The future of country clubs…

[WR Moore]

Jeff Cooper once noted that a golf course is a waste of a perfectly good rifle range. True, but most lack a backstop.

BTW, by my early 20's I was a technically proficient golfer, I just didn't really love the game. Or even like it that much. Except for the last time I played, but that's another story. Done right, it's a lot like billiards on a really big table.

OTOH, in my later years I've realized there's a certain similarity to shooting and some other sports/activities. You're trying to perform a physical action exactly the same way every time to get the desired results. However, I don't really see a real world practical use for golf skills.

 

[SMSgt]

Many eons ago, God gave me a big break, which I took as a sign to get off the golf course and never come back. I haven't even play Putt-Putt since.

 

[LVSteve]

I have a cousin in Pinellas County Florida who lives within sight of a course called Tarpon Springs. It seems the property was secretly sold a year ago with no rezoning hearing/discussion offered to the public. Members and neighbors are quite upset.

This has happened to multiple courses in Vegas. The city is in a long-term fight with two of the new landowners as they want to build on them. The city's attitude is 'you bought a golf course, zoned as a golf course', but the courts keep finding for the owners, saying their property rights are being violated. It seems likely that the city will be on the hook from hundreds of millions $$$. So much for local government and land covenants.

 

[Empe]

A country club ? ....I'd rather spend my money on a gun club with several nice ranges .

 

[Doug M.]

^ Odd rulings. Zoning is usually the winner. ^

My brothers and BIL love to golf. It ranks about even with dental work for me, and the idea of paying money to be around people I work very hard to keep out of my life seems stupid beyond measure.

 

[Bald1]

The popularity of golf is at an all time high. Country Clubs were never full of young people. I think they'll be just fine.

 

[DWalt]

I once had a great boss who died too soon. He once told me that a young man on his way up should learn to play a good game of golf and a good game of Bridge. It will be your entree to associating with the right people, no matter where you are. And they will help you when you need them. He was probably right, but I did not heed his advice very well. My Bridge game was as bad as my golf game, and I have done little of either for the last 40 years.

 

[Bald1]

I only buy them when I need them and they are on sale. I don't think I've ever paid more than $24 a pair.

Wish I could find bibs for $24.

 

[The Big D]

Uh, oh, I might get flamed because…

…I live 4 minutes from the first tee at my Club. That's walking 4 minutes.

Full story: Just before retiring I learned my hometown country club was converting some unused land to a small community of 7 homes. Visited the site a day later (was working/living in DC), selected the only site I would have bought, and signed the contract. Construction started a few months later and moved in after retiring.

The Club was founded in 1919 and struggled during the early 2000's thus the decision to acquire new members and revenue from homeowners who were required to be Club members. They could be social members, only, if they chose. I elected to be a full member. That includes unlimited golf (with cart), access to Club amenities at no cost, a restaurant, bars, pool, locker room, etc.
Monthly f&b minimum is $60. That's quite inexpensive as it includes beer plus the food is very good.

There are just a few "swells" among the membership. We actively encourage young members with reduced fees. It is a very friendly crowd with just a few exceptions. They are the "swells" who think they are more important than all others. Most simply ignore them.

The course is far better than neighboring public courses. We have free water from a creek (grandfathered into the original land use agreement), full sprinkler coverage, and a small but VERY efficient grounds crew that keeps the course looking great and playing fairly. Greens are aerified twice yearly and the rest of the course once per year. Punching the tees and fairways is a very time consuming proposition.

The Club is not strictly private. Various community groups hold fundraising tournaments here, and that is encouraged.

My Club has been here for 105 years and will be for a lot longer than I will be.

Be safe.

 

[TX-Dennis]

One local country club (already mentioned by DWalt) went belly up. It was foreclosed on and bought by the school district as the location for a new high school. They leased it back to the club operator for $1 a year until the bond was approved to construct the new high school. Now the members are up in arms because construction on the new school is about to begin. They're challenging it in court and every way they can. I see no way they can prevail, but who knows.

Another privately owned course that was open to the public went belly up as well. It is now being redeveloped as a combination office building, shopping center, and zoo. We still have a couple of public courses (one is 36 holes), one privately owned open to the public course, and four country clubs - although one of those was bought by another, so I guess it's really only three country clubs. Two of the country clubs have million dollar plus homes along the fairways thus ensuring them a base of dues paying members.

Edit to add these are in two adjacent cities that I consider home since I live in one, and have lived in the other where I now work.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ruthie's cousin is the Police Chief of this village. I played this course many times years ago.

A cryin' shame.

The Former Crest Hills Country Club — Ronny Salerno

 

[slickracer]

I could join a country club but it just doesn't interest me....no shooting range!

 

[yaktamer]

More like run by a bunch of rich guys that just wanted a place to get away from their wives.

Yup. The bar was probably full.

 

[yaktamer]

I used to think there couldn't be anything more boring than watching golf on television. Then I tried playing it.

 

[KS_kframe]

don't intend to divert the conversation, but not being a golfer and being autocentric, my first thought when I read country club was

Motorsport Ranch

zoom zoom..