Private Course Recommendations in the East Bay/SF Bay?

[ryancjordan]

I currently live in downtown SF and spend an absolutely insane amount of money on rent. Moving in with my gf next month and she owns her house so my rent will go from insane amount to zero. I'm considering joining a private course. She lives in downtown Berkeley. Can anyone help me out with some recommendations for private courses or give me some kind of referral to their course? I'm not really sure how these kind of things work, I went to a couple websites and they seem to provide no info as if they don't want you join so I was a bit worried you need a referral or something. Thanks all.

[geesecougar2]

Not sure what your price range or age group is, but I believe Mira Vista in El Cerrito has some reasonable memberships that cater to young professionals and couples. It's a fun, beautiful course, hilly with some spectacular views of the Bay Area, although it's only about 6,500 yards. Haven't played it though for over a decade.

Also TPC Stonebrae in Hayward is worth looking at. The Nationwide has a stop there, so it's a real golf course. I've never played it, but here is a PDF of their rates from 2009:

[url="http://www.joannegardiner.com/user/Stonebrae-membership-categories-2009.pdf"]http://www.joannegar...gories-2009.pdf[/url]

The club that I am most familiar with is Claremont in Oakland, very close to Berkeley at Broadway and College. I caddied there for years when I was a kid and it's a fun old school Alister Mackenzie course with lots of crisscrossing holes and small greens. Good challenge despite being a 5,900 yard par 69 course. It's one of the only courses in the Bay still with caddies, and probably the most prestigious in the East Bay, so the typical private club hurdles and big initiation fees will apply. And, the membership is, how should I put it, on the mature side.....

Good luck on your search, just remember there are some great public courses in the Bay!

[ryancjordan]

I'm 29 years old and I would have no problem paying 3-500 dollars a month, but I would like to avoid a large initiation fee. I looked at Claremont but it seemed too expensive for what I would be getting, Mira Vista looks interesting, any other options? Stonebrae is probably too far and the initiation fee is a bit high. I live in the Temescal area of Oakland, right by MacArthur BART.

[geesecougar2]

The only other private club I can think of close by is Sequoyah in the Oakland hills, not far from Lake Chabot. I played it a few months ago and it's a great course. But I think it will also require the big initiation fee. Your best shot is probably Mira Vista.

Not a lot of reasonably inexpensive private courses in the area, unless you want to drive an hour inland. I personally would rather spend the money playing the better public tracks without having to tie myself down. Just a thought.

[scotchblade]

I hear Richmond CC's initiation is low, but the monthly on the high end of your range. It's a nice course and the one time I played it, the greens were superb. The clubhouse is dated and the wind can blow very hard there.

Have you considered Olympic? You start by joining the city club, but once a member, you can pay a fee to play out at Lakeside. Then put your name on the list to become a golf privilege holder, which could take a few years. You'll need a referral, but there are something like 8000 members.

[ceyoung]

I live on Alcatraz and Adeleine. Not too far from you.

Have you thought about going to check out Orinda CC? I have no idea how much it would be, initiation might be high. But, it's a good course and not too far, just got to be careful with the times you go through the tunnel.

Or Moraga, a little farther. I think for 3-500/mo you'd be better spending it playing Metro, Hiddenbrooke, Calippe, Poppy, Wente each once a month.

I just joined the Metro Men's club for my handicap. They seem pretty active, tournaments and skins games pretty much every month.

[ryancjordan]

[quote name='scotchblade' timestamp='1324788265' post='3985161']
I hear Richmond CC's initiation is low, but the monthly on the high end of your range. It's a nice course and the one time I played it, the greens were superb. The clubhouse is dated and the wind can blow very hard there.

Have you considered Olympic? You start by joining the city club, but once a member, you can pay a fee to play out at Lakeside. Then put your name on the list to become a golf privilege holder, which could take a few years. You'll need a referral, but there are something like 8000 members.
[/quote]

FWIW I spoke with an Olympic member today. He said wait list is ~1.5 years for the gym, ~15 years for golf

[littleprov1x]

Richmond CC is decent in the East Bay
Lake Merced in the city apparently has a really good deal going right now

[neil72]

[quote name='ryancjordan' timestamp='1324757813' post='3984137']
I'm 29 years old and I would have no problem paying 3-500 dollars a month, but I would like to avoid a large initiation fee. I looked at Claremont but it seemed too expensive for what I would be getting, Mira Vista looks interesting, any other options? Stonebrae is probably too far and the initiation fee is a bit high. I live in the Temescal area of Oakland, right by MacArthur BART.
[/quote]

You shouldn't judge the rates by some PDF from 2009. The initiation has dropped considerably. You should contact the club, they have a link on the membership tab of the website tpcstonebrae.com.
You can get in for as little as $5000 initiation at the moment for a five year membership, and you can pay only $1000 of that per year, so really only $1000 a year on top of your dues of around $625.
But you shouldn't go by peoples post on a forum. Best thing is just to email each club, they won't post rates on websites as they change too often, but they will all respond to a simple email.
Just email every private club in the area and they will gladly email you the current rates and initiations. There are very few clubs private clubs at the moment that would require a referral.

[le roi 7]

Hi Ryan,
I live in the North Bay and some acquaintances that are members at Richmond CC and also at Blackhawk in Danville. Richmond has a deal right now as far as I was aware. If you know someone there it might be worthwhile. But honestly like someone else said you would probably be better off playing different courses each week. Taking a golf vacation once a year and putting your money in your equipment etc.

Also, where are you from I used to know a ryan jordan in Ireland where I grew up.

[CoopaLoopa]

+ 1 on Mira Vista. My buddy just joined last month and he gets unlimited golf for somewhere around $450/mo.

I think whichever course you select you should get a deal because pretty much every course, public and private, is hurting right now.

Coop

[ryancjordan]

[quote name='le roi 7' timestamp='1329197125' post='4281927']
Hi Ryan,
I live in the North Bay and some acquaintances that are members at Richmond CC and also at Blackhawk in Danville. Richmond has a deal right now as far as I was aware. If you know someone there it might be worthwhile. But honestly like someone else said you would probably be better off playing different courses each week. Taking a golf vacation once a year and putting your money in your equipment etc.

Also, where are you from I used to know a ryan jordan in Ireland where I grew up.
[/quote]

Not me, I was born in Chicago, grew up in the San Francisco area.

I think it is going to be either Claremont or Mira Vista for me. I just finished my move and I have next week off as I switch jobs. I'll look into my options a bit more and let everyone know how it goes.

[robinsf]

hey ryan,

please do let us know. i'm also interested in mira vista too and also in the same boat as you in regards to paying ridiculous rent in SF and have the ability to have that cash flow back once i move out!

[quote name='ryancjordan' timestamp='1331318612' post='4470871']
[quote name='le roi 7' timestamp='1329197125' post='4281927']
Hi Ryan,
I live in the North Bay and some acquaintances that are members at Richmond CC and also at Blackhawk in Danville. Richmond has a deal right now as far as I was aware. If you know someone there it might be worthwhile. But honestly like someone else said you would probably be better off playing different courses each week. Taking a golf vacation once a year and putting your money in your equipment etc.

Also, where are you from I used to know a ryan jordan in Ireland where I grew up.
[/quote]

Not me, I was born in Chicago, grew up in the San Francisco area.

I think it is going to be either Claremont or Mira Vista for me. I just finished my move and I have next week off as I switch jobs. I'll look into my options a bit more and let everyone know how it goes.
[/quote]