Which club to join?

[slicer79]

Interested to hear opinions on this decision a friend is trying to make. I'm actually finding it difficult to advise him what to do.
Basically he's leaving his club where he's been a member for past 10 years, quality of course has gone downhill plus a few other issues there.

He's got a course only 7 mins drive from his house which is decent, maybe a 7 out of 10 rating. Seems a very well run club, good clubhouse facilities, ok practice area (pitching, chipping, putting but no long game). It's probably slightly overpriced for what it is.

For the same money he can join a course which is an hour's drive away. But this is a course which has hosted multiple Irish Opens, has 36 holes, serious practice facilities with a fabulous clubhouse. Basically streets ahead of the other course. Membership fees are the same, basically this is due to the location of course 1, it's near to city so large population in locality, demand, etc.

On money it's no comparison, not even close. But the obvious issue is the distance. My fear for him is after the initial buzz wears off would the journey become an issue and lead to less golf being played?
A help is his job is a teacher and he has long summer holidays so would have good leeway to get plenty golf played at best time of the year.

He's asked my opinion but not sure, I'm finding it hard to come to a conclusion.
Has anyone here down anything similar? Joined a top quality course that was located a distance away, how'd it work out?

 

[irip]

I would say it depends on his commitments away from the course?
If he is single with time on his hands then the better course.
If he has a young family and time is more precious then the extra 2 hours per round will soon become a sticking point.

 

[NearHull]

Two issue that should also be considered.
Compare availability of tees , particularly if he is still working and can only play weekends.
How often is the course closed to members to host external events.

 

[Mandofred]

An hours drive?.....never. I don't care if they are offering free beer......30 min is the absolute max for me.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If he wants to scratch an itch at a fancy course then try it for a year. Realistically though, as he's working, I'm not sure how the hour away course will work over time. I certainly wouldn't do it and I suspect you'd have to be an obsessive to make it work.

Join the closer one.

 

[slicer79]

I would say it depends on his commitments away from the course?
If he is single with time on his hands then the better course.
If he has a young family and time is more precious then the extra 2 hours per round will soon become a sticking point.

Single yes, sadly his wife passed away a couple of years ago from cancer. No kids.

Two issue that should also be considered.
Compare availability of tees , particularly if he is still working and can only play weekends.
How often is the course closed to members to host external events.

It doesn't seem to be an issue there, with 2 courses there seems to be plenty room to get members out without problems.

An hours drive?.....never. I don't care if they are offering free beer......30 min is the absolute max for me.

That's my fear, that over time the journey becomes an issue. Especially as a person gets older with less energy to be facing an hour's drive after playing 18 holes.

If he wants to scratch an itch at a fancy course then try it for a year. Realistically though, as he's working, I'm not sure how the hour away course will work over time. I certainly wouldn't do it and I suspect you'd have to be an obsessive to make it work.

Join the closer one.

I'm leaning towards this advice too. I think it might be good short term but not be sustainable over a long period of time.
Joining for a year probably isn't an option as there is a joining fee so would be throwing away money

 

[3offTheTee]

1hour is a long drive. Around 6.5 hours for a round of golf with 2 hours travelling. Good roads, busy, likely hold ups, cost of travel to be added plus time.

I how serious a golfer? Any friends at either? More likely at the nearer one. How will he get involved at the better course?

I would take the closer one depending on his answers.

 

[Mandofred]

I am literally in the deciding process......I'm a member at 3 courses. Going down to 2...possibly just 1 club. Distance driving.....practice ground......happy people.....it all goes into the calculation. Ain't a right answer for everybody.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I’m also in process of deciding between 2 courses just been chatting to the Mrs about it and pretty certain what I’m going to do on similar thought process of ones further and more fancy ones local, well looked after but also more accessible so basically made my mind up today.

Your courses though:
The Irish open course: sounds amazing and I imagine is unbelievable to play, but that’s 2hr driving every time he wants to play, practice or attend a social event. Say he has an 8am tee time he’s up at 6 to leave at 630am latest to get there and still has to warm up , book in and get on the tee, time he’s finished he can’t have a proper social as he has to drive another hour home. IMO it’s just not sustainable as being enjoyable

7 Mins course: he can go as often as he wants on a whim as long as the weathers ok, that 8am tee time say he leaves home at 715, he’s there in minutes and still has time for everything and hasn’t rushed. Other members are likely to be local as well so could make some new mates locally, he can go to socials and have a beer as a cab journey that long isn’t costing much. If the weathers crappy he can be off the course home and dry with a warm brew in no time.

It’s a no brainer to me 7mins away every time.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Is the 36 hole club the K Club ?

What’s the other club

 

[slicer79]

Is the 36 hole club the K Club ?

What’s the other club

It's Killarney

 

[timd77]

An hours drive?.....never. I don't care if they are offering free beer......30 min is the absolute max for me.

I only drive an hour to golf if I’m going on me holidays!

The closer one for me. My course is 30 mins away, I’m in with a good group of lads, enjoy it up there, but I’m looking to join one which is 10 mins away. Reason being it’s a better course/facilities, but also because it’s easier to do a quick 9 after work or pop up and hit a few balls on the practice ground.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

It's Killarney

And what’s the 18 hole one ?

Killarney does look nice

 

[slicer79]

And what’s the 18 hole one ?

Killarney does look nice

It's called Lee Valley, wouldn't be as well known but a nice course. Not far from Cork city

 

[Arthur Wedge]

It's called Lee Valley, wouldn't be as well known but a nice course. Not far from Cork city

Looks nice as well -

Question for him would be if the Killarney course is that good it’s worth the 1 trip

 

[Skytot]

I played Killarney in the 90s . Lots of tourists like myself played it . Think I would be choosing local course

 

[clubchamp98]

Driving nowadays is the worst thing you can do.

Unless he’s an elite or very low capper who practices hours every day I would go to the near one
7/10 sounds ok to me.

Two hour drive is a no no for me.

 

[Orikoru]

I would go for the local one every time. My own club is only 7 minutes drive away, and that's one of the beauties of it - I can pop down there when I have a spare hour, get nine holes in, whatever. If it was an hour away those little impromptu sessions are taken away.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I would go for the local one every time. My own club is only 7 minutes drive away, and that's one of the beauties of it - I can pop down there when I have a spare hour, get nine holes in, whatever. If it was an hour away those little impromptu sessions are taken away.

Was a major factor for me choosing, mine will be 9’minutes from home and 10mins from work! I could finish early go play 9 holes and still be home before the Mrs.

Likewise in the summer I can pop down do an hours short game practice in the morning and still be at work for 815am.

 

[The Squirrel]

If he’s a teacher he finishes at 3.15 every day. . Given this, no way you’d want to pass up the opportunity of all those evening rounds you could get in at the local course.

More seriously, the petrol/diesel/leccy saving from not doing 2 hours of driving a couple of times a week would probably fund a few rounds at the fancy place if he does want to scratch that itch now and then.