Lake Merced Golf Club vs. Olympic Club

[longdrivenate]

I'm considering joining either LMGC or OC but am having a hard time deciding which would be better for me, so I'm curious to hear from people who are familiar with both/either. A little about me: I'm 31 years old, live in San Francisco, and average 1-2 full rounds plus 3 days at the range per week. I'll outline what I perceive to be the advantages and disadvantages of each and please let me know if there's stuff I'm missing or you would think about differently if you were in my shoes, as well as which you think I'd enjoy more.

 

**Olympic**

I have a lot of friends who are members at OC so I've played there numerous times and the courses are obviously spectacular. The advantages of OC to me would be:

* Having access to two extremely high-quality courses

* I really like the driving range.

* I also like that they have a gym since I often will do a full gym session before or after range sessions.

* I already have friends who are members so there would be a guaranteed social upside and more opportunities to play with people I know I like

* Overall younger, more athletic member base - more likely there will be people at similar stage in life to me

 

The downsides from what I know would be:

* The dues don't include greens fees...seems kinda crazy to me for a private club. I know this is not true when/if I get a full golf membership, but that supposedly takes 10+ years so I'm ignoring that option for now.

* My perception is that the courses are fairly busy for a private course and there are a number of restrictions on use that make it so you can't depend on always being able to get a tee time on short notice or cruising through a round in less than 4 hours.

 

**LGMC**

I have never actually played LGMC but have heard great things and have been given a tour of the facilities and course. My perceived benefits would be:

* Has a smaller club feel. For example, the employees and members all seem to know eachother more intimately.

* Supposedly a great course and unlimited golf is included in the dues.

* Easy to get on whenever you want, with very short notice

* Fast rounds (I was told the average round is less than 4 hours) and not a lot of regular play on the course (the last time I was there it was 1pm and there were probably 8 people on the entire course)

* Good driving range and short-game practice area

* Dues seem somewhat more reasonable (I would get young exec fee structure for another 10 years, which is quite favorable)

* Since I do already have friends at OC, I can already play there, so this would add something I don't already have occasional access to.

 

The downsides to me seem to be:

* The member population is mostly people much older than me. I don't mind that but I recognize I may not form as strong social bonds as I might at a place like OC

* No gym - this really surprised me and is a disappointment

* Locker room facilities seemed dated and pretty basic

* Playing one course may get boring, especially considering I have never played it and don't know how much I would like it.

 

 

As I said above, I'm curious to hear from people who are familiar with either/both of these clubs. Let me know what you think.

 

Thanks in advance!

[jjr]

A little history on myself and family, my father and grand father were members @ OC (grand father CC member, father Downtown). I've played both OC & LM courses dozens of times over the past 30+ years, I was also a member @ a private club down the peninsula for 20+.

 

From a quality of golf course standpoint and OC having the Lake ,Ocean & Cliff's courses I would choose OC. LM is a quality track but being able to play 3 different courses is a huge plus if you plan on staying a member and moving on to be a CC member in the future.

 

One huge advantage of being a member @ OC is reciprocation, OC is well recognized and generally most other club pros will reciprocate, LM not so much ( I used it many times over the years, my father and I have the same name) I met many other members at many other affluent clubs throughout the states, great connections to many clubs I probably would have never played had I not had the affiliation to OC. If you like to travel with your sticks this is a major plus.

 

I do think you should play LM 1st then make the decision. If you plan on living in the SF area for 20+ years ( why wait approximately 10 years to get into the CC and leave) it's a no brainer, if you could possibly be relocating in the next 10 years consider LM, weather is generally a bit warmer with slightly less fog & a chill.

 

GL PM me if you have any other questions.

 

 

[longdrivenate]

Thanks for the response. Very helpful things to think about. Particularly the reciprocation aspect - I hadn't thought much about that and didn't realize OC would be so much more favorable in that regard. I also appreciate your perspective on OC being more worth it if I'm going to stay in the area. My wife and I own a home in the Noe Valley neighborhood of SF (20 min from OC and LM) and have family nearby so I don't expect we'll be moving anytime soon.

 

I'll try to get a round in at LM and then might follow up directly with some other questions before making a decision if your offer still stands.

 

Thanks

[carrera]

I was a golf member at OC for 30+ years. I've played Lake Merced several times. I'm not really a fan of the LM course, but you should definitely play it so you are making an informed decision.

 

There are a lot of non-golf members at Olympic. It is an athletic club after all with thousands of members. I don't understand why you think it is crazy that your dues wouldn't include green fees. A non-golf member at OC is essentially like a social member at a country club...you get access to the course, but you have to pay for it each time you do. Your dues as a non-golf member would be a lot less than a golf member.

 

They have liberalized the usage of Lakeside for non-golf members quite a bit over the years. When I was a member, non-golf members couldn't use many of the practice areas, and could only use the range as a warm up for a round on the Lake or Ocean courses. That has gone away, hence the range is pretty busy a lot of the time.

 

My guess is that you wouldn't be happy at Lake Merced given the things you list above re gym, clubhouse, etc. For a young guy living in the city, OC is a no-brainer just for the downtown club and the facilities at Lakeside. Join OC, and save your $$ to join Cal Club down the road for a better golf club.

[ButterCutter2]

if this helps, i played recently with a guy who's a member at a bay area club, a top 100 down by carmel, and is a downtown member at the olympic club. he said he's 90th or so on the waitlist to convert from a downtown member (where you pay a greens fee each time & can't bring guests, as he told me) to a full time golf member. so to me it sounded like the ability to play the 3 olympic golf courses as a downtown athletic club member is somewhat limited.

[carrera]

@ButterCutter2 : not really the case. A downtown member can bring guests (plural) on the Cliffs course, and can bring a guest (singular, the last time I knew the rules) on the Ocean course. A downtown member can't bring a guest on the Lake course.

[jjr]

I forgot to mention the cheese burger dog at the turn, if this doesn't sway you, lol

[ButterCutter2]

> @carrera said:

> @ButterCutter2 : not really the case. A downtown member can bring guests (plural) on the Cliffs course, and can bring a guest (singular, the last time I knew the rules) on the Ocean course. A downtown member can't bring a guest on the Lake course.

 

oh ok, then i slightly misunderstood. but as you said, downtown members can't bring guests to the US open course, which is 1 reason of many why the waitlist to convert from downtown to golf member is so long.

[carrera]

The waitlist has always been long (not for me though when I was young), but to be honest I would rather join Cal Club than wait the length of time and spend whatever they charge now for a golf privilege. It just isn't what it used to be at OC, while Cal Club is absolutely great. It isn't even a close call IMO.

[Mj5]

How could I join Olympic club as a full golf member?
 

[carrera]

On 7/15/2022 at 10:19 PM, Mj5 said:

How could I join Olympic club as a full golf member?
 

You have to first join the club as a regular member (i.e. a "downtown member"), and then get on the waitlist for a golf privilege.

[grega79]

It is my understanding that being on the golf privilege waitlist also gives more guest benefits.  I think it is a $5K refundable deposit, but it allows for one guest per quarter on the Lake Course and 6 on the ocean if I remember correctly.  A friend who is a member did it within the last year or two and is nice enough to invite me out occasionally. 

[Ojy787456]

Hi there, 

I am looking for someone who can invite for my little to be a junior member of O.C. 

 

He is 7 years old and wants to join swim team of O.C. 

 

I was told that two club member sign is needed to be join the swim team. 

 

Please, help me. 

My email is [email protected].