I was a club member for a long time and one of my new employees is an avid golfer as well. I started joining him on different courses and realized I was getting better as I saw more challenging courses and different situations. So dropped the club membership and really enjoy playing new courses

I belong to the club that I played/caddied at as a kid. Although I no longer live down the street, the 20-25 minute ride is convenient enough.

I joined 8 years ago because I love the course, has a great membership (can always get a game) and I was sick of 5+ hour rounds at the local public courses. Does it make financial sense based on the # of rounds I play per year? Not yet, perhaps one day. But, I can afford it and as my FIL often reminds me, "we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time".

Club, I can play at a much faster pace which helps keep the wife happy that I'm home earlier on days I play.

I surely get my money's worth out of my membership at a really nice daily fee course. I play 6 to 7 days a week and practice for free. I don't pay for a cart and can go out on the course to simply just practice whenever it isn't packed. Typically late in the day. I can practice on one hole for an hour playing multiple balls from every conceivable lie or play 9 holes or anything in between. SOmetimes it turns into 18 when all I was planning was to just practice. I know most everyone there, so if I want company, it usually isn't a problem, yet I can play single when the tee sheet is open if I want to work on things. I typically approach 200 rounds of golf per year, plus another 100 or so of practice time, whether it be out on the course, the range or short game areas. It's a no brainer to have a membership for me. I save so much money, I can afford to play other courses in the area a few times a month. I try to play 20-25 rounds per year at "away" courses and the rest at my home course, which is the toughest one in the area and a regular US Open qualifying site. Membership really DOES have its priviledges.

Used to be a club member for 15 years. Many of my friends left the club. I still like that course. I've joined two different local men's club since. One local at Edwards Air Force Base, and the other is in Palm Springs- we're scheduled to play different courses each week in Palm Springs even though I only join them once a month.

I spend the same money. Gained many new friendships but definitely many guys to play regularly with in many places. No issues on tee times and as many rounds to play at all.

I play the course where I've worked for the last 24 years. I do get to play for free, which is great. But I really love the course. It used to be private until the county purchased it in the late 80s. George Fazio built it in 1962. In the colder months, my group gets around to any courses that are open. No time for a membership. But I probably wouldn't anyway.
Play Well,
Steve S.

I’m a new member at a proprietor owned course in Cambridgeshire. I was a member previously at a members’ owned course in Derbyshire before I had a 17 year break from the game.

I started playing again last year the two local municipal courses where there was something of a club attached - I was able to pay £50 to join the “club” and then pay to play on one of the courses. Whilst there was a membership and competitions, it was disjointed, there is no proper clubhouse and never really felt to me like the club I had been a member of before my break.

I’m glad I made the switch to my new club: the course is less crowded, I don’t have to book a tee time and I can play when I want unless there is a competition or society on (when often I can still start from the 10th), because I paid an annual fee I find I’m playing a lot more to get my moneys worth - and my game is improving and my handicap is dropping, and I also find it a lot more friendly than the municipal club - both other members and staff.

I can still pay to play the other courses if I want so now have much more choice.

I joined my first club last Fall and I love it. Great group of guys and everyone there is very welcoming. Also has a great restaurant and bar.

Recently became a club member and am loving it. Love the ease of just showing up whenever I have time and being able to get out for at least 9 holes. Also love the ability to just show up and use the practice facilities any day. Definitely have seen an up tick in my game as it has allowed me to play more often and save time by not having 5+ hour rounds that typically got at some public courses. Also, helps that live in the neighborhood of the club and is a 2 minute drive to the clubhouse or an easy walk with my pushcart.

Member of my club for 29yrs now, I recently joined a course on the East Coast of Scotland to allow me to play through the Winter on full greens and fairways, its a two hour drive but i treat it like a days outing.


Madhatter

I play at a municipal golf course. Built in 1929, third golf course in SC. They offer very reasonable annual pass holder rates and then you pay three dollars a round. Good deal. Then I can play courses in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head and tournaments around the area.

I’m a member of my local club and I try to play as many different opens at other clubs as I can too.
I love the different challenges this brings to the golf game.

Club. Can jump on whenever, great practice facilities, tournaments, team matches. I just enjoy the membership and all that goes w it. That being said, there are some fantastic daily fee courses too!

I too got sick of the 5-6 hour plus rounds at the public courses, and have been a member at the same course for the past 28 years. Working nights for 25 of those years I averaged 100 rounds per year. Golf was Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday each week. I have friends at other private courses to play home and away with, and others with different connections for the same. There have been a few years where I haven't gotten my full monies worth, but I couldn't go back to the public courses with the painful long rounds, fairways the length of our 1st cut, and green like our aprons. Some ask ".....how can you play the same course over and over again?" I haven't beaten it yet. The challenge to try to break par each time, and beat slick, undulating greens keeps me interested. Mostly retired now, so I'm getting back to the Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday each week, and 9 holes in the Men's League on Thursday afternoons. Like Kramer "......I won't go back to the public courses! I won't......I can't". Maybe some of you have a great public course and don't have issues with extremely slow rounds and questionable conditions. If you do, enjoy and count your blessings.

I bounce around playing many different courses. Variety is the spice of life! It doesn't make any financial sense for me to be tied down with a membership.

There will always be pros and cons for both and it's always going to be how the individual looks at it plus the financial consideration, but having been on both sides, I prefer the club side. If you look at it strictly on a dollar basis, the daily fee is always going to look less expensive especially if you only play once or twice a week. I'm fortunate to belong to PGA Golf Club which has 3 championship layouts and a 6 hole short course so there's little need to go to elsewhere. Members are also entitled to unlimited range balls, so you can practice to your hearts content. Members can reserve tee times 30 days in advance. I play 3 times a week. So when I add it all up and add the fact that I own my own cart and am a 5 minute cart ride from the clubhouse it's well worth it for me.

I pay as I go. Unfortunately, the closest course for me is about 35 miles away. When I lived next door to it, I had a membership! It was amazing!

Like Doug, I am a member of daily fee courses, but I am a member at two of them and play most of my rounds at these. This gives me a total of 54 holes of three different types of courses to play, ranging from one used for many years as a PGA Tour Monday qualifier course to a course with very good bones in my own neighborhood. I, too, approach 200 rounds a year, playing mainly four days a week, plus occasional charity events (scrambles) and other outings with other groups of golfers I have met over the years I've lived here. I have done the calculations and the memberships have proven more than worthwhile for me, compared to paying for each round I play.

Club member, here. I love that my rounds are never over 4 hours and I get to play a beautiful and challenging course. The financials kind of make more sense since my son plays with me and paying two greens fees all the time was getting expensive. The staff are really the best part for me, many great people at the club.

I travel enough that I get to play at least a few rounds a year elsewhere, so it keeps things fresh.

Club,I can get there and throw my clubs on the cart head to the first tee with no waiting.My buddies and I get a round in under three hours.We have a very challenging track,and mid to high member base.The club also excepts daily fee players as well as golf outings.I played daily fee courses in the past.Much prefer the convenience of the club although playing different courses does change things up a bit.My buddies and I average alittle over 100 rounds annually.Was introduced to golf when I was 11 and have been playing for 45 yrs now.Golf is great!

Club... I like having a 2nd home to go to..