

- Younger membership demographic

- Non-tipping/ doesn't require a caddie - big fan of caddies but know this will add up

- Guest-friendly policy -- know some clubs restrict how many times the same guest can play in a month or year, but prefer to not be limited if I want to bring the same guys up a few times a season

 

Thanks in advance

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 4
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Greetings!

 

5k all in is going to be tough, but the fact that you are under 35 helps. Most clubs have food/beverage minimums and/or assessments to go along with cart and caddy fees.

 

You can check out Maplewood Country Club. They had a program where you can try the course for a year, at no initiation fee and discounted dues. However, they do have a caddy program so you may have to take one on weekend mornings. Overall, I am not a huge fan of the course. Only 2 par 5's and it ends with a par 3. I think it is known more of a social club.

 

Suburban in Union is an excellent course. Golf only, so if you are looking for a pool, there is none. Also, has a caddy program so you may need one on weekend mornings. Not the longest course from the tips, but it is a fun and challenging layout.

 

Shackamaxon in Scotch Plains has affordable dues. Also has a caddy program. I am not a huge fan of this course as well.

 

That being said, it does not hurt to reach out and test these places.

 

If you want to drive a little farther out west or south, check out Metuchen Country Club in Metuchen or it may be even in Plainfield. One of my favorite tracks. No driving true driving range. Has a caddy program but I do not think it is required to take one. Email them about dues.

 

The best bang for your buck IMO is New Jersey National in Basking Ridge. Golf only, but an excellent course. No initiation fees, food minimums or assessments. You can walk the course anytime, so that saves you on cart fees. The restaurant is open to the public, if that matters to you. You can hit any club you want on the range. If I lived closer to the area, this would be my top choice. You also have reciprocal privileges to a few other courses as well.

 

Check out Colonia Country Club in Colonia as well.

 

You can try and reach out to Echo Lake in Westfield, but they are pricier. Same with Canoe Brook.

 

I hope that gives you an idea. Good luck on your search and feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really appreciate the recommendations; I have some homework to do.

 

I think I would be willing to up the max a bit if could find a place that doesn't require caddies on weekend mornings. Figure ten rounds is an extra $1,000 minimum right there. Totally fine with no pool but prefer a social place to get a beer and meet new people or get into a card game.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

forest hill field club also worth checking out. 5k is a low bar. i mean glenwood down near old bridge will certainly fit your budget / caddie rule but if you scour GWRX, you'll see comments on its condition and operation. all the places njgolfer11 plus watchung valley mentioned are worth looking at. most clubs do have caddie programs or if not forced cart use, and i can't imagine any that allows the same guest more than 12x a year, if that. because at that point, 1 guy can join and just bring his old regular foursome as 3 guests all the time...

 

since you have a price cap, 1 way to sort of figure out what clubs are looking for members & thus running deals is to see which are associated with services that provide outside play. that would be things like boxgroove, clubcorp play away, troon prive, openrounds, rotaclub, & golfpass (no, not the rory mcilroy one, this one - http://www.golfpass.co/). you could also try & see which places are associated with soho golf club. those associated with eligo will be outside your budget. thought process here is if a club's willing to open itself up in some way to non-direct member play, they need the revenue and/or exposure. for example, essex fells is associated with 1 of the aforementioned programs.

 

good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Discussion and links to Photos
      Please put any questions or Comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Thorbjorn Olesen - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ben Silverman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jesse Droemer - SoTX PGA Section POY - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      David Lipsky - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Martin Trainer - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Zac Blair - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jacob Bridgeman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Trace Crowe - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jimmy Walker - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Daniel Berger - WITB(very mini) - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Chesson Hadley - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Callum McNeill - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Rhein Gibson - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Patrick Fishburn - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Peter Malnati - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Raul Pereda - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Tom Hoge's custom Cameron - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Piretti putters - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ping putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Kevin Dougherty's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Bettinardi putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Tony Finau's new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
       
      • 8 replies
    • 2024 Valspar Championship WITB Photos (Thanks to bvmagic)- Discussion & Links to Photos
      This weeks WITB Pics are from member bvmagic (Brian). Brian's first event for WRX was in 2008 at Bayhill while in college. Thanks so much bv.
       
      Please put your comments or question on this thread. Links to all the threads are below...
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 31 replies
    • 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Matt (LFG) Every - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Sahith Theegala - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Cameron putters (and new "LD" grip) - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Bettinardi MB & CB irons - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Bettinardi API putter cover - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Swag API covers - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 15 replies
    • 2024 Cognizant Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #1
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #2
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #3
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #4
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Brandt Snedeker - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Max Greyserman - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Eric Cole - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Carl Yuan - WITb - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Russell Henley - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Justin Sun - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alex Noren - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Shane Lowry - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Taylor Montgomery - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) - WITB - - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      LA Golf new insert putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Swag covers - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jacob Bridgeman's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Bud Cauley's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Ryo Hisatsune's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Chris Kirk - new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alejandro Tosti's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • 2024 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #3
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #4
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Rory McIlroy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Sepp Straka - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Patrick Rodgers - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Brendon Todd - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Denny McCarthy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Corey Conners - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Chase Johnson - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tommy Fleetwood - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Matt Fitzpatrick - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Si Woo Kim - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Viktor Hovland - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Wyndham Clark - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Cam Davis - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Nick Taylor - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Ben Baller WITB update (New putter, driver, hybrid and shafts) – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Vortex Golf rangefinder - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Fujikura Ventus shaft - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods & TaylorMade "Sun Day Red" apparel launch event, product photos – 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods Sun Day Red golf shoes - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Aretera shafts - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Toulon putters - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods' new white "Sun Day Red" golf shoe prototypes – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      • 22 replies

×
×
  • Create New...