i am so depressed, very seriously contimplating resigning my golf membership. the economy is wrecking my business, the area i live dues and other charges come to almost 20k i know i am spoiled, but the though of playing at public courses with strangers, after years of papmpered golf with friends is not something i look forward to, anyone else in this situation?

I'm just happy to play golf.

We are all doing the same thing, so you are not alone!

I feel for you man. We're all going through it. I'm still enjoying the muni's being new to golf, and I haven't built up those relationships yet. Plus we have some nice muni's here in Monmouth County...

But I'm also in for a difficult 6-18 months with job/business and leisure stuff. The scenarios are scary.

Look at it this way, some of your buddies will probably be joining you on the muni's if things keep going the way they're going. So it won't be so bad.

Come east... we have a few good ones... Keep your chin up and good luck!

what munis you play in monouth?? i assume you are talking about monmout nj.

Seems to me like you're the one crying here - Grow up.

I'd agree it was a little over the top but I don't disagree. There are plenty of assistant pros making that much a year while working 50+ hours a week. Things are tough but sometimes you need some perspective.

Just a thought... I live 30 min from you and I pay about 1/4 of the dues you pay. Look around... You don't have to pay $20k for a private club. That is a lot of dough.

Is it more important to be playing golf with your CC buddies or just playing golf? We are all on this board becuase we love to play this game - the feel of a 5 iron hit flush, backing up a wedge, or striping one right down the middle. Get back to the real reason you play the game and you will not be disappointed.

If you don't have anything nice to say...

OK. here's my take having belonged to CC and played many a muni. If you do the biz thing, I guess the CC route is what you need because it gives you a sense of having "arrived". CC's are fine but you pay for a lot of stuff I would never use because I just like to golf and enjoy time with my golfing buddies. The big reason I hated muni's is I could never get a tee time on weekends and I worked so much during the week I never had time to get on-line for a tee time. Somewhere in between the CC and the muni is the semi-private club that is offering some smoking deals now...a lot lower annual fee rather than a full membership, preferred tee times, and no monthly minimum. If what you really want to do is enjoy this great game of golf, check your ego at the door and go golfing with your REAL buddies that are in the same boat as you.

having never belonged to a CC, i dunno if I have a heck of a lot of capital on any opinion, but playing with strangers is for me one of the best parts about the game. I can't count the number of times I've shown up as a single, gotten thrown in with 2-3 random folks, and had a durn pleasant 4 hours or so. Sure there are the odd times you get stuck with someone you'd rather not, but for me anyway, those times are far overshadowed by the other 95% and all the great, interesting people i've happened to meet and share a passion with. And you get to play golf on top of it all. Maybe that's just me.

Times are tough and their going to get even worse before they get better. I know of a private club near me that lost 71 members....that's right 71! That's going to hurt big time! I figured they stand to lose about $500K. There are so many deals out there right now...no intiation fee, try it for a year, etc. So for some it's a great time to join a private club even if it's just for a year. While there are plenty of people who are worried about keeping their home and putting food on the table.

To the OP you won't get a lot of sympathy for having to give up a $20K CC membership.

Dbogey

As Artie Lange would say,

"Waaah!"

I've done both, to play munis you need to really understand when they are busy, when to avoid...etc. In my neck of the woods driving 30 minutes out of town always yields some quiet courses and good deals.

I have a CC membership now, but there is a low cost of living where I live, so I pay under $2K for a year of golf at a solid track.

The thing I love about the CC membership is the ability to stop in for a quiet 9 in the evening / practice facilities, and the certainty of not playing behind a 4some that drinks a beer each every hole.

LOL!

I feel for the OP in the sense of having to give up something you've grown accustomed to.. Many of us are in the same boat, for you its your CC membership, for some its a car, a house, even the game of golf itself!

Losing the CC membership isn't all bad.. i had the opportunity to join a private CC here in So. Cal.. my buddy is a member and everytime I go play there, the members are less than inviting and often times look down at you if you're a guest. If I had a nickel for everytime I was there an heard a superficial "Hey Jim, what's your handicap?" I'd have a little more golf money

I'm a member at a semi-private club right now.. where they are now giving everyone member twilight rates all day just to boost play.. regular weekday is about $80 now its $45 to walk.. weekends used to be $150, now $89 w/ a cart.

