Jan, the one thing I've seen (and I have only visited a few clubs) is that they all do have a different type of character and membership. There are some clubs that have a lot of members from a particular ethnic/religious affiliation, so it can feel more "welcoming" if you are in that group. Some are simple and/or older, some are ornate and/or newer. The other "x" factor is the staff, since they can go a long way to enhancing the experience.

"The membership is 22,000 and then the yearly dues are around 6,000. A little high I know".
onetime. NO offence, but I can tell we have a different idea of what "A little high". is. Granted, private golf courses are usually in great shape, but I've never come close to spending $6,000 a year for greens fees. And most private clubs aren't open for golf 12 months a year. So you need to figure in extra green and cart fees for the months your club is closed if you plan to play year round, like I do.

Jan; I hear you about $25K being more than you paid for you car. $25,000 is about what my mortage was when I purchased my house. Granted, that was a real long time ago, but still.
I guess it all depends on how much one makes, as to what expensive is.

Jan, as Aimee says, there are options at most of the courses. There are some that are so exclusive that yes, us regular folk can't get in, but many of the private and semi-private courses around here are so hurting for members, many are waiving, reducing or financing the initiation fees. What was $3000 to join plus the monthly's now is like $1000 plus the monthly's.

So ask around and don't accept the first price.

Jan I would have to agree with Aimee it is great being a guest. It is not in my budget either. I have not experienced any cliques or attitudes with the people I have met and played with. In fact the people I have met have been more than welcoming. I was born in a farm community in Northern California and would like to think I am just an average American Gal raised in a blue collar family. You are right about the condition of the course. I am not an experienced golfer but my guess is most courses are not maintained like the CC I have had the opportunity to play at. This weekend I am playing with my mom at a course near where I grew up that costs 12 dollars to play and I am just as excited to play there. I have caught the golf bug. LOL

Be careful, those people who belong to golf and country clubs are real uppity. Personally, I wouldn't want to hang out with any of them, especially to play a whole round of golf.

Would this be the pot calling the kettle black?

I bought a Mon-Fri season pass (the pass covers all green fees) at my local public course for $535. I have already put in 50 outings (sometimes just three holes if it is playing slow) this year which has helped my game tremendously. I think it would be fun to belong to a club where the skill level and course quality is higher than at my public course. Unfortunately, the closest private course has a $10k buy in, plus monthly fees which makes it out of my range. I have heard that play can be slow even at the private club, so who knows if it would be much better. It might be a better deal once my boys get old enough to play regularly.

Ivan, that is a heckuva deal. I would so like to be able to go out for a few holes in the evenings. There are courses that offer this in my area, but they are an hour's drive out into the suburbs.

Changing the angle of the conversation, I found out that the private course I would most want to belong to has some pretty serious restrictions on when women can play. So I am better served at my muni for now.

I'm not into private clubs. Mostly because I am not into the people who are members. I prefer the less stoic public course players, and would rather save my money for NFL season tickets.

Paying for a membership to play a game? I've never done that with any sport, and never will, I hope. I've got better things to spend my money on when I could just as easily play golf for next to no cost somewhere else.

Depending on the cost of membership, if you play frequently, you could pay more money going to public courses. I know people who use their golf membership to be able to play a couple of holes every day (after work you can play 3 holes if you want). I would view it as pre-paid golf. All depends on your personal situation.

Yeah, I agree with Aimee, you have to do that math. It really depends how much you play. If you play once a month, no, it makes no financial sense to do it. But if you play weekly, then it might. For me, it's very close to break even especially counting the range balls I hit that I get for free.

I guess the thing is, as a member, I go play more, partly because I'm invested in it and it's "free" now unless I get a cart. So I actually play more golf now which is what I wanted to do. Some days I'll go play 6-9 holes if I've got a couple hours to kill, whereas I wouldn't do that as I wouldn't pay to walk 6 holes.

Otherwise, I don't know how likely I'd be to play every Sunday when greens fees would cost me near $40-50 a pop.

For example, in Winston, you can join the city course for $700 a year. Then you pay only for carts if you use them. Otherwise you can walk anytime as many times as you want a year for free. The course costs are typically $18 to walk or about $28 to ride. So if you play weekly and walk, you would have paid 52*18 or $936, a savings of $236 if you'd have joined.

I guess that's where I have to add in that I just don't play often enough for it to pan out for me, then I'm a teacher, and I'm wayyy too tired to play a few holes after work with my job!