What’s the Issue with Atlanta Clubs

[DomJones]

I am a member of a higher end golf club on the east coast and am looking into a membership in Atlanta since I frequently travel there, but the clubs I have contacted aren’t responding. I have contacted Capital City, Cherokee, Ansley, and a few others inquiring about membership options and waitlists. I understand golf is popular and some of you may say the clubs don’t need more members, but with their high operating costs they could sure use a $200,000 check. Does anyone have any advice on how to get through to these clubs? I don’t want to be a jerk but I’m considering having my club pro make some calls or have my Peachtree member friend make some inquiries. Thanks

[Dancin]

No idea on Atlanta but I'd guess the top courses and even many mid tier courses in every big city right now actually do not want your money because they are full with such a large wait list it isn't even worth their time to discuss it. Give it a year and see if the economy tanks.

 

It might help saying you are looking for more of a national membership and won't be there all the time. Clubs that are full may be more open to taking on a national member if you really aren't going to be playing more than a couple times a month. Using your club pro to inquire is probably a good way to do it. Hey I've got a great member who is looking for a club in Atlanta to play a couple times a month when in town for business and was wondering if you have any national or full memberships available.

Or since you are a member of a higher end club -  join thousand greens. You will likely be able to find a game at a private club somewhere in Atlanta every time you are in town. There are members on TG from over 20 clubs around Atlanta, 7 of which currently have open offers to host people.

[Bonneville85308]

I am not familiar with those particular clubs, but I suspect they are full, they don't actually need your $200k, and don't want people who aren't known to current members. Your best "in" would be through a current member, if you are acquainted with any.

[ND2005]

For those clubs it is as much about your social status/who you know as it is about money. ATL is an old money town. 

[Octopus Golfer]

Capital City and Cherokee are not going to give you membership information over the phone. You have to be invited by a member and get several recommendations from current members. Then you’ll be placed on a years long waitlist. 

[Tummy Phleetwood]

16 minutes ago, Octopus Golfer said:

Capital City and Cherokee are not going to give you membership information over the phone. You have to be invited by a member and get several recommendations from current members. Then you’ll be placed on a years long waitlist. 

I too identify as a cephalopod and both clubs wanted me for that reason. I turned down peachtree, capital city, and Cherokee recently because I am happy with my home track Alfred tup Holmes.

[TwistedSister]

3 hours ago, DomJones said:

I am a member of a higher end golf club on the east coast and am looking into a membership in Atlanta since I frequently travel there, but the clubs I have contacted aren’t responding. I have contacted Capital City, Cherokee, Ansley, and a few others inquiring about membership options and waitlists. I understand golf is popular and some of you may say the clubs don’t need more members, but with their high operating costs they could sure use a $200,000 check. Does anyone have any advice on how to get through to these clubs? I don’t want to be a jerk but I’m considering having my club pro make some calls or have my Peachtree member friend make some inquiries. Thanks

If they won't take your check  I'll send you my address.  I could make use of the $$$!!!
 

[abh00]

You mustn’t be a stick. They can’t turn down a stick with cash

[abh00]

Would you like to know about the fore pass?  

[TM_HOYER]

Just like the east coast high end club you belong to, they don’t need your check and will not take well to someone from out of town trying to throw around money. You are looking at some of the highest end clubs in Atlanta. Those clubs are not about the money you have as every member has money, it is who you know.

 

You are going to have to get in the social circle of the Peachtree member you know and work connections your pro might have. Then you might be placed on the wait list to join.

[Tummy Phleetwood]

You could join the junior caddie program at Cherokee and work your way in

[DomJones]

2 minutes ago, TM_HOYER said:

Just like the east coast high end club you belong to, they don’t need your check and will not take well to someone from out of town trying to throw around money. You are looking at some of the highest end clubs in Atlanta. Those clubs are not about the money you have as every member has money, it is who you know.

 

You are going to have to get in the social circle of the Peachtree member you know and work connections your pro might have. Then you might be placed on the wait list to join.

I enjoy playing public courses, but sadly Atlanta’s are run down and the private courses don’t seem much better. I’m in Atlanta a few times a month and would like to play at somewhere nice, but I don’t think a single decent architect has moved soil in that town. I’d like to maybe try a few more out, but I’m not tired of Peachtree yet. 

[Tummy Phleetwood]

8 minutes ago, DomJones said:

I enjoy playing public courses, but sadly Atlanta’s are run down and the private courses don’t seem much better. I’m in Atlanta a few times a month and would like to play at somewhere nice, but I don’t think a single decent architect has moved soil in that town. I’d like to maybe try a few more out, but I’m not tired of Peachtree yet. 

Atlanta has some of the best public golf in the country. Try browns mill or tup Holmes next time you’re in town. I’ll bet they’re comparable to some of the exclusive tracks on Long Island.

[DomJones]

4 minutes ago, Tummy Phleetwood said:

Atlanta has some of the best public golf in the country. Try browns mill or tup Holmes next time you’re in town. I’ll bet they’re comparable to some of the exclusive tracks on Long Island.

I’ve heard great things about Browns Mill and their new bunkering. Capital City worries me that those thugs pulled a drive by a few years ago. 

[bcjim]

Get a golf bag with a boom box built into it and then..well,  you know the rest. 

[DomJones]

13 minutes ago, bcjim said:

Get a golf bag with a boom box built into it and then..well,  you know the rest. 

Forgive me for my low intelligence, but can you explain what you mean?

[bcjim]

Golf film, called Caddyshack. Outsider uses unusual tactics at country club.

Edited January 11 by bcjim

[toypor]

So you have connections at Peachtree but make a post on GolfWRX asking for advice on joining a high end Atlanta club???  Sounds logical. 

