Course Membership

[MA golfer23]

what do I do?

So I have a tough decision to make about where I should join as a member for this year and I am looking for some advice.

First a little background. I'm a college senior living in an apartment near campus. I have a membership at a course near where I lived with my parents about 40 minutes from my apartment. I am going to keep this membership as I have worked there the past 4 years during the summer and likely will work a couple days summer as well. They have also treated me very well over the years and there are a lot of people I enjoy golfing with, so I am definitely keeping my membership there. But, I don't want to have to drive 40 minutes everyday to go play golf, so I am looking to get an additional membership near my apartment so I can play a few days a week at each course. (I play every day if I can)

I have a job at a local big box retailer as a golf associate near my apartment so I will be working there are couple days throughout the summer as well. Additionally, I recently got into grad school and I will have to take a couple of classes over the summer to officially be enrolled in the grad program.

Anyways back to the decision I have to make. I have narrowed it down to two courses. The first is a nice course that is 15 minutes (8 miles) aways from my apartment. I know the pro at the course very well and the owners are nice people as well. My uncle is a member at the course, and a lot of the guys I regularly play with go there as well. However, there are two downsides to this course, the first being the driving range. I like to practice a lot as I am trying to get as good as I can (currently a 1.4 index) but most of the year I will have to hit off of mats, and the driving range is too short for me to hit driver. The other downside is that the course gets wet really easy as it has a clay base, so it will open later in the spring and any large amount of rain forces it to close for a couple of days.

The other course is 23 minutes (19 miles) away and is rated as the #1 course you can play in the state for 2010 by golfweek. I know playing this course will make me a better golfer as it is a much more challenging track. The driving range is also much better at this course and I will be able to hit off of grass all season. I know there are a lot of good players at this course as well so I will be able to find some people to play with. Being one of the top public tracks in the state I know it gets a lot of outside play, but from what I have been told getting a tee time is not too much of an issue if you are a member.

So I really am unsure of what to do. Everyone in my family is telling me to go with the first course because a lot of the guys I know play there and it is a nice course. But the other course is so much better and would be much more challenging for me. Pricing is not a huge issue, as the first course is $450 for a college student and the second is $575, but it still is a $125 difference. Also, the second course is 11 miles farther so the cost of gas should be figured in as well.

I really don't know what I should do, so any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[mnplayer]

Practice makes perfect (or so they say), and if you can't even hit driver than how can you practice efficiently? You just shot 82 in your club championship and didn't hit a fairway, let's go to the range to fix it, oh wait, you can't. But that isn't the main concern, if you want to be able to play whenever I think option 2 is the best choiche (not going to go into detail as you already know why), but if you don't want to play at a course that is open to the public then go with the first route. And it also seems like you know the second choice is a much better track, but you know a bunch of people at the first course. Six in one hand and half a dozen in the other.

[Sabaka]

Course # 2 if your goal is to improve.

Course #1 if your goal is to socialize.

[MA golfer23]

That's the problem I have mnplayer, its pretty much six of one half a dozen of the other and I just can't get myself to decide.

Sabaka, I see what you're saying but socializing definitely isn't the only thing at the first course. It will better my game just not to the extent of the other course and the guys that I play with are pretty good golfers and we have some pretty good matches so it isn't just about socializing.

At either course I will definitely be able to work on my game but the second course will be a lot tougher of a challenge for me.

[Simp]

2 hands down.

[Sabaka]

OK, look at it this way

If you choose #1 do you picture yourself regretting the choice. Or, vice versa?

[MA golfer23]

unfortunately I can see regretting it going either way.

If I pick course 1 I would regret not playing the nicest course available to me and the driving range is not the best.

If I pick course 2 I might not be able to play as much and I won't get to play in as many good matches.

[irishiain]

#2 hands down, better course will make you a better player and offer better bang for your $$$

[Guia]

Are those monthly fees.?

[MA golfer23]

no those are the membership rates for the year. great discount being a college student. But I also live in Massachusetts so membership rates aren't as high as other places since we don't get to play year round.

[Ace In The Hole]

It's only 8 miles #2 it's a no brainer!

[Guia]

Then in my opinion I see no problem , $125 is too little to worry about, you can sell soda cans and get that much. Go for the quality.

[JJK947]

Crumpin Fox! One of the hardest courses I've ever played, and that type of course is hard to come by in the north east. For $575, that's an amazing deal, go for it. Give it a year and see how it goes, I doubt you'll be dissapointed.

