Advantages of Golf Club Membership!

A buddy of mine asked me recently what are the dues at Creeks Bend Golf Club where I am a member and what are the benefits of
joining a private golf club over a public course.

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Fair Question!

Give me a minute and let me explain why I am a member of a Private Golf club instead of playing at a public course.

Although I am a member of a private golf club does not mean that public course are less than desirable venues or that their facilities are beneath me.

That is not the case at all.

 There are many public courses in the Chattanooga Tennessee area that are very challenging and I visit them several times during the summer because they are outstanding facilities.

Public Courses like Brainerd, Bear Trace at Harrison Bay or Knob North are a few that come to mind.

Another misconception regarding public golf courses is that players at public courses are not quite as good as dues paying members at private courses. 

Again, that is not the case. 

Many of my friends play public course regularly and are outstanding players.

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​The reason that I play at a public course are many so let me give you my reasons for being a dues-paying member at a private course.

The number one reason is the cost. 

Let me break it down.

Creeks Bend Golf Club, a private club in Chattanooga, Tennessee has a couple of different prices based on age and your preference for riding or walking. 

Let’s look at two options that are available.

The No Cart Plan Membership offers unlimited playing privileges and will cost you $138.00 a month. This means that you can come out to the course and walk and play as many holes as you like any day of the week for $138.00 per month.   

Let’s say you play 4 times a month.  $138.00 / 4 = $34.50 per round.  You also like to stop by the course and play 9 holes after work once a week so now you’re playing 8 times a month.  $138.00 / 8 = $17.25 per round.

$17.25 per round sounds good to me provided you prefer to walk.

Wait I like to ride when I play golf.

If I want to work out I will go to the Sportsbarn.

Then a Cart plan membership might be more your style.

 The Cart plan membership offers you unlimited golf with cart for $223.00 a month.

Let’s go back to my first example.

Let’s say you play 4 rounds a month mostly on weekends. $223.00 / 4 = $55.75 per round.  You get off work at 5pm and can make it to the course by 6pm.  This allows you to play an additional 4 rounds a month. During the summer it gets dark late so you can get in 9 holes or more easily before dark.  

Now you are playing 8 rounds a month.  $223.00 / 8 = $27.88 per round.

Sounds good to me!

Public Course rates vary based on the day of the week and time of day.  I would suggest you work out your own math but these numbers are how I justify spending the money on a private golf membership.

I did a little research on an area Public Course and here are the green fees you can expect to pay.

Bear Trace at Harrison Bay

Monday – Friday (18 holes: $48.00 – 9 Holes: $24.00)

Weekends & Holidays (18 Holes: $58.00 – 9 Holes: $29.00)

I play a lot of golf almost 100 rounds in 2017 and based on the numbers provided I am getting a lot of golf per dollar.

Another reason I prefer a Private Membership is the availability of play.

As I mentioned above I played almost 100 rounds of golf last year.  That does not count the times I squeezed in a few holes in between other activities. 

I might not have time to play a full 9 so I would stop by the course and play 3 or 4 holes.

Had to have my fix!

Also, I like to Practice my game. 

Numerous times I only have an hour or less and don’t have time to play a complete 9 holes or even 2 or three.  

During those times it’s nice to have a place to hit range balls or just work on the short game before heading home.

I also like the social aspect of being a member of a Private Club.

I can always find a friendly game.  Many clubs organize games for members throughout the week but mostly on weekends.  It’s nice to always have a group of guys to enjoy the game with each weekend.

Private Membership has its privileges.

Most clubs offer you a membership account number which allows you to charge all your transactions and pay for them at the end of the month.  On occasion, I will have breakfast or lunch at the grill or if I have a guest with me for the day I just place everything on my account and pay for it at the end of the month. 

 If I arrive at the course and need golf balls, a glove or tees I can simply visit the pro shop and put them on my account.

It’s a nice convenience.

A private club also offers other conveniences.  

Conveniences such a club repair, Club Storage, Handicap service and Golf Equipment Demo Days.  Most have a small additional yearly fee.

I have listed all types of reasons and justified to myself the benefits of having a membership at a private golf club. 

 Each of us has to make decisions in life-based on what we like to do and our ability to pay.

I have told many of my friends jokingly on many occasions, “I have squandered money in worse places.”

A private golf club just makes sense for me.

Let me leave you with one additional benefit a private golf club has provided me over the years.

That benefit is the friendships I have gained over the years.

 Each week I play in our weekly golf games and I might play with someone who is 25 years old or I might play with someone who is 80 years old.  They may be a business owner, teacher or independent contractor. Regardless of their age, playing ability or walk of life I call each of them a friend and look forward to spending a few hours on the course with each of them each weekend.

See ya at the course.
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