[Tummy Phleetwood]

50 minutes ago, toypor said:

So you have connections at Peachtree but make a post on GolfWRX asking for advice on joining a high end Atlanta club???  Sounds logical. 

[Pleasedwith3putts]

6 hours ago, Tummy Phleetwood said:

I too identify as a cephalopod and both clubs wanted me for that reason. I turned down peachtree, capital city, and Cherokee recently because I am happy with my home track Alfred tup Holmes.

Love Peachtree, that must have been tempting!

[ND2005]

10 hours ago, DomJones said:

I enjoy playing public courses, but sadly Atlanta’s are run down and the private courses don’t seem much better. I’m in Atlanta a few times a month and would like to play at somewhere nice, but I don’t think a single decent architect has moved soil in that town.

 

Can't imagine why you're having a hard time getting into a premium club with an attitude like this...

[DomJones]

27 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

 

Can't imagine why you're having a hard time getting into a premium club with an attitude like this...

I’m happy to admit I’m wrong if you can tell me what Atlanta courses were designed by sought after architects. 

[ND2005]

Just now, DomJones said:

I’m happy to admit I’m wrong if you can tell me what Atlanta courses were designed by sought after architects. 

 

Well you're asking about Cherokee, both of which are Fazio

East Lake has a ton of history with some elements of donald ross and then a Rees Jones renovation, now getting a major restoration with Andrew Green

Atlanta Athletic Club is RTJ with Rees Jones doing restoration work

Ainsley's 18 hole course is Bob Cupp

Peachtree obviously famous for Bobby Jones involvement in the original course + RTJ

 

I mean if you want to critique the town for not having some of the modern architects like Doak or Hanse that's fine, but as I said its an old money town, and a land-locked town at least centrally, and the premier courses have been around a long time. 

[Abh159]

So far in this thread the OP has....

 

1. Talked about how much money he has
2. Crapped on ATL courses and their architecture
3. Complained about not getting call backs from any of those ATL courses he crapped on
4. Namedropped that he has connections at Peachtree and has played it multiple times

 

I can't imagine why clubs in Atlanta don't seem to want to consider him for a membership 🙄 

 

 

Edited January 11 by Abh159

[DomJones]

6 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

 

Well you're asking about Cherokee, both of which are Fazio

East Lake has a ton of history with some elements of donald ross and then a Rees Jones renovation, now getting a major restoration with Andrew Green

Atlanta Athletic Club is RTJ with Rees Jones doing restoration work

Ainsley's 18 hole course is Bob Cupp

Peachtree obviously famous for Bobby Jones involvement in the original course + RTJ

 

I mean if you want to critique the town for not having some of the modern architects like Doak or Hanse that's fine, but as I said its an old money town, and a land-locked town at least centrally, and the premier courses have been around a long time. 

I’m just confused if it’s an old money town why Ross, Tilinghaust, Flynn, Mackenzie or any of their peers never stepped foot in town. I respect your answer besides Rees Jones, that’s below the belt to make fun of him like that. 

[jholz]

5 minutes ago, DomJones said:

I’m just confused if it’s an old money town why Ross, Tilinghaust, Flynn, Mackenzie or any of their peers never stepped foot in town. I respect your answer besides Rees Jones, that’s below the belt to make fun of him like that. 

 

The simple answer is because its Atlanta. A few history books might fill in the picture.

[abh00]

17 minutes ago, DomJones said:

I’m just confused if it’s an old money town why Ross, Tilinghaust, Flynn, Mackenzie or any of their peers never stepped foot in town. I respect your answer besides Rees Jones, that’s below the belt to make fun of him like that. 

Sherman burned down mackenzie’s early work

[DomJones]

24 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

So far in this thread the OP has....

 

1. Talked about how much money he has
2. Crapped on ATL courses and their architecture
3. Complained about not getting call backs from any of those ATL courses he crapped on
4. Namedropped that he has connections at Peachtree and has played it multiple times

 

I can't imagine why clubs in Atlanta don't seem to want to consider him for a membership 🙄 

 

 

I just asked why they can’t return an email and found out it’s because you need to get boots on ground to get in the door. I said $200k because I hear that’s the going rate for Cherokee and I don’t mean to name drop Peachtree, it’s just the only private track in Atlanta I have access to. I stand by my comments on Atlanta’s piss poor architecture, but no club I’m speaking to knows I said that. 

[ND2005]

7 minutes ago, abh00 said:

Sherman burned down mackenzie’s early work

uhhh not sure if you’re being sarcastic…Sherman burned down Atlanta more than a few years before MacKenzie was born

[PostandGhost]

10 minutes ago, DomJones said:

I’m just confused if it’s an old money town why Ross, Tilinghaust, Flynn, Mackenzie or any of their peers never stepped foot in town. I respect your answer besides Rees Jones, that’s below the belt to make fun of him like that. 

Ross did step into town in 1913 to redesign East Lake.  Tillinghaust designed the old Ingleside Country Club in Decatur and did the redesign for Druid Hills 1935.  Not sure why Flynn was never hired in Atlanta, or Georgia for that matter.  At the time Mackenzie was more known for being a British golf architect rather than a US golf architect, so that's not surprising that he didn't have any courses in Atlanta. 

 

It seems like it would be unwise to base the value of a metropolitan area based on what course designers worked there.  For example, LaGrange, Columbus, Augusta have always been the armpits of Georgia, but it didn't stop Ross and MacKenzie from cashing that check.  

 

As far as the pickle you have found your self in regarding private membership in Atlanta, it's actually really quite easy fix for someone in your position.  Have your friend at Peachtree write a recommendation to his club with 4 or 5 other members and they should extend an invitation to join Peachtree, assuming their membership is not fully committed and that you meet their criteria, you should get an invite.  It's a great club and you will really enjoy being a member there.