I golf because it's relaxing and i love the sport.. A lot of people I play with at private clubs definitely have some priorities mixed up and talk the entire time, when some of us are out there to enjoy being outside and the game of golf.. it's hard enough as it is.. (yes.. i've had some interesting country club experiences here in so. cal, few have been positive )

I've had one experience with a CC (Firestone in Akron, OH), and if that's the kinda folks that join CCs and that's the attitude they have towards the game and other people, I think I'll pass...

There are ways to make it work, go in and talk to the Membership Director and let them know your situation, inform them the amount that you are able to pay until times get better, they will more than likely work with you if they want to keep your business. Trust me I have to deal with trying to keep our members on a daily basis, granted I give them a time frame of said deal, but in the end, we get to keep them as members and they get to complain to us for another year

this thread really is over the top. i've been a member and worked at several private clubs... but I've never actually heard anyone opining about what a horrific experience it will be to play, gasp -- public courses!

Unbelievable the type of nonsense people are complaining about. Every time I get out to the course with my buddies at public courses, as well as when I have played at private courses by myself because of friends who have gotten me on I relish the opportunity to just be outside and swinging the clubs. Then, I read about some pretentious, whiny baby complaining about having to play a public track. I complain about golf courses from time to time, but I feel like giving someone a reality check after reading this. I served four honorable years in the Marines and I left a sgt. I worked my butt off and most of the time got very little to show for it. Many times we were happy with a warm sleeping bag and we had a great time. Perhaps that has given me a different perspective in life, but some of you pretentious snobs need to watch the news and read a book as to how "tough" some people have it. I have since left the corps and finished college and work now. Anytime I hear someone complain I always reply, "it could be worse...trust me." Just be happy you can play golf! 20K for dues? Unbelievable! I didn't make 20K until I got promoted to sgt. Wow! Some people need to learn to take a step back and garner some perspective about life.

Semper Fidelis.

^^^

SERIOUSLY!

I like playing with strangers. You never know who you will meet. Most of the people I have played with are cool. The occasional jerk is also fine with me. Sometimes it is even better, gives you something to laugh about. It is all what you make it. One jerk named Lloyd stood out.He played great tee to green but took around 45 putts. Cursed himself and his partner after every miss. I loved it. Showed me what I do not want to be. Now if I feel a little golf rage coming on I remind myself not to be a Lloyd.

As Artie Lange would say,

"Waaah!"

LOL - Waahhh, I can't keep my 20k CC membership....Wahhh!

Unless he's too "sick" to come in.


Most clubs will let you put your membership on hold for a year or so due to a hardship.

I think what many of you are missing in trashing this guy for expressing his feelings is that for many folks who belong to private clubs, it is more than just the golf. It is the friendships and relationships you develop. Many private club members center their social lives around club activities and hanging with the "group" from their club. It sucks to have to pull out due to a failing business or turn in the economy. I have seen this at my club and it is sad to see some of my friends not able to return this year.

Yea, sure, it's all relative, there certainly are more important things in life and we should all count the blessings we have like our health etc. etc., and I understand that...but, I sense a hint of jealousy and resentment toward the original poster for having belonged to a private club at all. Unfortunately, stereotypes have given private country clubs a bad rap. The membership at my club is full of self made hard working people who share their passion for golf as a common interest. (much like the GolfWrx community) Our club is not a bunch of spoiled second and third generation members who have grown up with a silver spoon. Unfortunately, that is the typical perception of private clubs and tends to be the exception rather than the rule in my experience.

Phew, this is a tough crowd. Regardless of whether anyone is a country club primadonna or not, the point I think is that we are having financial devastation in this country for many people.

A lot of Europeans laughed at us when the price of gas hit $3/gallon (since it's $6/gallon there). But they missed the point... it was the 100% increase in price in a very short time that was the problem, not the absolute number.