[one9reasons]

i would go with course #2 ... man, i wished i was in college to get some of the those "rates." go with the facility that will help you improve your game!

[MA golfer23]

Good job figuring out which course I was talking about JJK947! I'm curious if you have played the other course I'm talking about, Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Seeing all of these posts saying Crumpin fox, I'm definitely starting to lean that way. I actually saw on the site that it might even be cheaper there for me it mentioned a family student membership for $410 so I emailed the pro to see which rate I would pay. Hoping its $410 then I would definitely have to choose Crumpin-Fox!

[underparpanther]

#2 for sure! better course is always the best option, if youre trying to get better anyway

[hbear]

#2 the cash and minimal travel time make it a no brainer.

You WILL be able to find good matches/games if the course draws decent/better players.

You main point was practice and getting better. Sounds like #2 win on both of those points.

[misterlau]

Yearly????? I officially hate MA college students. I would pay those prices annually for a crappy course!

I would go for #2 as well.

[Pr3cision]

[quote name='Sabaka' timestamp='1299986853' post='3050339']
Course # 2 if your goal is to improve.

Course #1 if your goal is to socialize.
[/quote]
You're right. You should get another membership closer to you, if that's someway going to be financially possible

[JRJ70]

#2 is a no brainer in my mind. You can get the social stuff and matches with people you already know at the course by your parents. Go with the tougher course and you will find new people and groups to play with, which can only help with your development. Tie that in with the practice facilities and you cant go wrong.

[larrybud]

Just food for thought: While #2 might not be a big deal in getting a tee time, how is the pace of play and the amount of play on the course?

or you could just JOIN BOTH!!!

[MA golfer23]

The times I have played the pace of play hasn't been bad, but I know the course does get a lot of play so that is an issue.

I really wish I could afford to join both courses that would be a simple solution. But, i'm also planning on buying all new clubs so that takes being a member of both courses out of the question

[JJK947]

[quote name='cpodkowka' timestamp='1299993046' post='3050548']
Good job figuring out which course I was talking about JJK947! I'm curious if you have played the other course I'm talking about, Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Seeing all of these posts saying Crumpin fox, I'm definitely starting to lean that way. I actually saw on the site that it might even be cheaper there for me it mentioned a family student membership for $410 so I emailed the pro to see which rate I would pay. Hoping its $410 then I would definitely have to choose Crumpin-Fox!
[/quote]

I have not played Hickory Ridge but have heard that it is a very nice course in its own right.

When you mentioned the #1 course in MA. I had my suspicions so I just checked their website and saw $575, it was an easy guess. I have played/heard of a few mediocre golf courses in MA. during my junior golf days but you have two very nice course to choose from. The only course in MA. that I've played (not too many) that could compete with Crumpin was The Ranch but that is in the other side of the state and Crumpin is miles more difficult IMO as well.

[MA golfer23]

Yeah I have heard a lot of good things about the Ranch but have never had a chance to go and play. Got an email back from the pro, and it is $575 that I would have to pay for Crumpin-Fox, but I'm definitely starting to lean that way now after seeing everyones opinions. Thanks guys!

[Pingguy58]

two things are important. first is, which one has the best practice facility? Second, go with the private course. You go with the private course because you have a lot of flexiblity playing. What I mean is that you can just go out and play a few holes after you practic. I use to practice and then go out and play 16, 17 and 18. Or I would play 1, 2 and 3 out and 8 and 9 back in, you can't do that on a public course. Pick the course that will give you the best practice, don't worry about the play, you can play other courses, you don't want to play the same course day after day.

[jbrunone]

#2 crumptin fox is very nice

[muzz]

$575...geezus talk about a gift.....you're in college getting ready to make a ton of $, and great golf courses cut you a break that a paper boy could afford....yet when you have a real job they pork ya like you don't have a TON of bills to pay.

Unbelievable, I hate it when I see the giveaways(including the "junior/under 35 memberships...35!!)..I can't afford to have a membership at even A 1/2 way decent course even though I have a decent job...and a house....and a truck....and cable...phone...pcs...

There is a 2 star Muni in Brockton Ma that would cost me almost 3X that much, and it's a POS.

Nothing personal, this wasn't directed AT you, it's just something that's been brewing for awhile because I've wanted to get a membership somewhere decent, and the cost is prohibitive.

Enjoy the membership, from the sounds of it,I think I would take option #2

[muzz]

ouch...double

[Pr3cision]

It all depends on how much you play.