golfrewind.com

Living in the UK I am lucky enough to play many of our championship courses whenever I like for example this year I have played St andrews , Turnberry, Kingsbarns,Prestwick , the Grove and Loch Lomond. Now at all these courses the place has been overrun with you good people from the states and god bless you for coming. My question however is why is it not possible for me to come to your country and receive the same courtesy ? I will give you the following examples of courses that can only be accessed with a member as far as I know : Pine valley , Cypress point , Shinnecock hills , Oakmont , Merion and Winged Foot .

Courtesy? They're private clubs.

You'll just have to settle for....

Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Bethpage, Spyglass, Cog Hill, TPC Sawgrass, Bay Hill, Pine Meadow, Torrey Pines, etc...

so are some of the courses I mention , however they allow visitors and i was wondering why so many of the great american courses do not . admitedly your list is pretty impressive of courses one can play as a visitor.

Nothing says you can't contact those clubs, and ask about playing as a "guest". Members can invite a "guest" and you could get to play the course that way. Have you tried that?

Try playing Loch Lomond without a member.

I have always found it easier to get on top quality courses in USA than UK without knowing a member.


Both sides of the pond have sticker shock as an issue.

Ill, settle for those i guess.............

Because private courses in America and courtesy do not go hand in hand. You're probably better off playing the exclusive public courses and having a good time,rather than getting on an exclusive private course and have their members give you that "What are YOU doing here?" look. Simp

Good idea if you want to get laughed off the phone!

"Hello, may I speak to a member, please?"

There was an article a couple of years ago in Golf Digest discussing this very thing. I wish I could remember the particulars. They sent someone out to see if he could get on at various top-notch private courses. He was actually successful at a few, some by simply calling and asking. They listed a number of do's & don'ts for attempting this. I know there are a number of Golf Digest readers here. Does anyone remember what I'm referring to ?

I guess it might work at a few. I know you wouldn't get near the ones I worked at.

I remember reading that. Just found it. Dang, why didn't I buy google when it was ONLY a $100/share?

http://www.golfdigest.com/features/i...gettingon.html
Highlights:
1. Befriend a member
2. Recipricol agreement with other clubs
3. Your club pro's connections
4. Timing - ex. offseason weekday
5. "I'm thinking of buying a home here"
6. A polite letter or phone call to the head pro. The phone call is generally frowned upon.
7. Charity tourney at said course

That's the one. Thanks hackblack ! It's not easy but it's doable. It does seem as if phone calls are frowned upon , though, as Body Visions suggested.

This thread has been an interesting read. Thanks for posting!

I am just as disappointed as you regarding these great golf courses. I am a U.S. citizen and an accomplished player with a 5 handicap but am not able to play these golf courses.Because the privately owned courses don`t get the heavy play as do the public courses therefore can keep the condition of the greens so much better .This attracts the tours to play them instead of our public courses. There are some tour stops at public golf courses and many replica courses now open that can give you a chance to play the same holes but not quite the same.

I live in Wisconsin and am very lucky to have some very fine courses available to me.