Same here- people are losing 50-75% of their income in a short period of time- for some, that means losing their club membership, for others, their home. Losing a home is traumatic and tragic, of course. Losing a club membership doesn't compare. But it is sad in its own right, especially if you have many friendship ties there and spend a lot of time there- it represents a change in lifestyle and that can be devasting to people.




Yes, Monmouth County, NJ. Like I said, I'm new, so I haven't had a chance to play them all yet- but I'm willing to. My "home course" would be Shark River which is the closest to where I live, but I'm planning on playing all of them this year, money permitting.

Hope to see some of you there... an no, my name is not Lloyd!

I live in NJ also and my brother is a Monmouth Co. resident and plays the courses there, mostly Charleston Springs. There are also many high end daily fee courses in NJ if your willing to set up tee times in advance and drive an hour or so. My brother plays with a group of guys who do this every Saturday (different courses) and it is much less expensive than belonging to a private club.

Another option is to look for deals at private clubs. Many are hurting right now due to the economy and are making attractive offers for single season or limited type memberships.

I'm south in Marlton (burlington county) tons of courses in NJ majority of them are expensive...

And I'm not slamming you for giving up the benz for the Hyundai, but just think man atleast you'll still be able to play! I think that's pretty important, and from I understand my coworkers that live up there say theres a bunch of good courses up there..

Oh and for the record..I'll be lucky to play 1x a month at this rate, and that's my crappy muni here in Marlton! You won't be able to play a private course, oh well, atleast you'll be playing! 1 other thing, depending on how much your playing is it worth just staying???

Good luck man...

When were you in?, 4 years to make SGT is amazing what MOS?

Exactly. I know of many courses that are waiving initiation fees and will let you join by simply paying the monthly dues. Burlington CC is doing this now, for the first year. After the first year you either join, and pay the initiation, or leave the club. I'm seriously thinking about joining there on a "house with golf" membership: You get the benefit of having unlimited range privileges as well as having the restaurant and a limited number of rounds of golf. But until then, I'll hang my hat at the county courses: Mercer Oaks or Mountain View.

It can be done in 4 years. It just shows you he was a hard charger and he probably kept his nose clean. Hell, when I got out, my Co. 1st SGT was only 33 years old! But I understand where he's coming from and what he's saying. When I was in, from '96-'00, I only made $360 every 2 weeks! And it took me 2 weeks to make a truck payment! So basically, I was living off of $360 per month. The chow hall was definitely one of my regular stops. Even though the food wasn't the best, it was plenty cheap. I'm just glad the course on base, N.A.S. North Island, was only like $5 to play 18 holes for an E-4 or less.

Semper Fi

Poor guy probably had to switch from champagne to beer as well.

+1

To the OP:

Seriously?!? People are losing their homes and you're complaining about having to golf with the riffraff at the public courses because you can't afford your $20k/year country club? I think you need a dose of perspective.

Maybe you should be thankful that you can still afford to play golf whereas tens of millions of Americans can't afford basics like shelter, food and health care?

In times like these I would be embarrassed to make a post like the OP.

Poor guy is right, someone should have warned him he wouldn't get any love from most of you. Seriously, everyone keeps saying perspective, that's what it is - perspective. People losing their jobs, how bout those without jobs to start with. Or homes, plenty of people that don't have homes to lose. Don't berate the guy for his 'perspective', as that is just what it is.

How times have changed! Robin Williams used to say say cocaine was God's way of saying you make too much money. I guess the new version of that is "giving up a CC membership is God's way of saying you blow too much money" I think this "financial crisis" will cause everyone to rethink their priorities and maybe make golf affordable to ALL and yes even you CC members MAY have to play a round or two on a muni! Can we say part time job?

It's easy to slam this guy but think if you were someone who worked years and years to build a business or advance in your career so that one day you could join a private club. Also consider that many folks who belong to private clubs choose to spend the greater portion of their discretionary income on their membership, instead of vacations and other recreational activities. (This is certainly the case with me) This economy and the credit crunch has resulted in huge declines in many businesses. Business credit lines are getting pulled when small businesses need it the most. Many times it is no fault of their own. The country club is just one of the many things that gets sacrificed.

