Imagine an All You Can Eat Golf Buffet

by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 28, 2009 11:52 AM EDT

In my part of Maryland, there are a solid number of government-owned tracks. Many of them are very good and well kept, like Compass Pointe and Timbers at Troy. Baltimore County also has five courses - two upscale courses and three others - that I played a lot in my high school days.

Given the current economy, people are more sensitive to green fees. In response to that, Baltimore County Golf is offering a plan of all you can eat golf at their five courses. I got a press release about it today.

Baltimore County Golf is offering two levels: Weekdays Only ($2,295) and Any Day/Any Time ($3,495). Both can be paid with a four-time payment option. A Four-Star Club membership includes unlimited play, riding cart rentals, advance tee times, and participation in clinics and tournaments, among others.

On the upscale courses, green fees can run close to $70. In order to get your money's worth, you would probably have to pay in between 40 and 50 times during the golf season here. There are additional offers for discounts at the golf shop, two buckets of range balls per day, and entry into four tournaments. For a golfer that would join a country club or is waffling about being in a club, this is a solid offer.

A local golf club in the area is offering a membership for folks my age at about $300/month (everything included) and $750 to get initiated. Over the course of a golf season, that's about the same amount of money. So, there are deals to be had out there.

Now, if only I was sitting on $3000.

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If you play one time a week – four times a month – on the weekend – you’re looking at just under $73 for 48 rounds a year. That’s more than most people play. But if you get out twice a week – you’re definitely getting a deal. You can count on a lot of retirees checking into the weekday membership !

Nice to have 5 courses to choose from, too.

(hmm – get married or get a good deal on a lot of golf….hmmmm) (I feel safe saying that since I’m several hundred miles away) :-D

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Apr 28, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

Benefits of club golf

As a member of a local club in the Baltimore area, I have to say that there are certain things you can’t put a price on. When I get off work between 4-5pm, I can show up at my club, throw the bag on my back, and still easily play 18 holes. Even during peak hours on the weekend, with a foursome, it rarely takes more than 3.5 hours to play a round of golf.

The biggest perk, though, is the people you meet and the competition. We have somewhere around 75 guys who play regularly and have handicaps between +2 and 12. It makes for a lot of great matches and good comraderie.

I played Compass Pointe this past Friday and the round took 5+ hours, the greens were brutally slow, and got paired with two people who both failed to break 100. I think that’s the norm around most public courses I’ve played in the Baltimore area. Usually when I spend 5 hours on the course and my score is 110, it’s because I’ve just finished 27 holes!

Some benefits to club golf are worth the extra bucks, IF you’re going to play more than 4-5 times per month. I think if you really search, you’ll find you can join many clubs rights now without paying (or deferring) intition and getting a promo rate on the monthly dues, etc.

by mspence921 on Apr 29, 2009 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

Deferring initiation would be the big thing for me in joining a club. I can swing monthly dues, but the initiation is tough for me to do right now.

Completely agree that a club would allow you to get done faster and play with better competition (for the most part) as compared to a public course. I once played a round at the club I played in high school in 2.5 hours. It was incredible.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 29, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

RRGC

Ryan, you and mspence921, my son, are probably talking about the same course. I think our initiation fees are pro-rated, not deferred completely. But, if you need to count rounds, greens fees, cart fees, etc. to make a decision, you (most people) will never join a club.

Like Matt mentions above – if you have to put a price on (1). no tee times ever, (2). 3.25 – 3.5 rounds tops and (3) practice short game and putting areas open 12-14 hours per day, (4) a great restaurant with the best view in the city and a few other intangibles, you probably will not join.

This is the reason club membership rolls are falling. The new Gen X’ers & Y’ers are looking more closely at their entertainment buck and making certain they are getting the best bang. Baby Boomers were not too bright. Sons of baby boomers are much more fortunate. He’s been a member for almost 28 years (MSJC ‘99) I don’t blame X & Y’s, we just miss them and feel sorry for them when we are on the 19th hole having burgers and they are still on #12, fifty miles from their house…

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on May 3, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

I’m not so much worried about the total cost. I definitely get the value of it. But, if I wasn’t planning a wedding, etc, this would be a no brainer for me.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 4, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions