Exclusive Private club access: 3 different ways to access some of the best clubs in the world
The degree of access to some of the best clubs in the world constantly changes with supply and demand of golf in general. Most private clubs have always required access through a member, however in recent years (before COVID) the golf industry has started to see a slow down in private club membership and play. Many mid tier clubs found vacancy on their tee sheet and started opening up rounds to non club members for an unaccompanied fee which normally can be 2-3x the standard guest fee. Some of the best clubs have allowed unaccompanied with a formal introduction to the club by a member. They allow a limited amount of unaccompanied groups per day (normally before member play opens) and if these slots are in high demand it's a nice revenue generator for the club which can make up for vacancy in other areas. During COVID golf experienced demand it had not seen in decades. Most clubs that make any current list have full or even overfull memberships, long wait lists, and packed tee sheets. This means limited or non existent unaccompanied access. This has driven the cost of these unique opportunities up substantially making these courses much harder to access for the average golfer. None the less the three most common forms of access are still pretty standard throughout the industry.
1) Charity Rounds
Charity rounds are a fairly easy way to check boxes on the bucket list. Money is pretty much the only thing standing between you and the first tee.
PROS - Whether it's an auction round on the internet you won as the highest bidder or a charity event on a Monday closed day, it's a sure path towards the first tee. If it's an auction for a threesome, you most likely will play with a professional from the pro shop or maybe even a member which is an added bonus. If you are there for a charity event day, they are a totally different experience from any other day at the club. Normally the charity staff runs the event and they can be more laid back then a normal day at the club. Another obvious positive would be your money going to a good cause.
CONS - Price is an obvious negative. Normally the cost of these events far exceed a normal day at the club with a member but an even bigger negative is experience. There are normally restrictions to these days that limit players from getting the full club experience. Whether it be no clubhouse access, a different menu then a normal day, or even being chauffeured off the 18th green to the parking lot, its tough for those interested in the journey to check these rounds off as actually experienced the club.
PROS - Whether it's an auction round on the internet you won as the highest bidder or a charity event on a Monday closed day, it's a sure path towards the first tee. If it's an auction for a threesome, you most likely will play with a professional from the pro shop or maybe even a member which is an added bonus. If you are there for a charity event day, they are a totally different experience from any other day at the club. Normally the charity staff runs the event and they can be more laid back then a normal day at the club. Another obvious positive would be your money going to a good cause.
CONS - Price is an obvious negative. Normally the cost of these events far exceed a normal day at the club with a member but an even bigger negative is experience. There are normally restrictions to these days that limit players from getting the full club experience. Whether it be no clubhouse access, a different menu then a normal day, or even being chauffeured off the 18th green to the parking lot, its tough for those interested in the journey to check these rounds off as actually experienced the club.
2) Unaccompanied rounds
In these times we are all really busy people. Members may have the intention of hosting many others but their schedule may not. In this case, unaccompanied is another excellent way to access a course. Perhaps you do not know a member from the course you are interested in playing but a friend does and the member is willing to write his club a letter on your behalf to visit. This is a possibility at many places.
PROS - A member is more willing to vouch for you unaccompanied, especially if he doesn't personally know you, if it doesn't require him to take time out of his schedule to host you. This means higher odds of said member helping you access his club.
CONS - The cost this route is more than a standard guest fee and worse the experience isn't the same. Similar to the charity route, many private clubs restrict the guest from the range, clubhouse access, or use of the locker room. The clubhouse experience is part of the experience and at many places it's not something to be missed.
PROS - A member is more willing to vouch for you unaccompanied, especially if he doesn't personally know you, if it doesn't require him to take time out of his schedule to host you. This means higher odds of said member helping you access his club.
CONS - The cost this route is more than a standard guest fee and worse the experience isn't the same. Similar to the charity route, many private clubs restrict the guest from the range, clubhouse access, or use of the locker room. The clubhouse experience is part of the experience and at many places it's not something to be missed.
3) experiencing the club with the member
This is by far the best way to experience a private club. When you are on property with a member at a member owned club, the staff is employed by the member. The staff is there to service the members and the guests. There are plenty of hot and cold stories from golfers who have experienced the top clubs both ways and they are all entertaining. It really is night and day which is why the "purists" who are in the journey for the long run and want to experience all the best clubs wont check the box of a club they haven't experienced with a member.