It is all relative isn't it? The same thing could be said about playing golf at all, owning a big screen tv, driving a nice car or spending money on an expensive vacation or even out to dinner. I'm sure the thought of paying $30 at a municipal course to chase a little white ball around must seem like a petty indulgence to starving people with no medical care in a third world country.

When you lose something that is valuable to you it sucks plain and simple, whatever it might be.

I'm trying to make sense of your post. Are you saying that in these tough economic times its okay to be depressed about having to give up your $20k/year country club membership and play with strangers at those dreadful public courses despite the fact that some people are losing their homes because some people don't have homes at all? Does this make any sense to anyone?

If anyone is berating the OP for having too narrow of a perspective, i.e. being depressed about something that, in the grand scheme of things, isn't that bad, I think that's perfectly relevant to this discussion and will within bounds.

You guys should have SOME sympathy for the loss of a $20,000/yr membership. He will be leaving behind some great people (I assume) that he's played with for years. I left a CC because I've got a kid in college and 3 more to follow. I miss the tournaments and my regular early morning Saturday group with caddies. I do have a public course, closer to my house that gave me the op to give them $1500 up front (which I did) that will cover green fees, cart fees, range, practice green, a 1 week advantage on getting tee times over the rest of the population, all on a 36 hole layout, 18 of which are a very nice course. That is for all of 2009. If you look around there are great deals out there.

Seems to me the general response here is that there is sympathy for someone who is no longer able to do something they can do, but if they have to give up something they can't do(afford a club), then it's fair game for ridicule.

Jealousy and envy can really throw people off their rocker sometimes....

I think you're missing the point. Be thankful that you can golf at all in times when others around you are hurting. There's nothing "relative" about it. Business is in decline, discretionary income goes down too. But to say that you are "depressed" because you have to golf with strangers at a public course because you can't afford your country club dues anymore is a slap in the face to people that can't even afford health care. And I'm not talking about third world countries here Bubba. I'm talking right here at home in the USA.

You want to see depression? Go talk to a guy that can't afford to put food on the table. Spare us the complaints that you're depressed at having to downgrade your $20k/year country club golf to mere public golf with strangers.

I apologize for failing to be able to conceal my contempt here but IMO I find the original premise of this thread to be quite disgusting.

aweful post. welcome to the real world, buddy. Us non-private club members are good people.

"anyone else in this situation"? yes, many of us have only had this situation... sounds like you are short on friends, only take 1 or 2 friends to enjoy a round of golf.

Sorry, but it dissapoints me to even have to read a post like this.

Hate to break the news to you guys, but once I read his post and saw where he lists his residence: Princeton, it all made sense. In NJ, there are certain cities that like to put themselves up on a pedestal and look down at the rest of "us", and Princeton is one of them. Just keepin' it real.

Maybe the OP was yanking everyone's chain to see how many would get fired up

Can I get an Amen?

Man, I sure hope so. I thought Golfwrx members are much more down to earth than this.

Really, this guy does have his priorities straight. He has golf at the top of the list.

I was in from 99 to 03. I was a field elec. and I was with 1st combat engineer bat., 1st Marine Division. I worked with fifth marines to support them, as well as floating around because we supported all of first Marine Division.

thank you for perpetuating my opinion of many "private club" types. I also took the privilege of looking at what he has in his bag. Perhaps he could cut some of his other "discretionary" spending to make room in his budget. I may be going out on a limb, but perhaps he could sell his import sedan for a chunk of change and pay that towards part of his $20K. I have posted a couple of times in this thread and I am not even going to read any further because I am sick with dismay and disgust...NOT envy. CC: to the original poster: Please open up your Wall Street Journal or NY Times and read about some of the "real tragedy" occurring in the U.S. right now, then turn to the international section, as I get the times as well, (yes, even us public course players get the times) and read up on how some people are struggling with things far worse than playing with new clubs worth more than most make in a pay period. Get a life and cross the street if you see me.

I second that, NO GRUNT 0311 makes Sgt in 4 years! Must have been an Avionics airwinger and they slept in air conditioned trailers!

I understand your pain, but in no way should you be depressed. You can always live another day to play golf and that is the key to most of our lives here on this board.