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07-21-2014, 06:03 PM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2,745
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Price of entry ....
Last year, DW & I decided to join an exclusive golf club. Since we play 2 - 3 times a week (125 times a year plus or minus 20 times), the club membership cost divided by 125 was very good financial deal for us. Recently, we met up with other members who play very sparingly. How sparingly? Divided by number of times they play, they are paying $200 per round or more. Huh? That got me thinking that for these guys, joining the club was more important to them than making good use of it. I am a bit miffed by it but, hey, if they can afford it, why not? 
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07-21-2014, 06:07 PM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Williston, FL
Posts: 3,925
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 Quote:
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Divided by number of times they play...
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Then, divide it by the number of strokes you take. If you golf as well as I do, my cost per stroke would be pennies every time I played. I would be getting probably the best deal if I played as much as you.
__________________
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07-21-2014, 06:16 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Madeira Beach Fl
Posts: 1,403
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Why ruin a low handicap?
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_______________________________________________
"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do" --Bob Dylan.
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07-21-2014, 06:58 PM
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,940
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If it is a course within a neighborhood, some people will join to help keep the golf club solvent and preserve the green space. One of the two courses in our neighborhood club was shut down for financial reasons several years ago and we fear there will be new development on what was green space.
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"One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute." William Feather
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07-21-2014, 07:15 PM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 3,893
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I belonged to a fairly nice golf course for a number of years probably close to six or seven years. Even though I played this course quite often and no doubt got my monies worth I found that I also enjoyed playing other course, and did so. Right now my game is in the bucket and I play sparingly at different courses during the week and always get the seniors rate. Recently played a Jack N. Bear Trace course for $38 which isn't bad.
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Earning money is an action, saving money is a behavior, growing money takes a well diversified portfolio and the discipline to ignore market swings.
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07-21-2014, 07:55 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,901
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I once had neighbors who belonged to an exclusive golf club but didn't golf much because of bad knees. They were in it for the social aspect of the club, like the Sunday brunches and such.
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07-22-2014, 12:51 AM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2,745
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MBAustin
If it is a course within a neighborhood, some people will join to help keep the golf club solvent and preserve the green space. One of the two courses in our neighborhood club was shut down for financial reasons several years ago and we fear there will be new development on what was green space.
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Not likely with this course. The course is doing very well.
I did my math wrong in OP. The two guys were playing about $300 - $350 per round based on how often they play. Admittedly, they are too busy.
We got our money's woth in 6 months  , even after playing in other courses once in a while.
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07-22-2014, 06:08 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,410
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You're only looking at the "dollars per game" aspect. Lots of people join golf/yacht clubs for the networking/social/business aspect which can be had without even setting foot on the green.
Someplace to take guests for dinner and drinks, meet contacts, make connections etc .
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Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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07-22-2014, 09:27 AM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2,745
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marko
You're only looking at the "dollars per game" aspect. Lots of people join golf/yacht clubs for the networking/social/business aspect which can be had without even setting foot on the green.
Someplace to take guests for dinner and drinks, meet contacts, make connections etc .
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That's plausible although joining a country club is more advantageous for those seeking networking.
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07-23-2014, 05:11 AM
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#10
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 812
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They sound like perfect members, pay their dues but don't get in the way by using the course often! 
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07-23-2014, 06:29 AM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The Bay Area
Posts: 2,736
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+Fore!
You should be thanking them (silently...we are on a golf course) every time you tee it up. They're subsidizing your play and are not even in the way.
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You may be whatever you resolve to be.
100% x 10% > 10% x 100%
Small pensions & SS cover essentials
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07-23-2014, 08:01 AM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,229
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Many private clubs offer 'social memberships' for those who just want use of the club house, pool, restaurants, etc. At my club we tend to have members at the other end of the spectrum who never seem to take vacations and play golf 7 days a week and only skip golf if it's raining (which isn't often here in Arizona). The problem I found with playing one golf club exclusively is that your handicap doesn't travel well. If you have two 10 handicappers playing a match, one who plays multiple courses and one who plays only at his private club, the one who plays multiple courses will win most of the time (as long as they aren't playing at the other players private club).
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07-23-2014, 09:50 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
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Membership price is out of whack in relation to daily green fees here with local courses. Decent courses are around $1000 -$1200 with cart
privilege. I can get daily discounts off special golf websites for $15 a day with cart. I could not save money buying a membership. Though we do have a local 9 hole "goat ranch" that I pay $250 a year to walk and play to get some exercise that is worth the cost.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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07-23-2014, 03:47 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,229
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulligan
Membership price is out of whack in relation to daily green fees here with local courses. Decent courses are around $1000 -$1200 with cart
privilege. I can get daily discounts off special golf websites for $15 a day with cart. I could not save money buying a membership.
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Are the membership prices you quoted the fee for a year or a month? In my area $1200/year would be a great deal but if for a month then ridiculously high.
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07-23-2014, 05:00 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zinger1457
Are the membership prices you quoted the fee for a year or a month? In my area $1200/year would be a great deal but if for a month then ridiculously high.
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This is for a year. Now keep in mind these are not posh resort or private big city courses. Just good solid 18 hole public courses with most not having any pool and tennis amenities. Just golf and drink beer in the clubhouse.
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07-23-2014, 05:24 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2,745
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulligan
This is for a year. Now keep in mind these are not posh resort or private big city courses. Just good solid 18 hole public courses with most not having any pool and tennis amenities. Just golf and drink beer in the clubhouse.
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07-23-2014, 05:29 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,358
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As our kids got older and lost interest in the local swim club, I think the last year I paid for a family membership it cost something like $500 a visit, since they only went once.
The commercial waterpark was actually a much better deal - $40 or so for an annual pass person for all sorts of water slides, a river ride, flumes and all day entertainment. I wish I'd thought more about the cost per visit sooner.
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