Best way to start playing Country Club Golf Courses

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Old 11-02-2014, 07:52 AM
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Default Best way to start playing Country Club Golf Courses

I am a single golfer. I play the executive courses almost everyday. I would like to learn more about the Country Club courses. I keep a 13-15 handicap. What is the best way to get a round per week? What are the nicer clubs to play? Any groups?
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Old 11-02-2014, 07:57 AM
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Ask around and see if there are any groups in your village that play on a regular basis. Usually groups are looking for subs.
Check the online reservation system for open tee times or request a tee time.
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Old 11-02-2014, 10:35 AM
John_W John_W is offline
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I am a single golfer. I play the executive courses almost everyday. I would like to learn more about the Country Club courses. I keep a 13-15 handicap. What is the best way to get a round per week? What are the nicer clubs to play? Any groups?
The bad news is the green fees all went up Oct 15th, the good news for you is living in Winifred puts you right between two of the nicest courses, Arnold Palmer and Glenview.

I play about once a week with a neighbor, but when I first moved here 3-1/2 years ago I didn't know the courses or anyone to play with either. I would just put in for an open teetime with 2 or 3 men's names listed. If you're playing the executives now, then you're probably a villages.net member and know how to use the online system. It works the same for the championship courses except you'll probably find there is a lot more open teetimes available. Since the clocks just went back, if you're playing the afternoon wave, don't select a time later than 1pm, you want to allow 4-1/2 hours for a round. Afternoon or second wave times start at 11:56, so you have about a one hour window to find a time. If you like playing early then don't worry about daylight. I mention this because I don't like playing early when the grass is wet, also had this been summer you get a big discount playing after 11am.

The courses in your area all have 27 holes, so you'll see the name of the nine hole listed. The rotation of the nines run counter-clockwise at most courses, you'll eventually learn what nine goes with what other nine and you'll have your favorites.

About a day or two before you want to play, go online and look for open times at those two courses. Pick a time that has 2 or 3 men golfers already listed. This way you won't have to play alone and you'll meet other golfers. You're also not far from Mallory or Cane Garden, so use them if the other courses are filled. Arnold Palmer usually has open times not because it's not a nice course but because it's more expensive. Palmer right now is about $48 for a non-priority resident where the other courses are about $41. Had this been before Oct 15th and you played after 11am, Palmer was $24 and the others are about $20, that's why I mentioned the rates had just gone up.

I know I probably thoroughly confused you with all these facts, but just go and get your feet wet, that's the only way you'll learn. My neighbor and I will probably be playing this next Thursday or Friday and we have a third player usually, but that would leave room for you if you're interested. Let me know and we can hook you up with our threesome. I see you're from the Chesapeake area, I'm from Harford County, huge Ravens and O's fan.
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Old 11-03-2014, 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by John_W View Post
The bad news is the green fees all went up Oct 15th, the good news for you is living in Winifred puts you right between two of the nicest courses, Arnold Palmer and Glenview.

I play about once a week with a neighbor, but when I first moved here 3-1/2 years ago I didn't know the courses or anyone to play with either. I would just put in for an open teetime with 2 or 3 men's names listed. If you're playing the executives now, then you're probably a villages.net member and know how to use the online system. It works the same for the championship courses except you'll probably find there is a lot more open teetimes available. Since the clocks just went back, if you're playing the afternoon wave, don't select a time later than 1pm, you want to allow 4-1/2 hours for a round. Afternoon or second wave times start at 11:56, so you have about a one hour window to find a time. If you like playing early then don't worry about daylight. I mention this because I don't like playing early when the grass is wet, also had this been summer you get a big discount playing after 11am.

The courses in your area all have 27 holes, so you'll see the name of the nine hole listed. The rotation of the nines run counter-clockwise at most courses, you'll eventually learn what nine goes with what other nine and you'll have your favorites.

About a day or two before you want to play, go online and look for open times at those two courses. Pick a time that has 2 or 3 men golfers already listed. This way you won't have to play alone and you'll meet other golfers. You're also not far from Mallory or Cane Garden, so use them if the other courses are filled. Arnold Palmer usually has open times not because it's not a nice course but because it's more expensive. Palmer right now is about $48 for a non-priority resident where the other courses are about $41. Had this been before Oct 15th and you played after 11am, Palmer was $24 and the others are about $20, that's why I mentioned the rates had just gone up.

I know I probably thoroughly confused you with all these facts, but just go and get your feet wet, that's the only way you'll learn. My neighbor and I will probably be playing this next Thursday or Friday and we have a third player usually, but that would leave room for you if you're interested. Let me know and we can hook you up with our threesome. I see you're from the Chesapeake area, I'm from Harford County, huge Ravens and O's fan.
Wow John, lots of good information! I played Palmer and Lopez last year. They were very nice. I use TVnet for tee times, so I will work from that end. If you need a 4th sometime give me a call, 804-435-0773. I live north of Chesapeake in the rural part of the bay. Beautiful...just hate the cold.
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Old 11-03-2014, 10:00 AM
yabbadu yabbadu is offline
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You might want to sign up for Mens day on Tuesdays. can meet many and the competition is good. You will be flighted with people in your handicap range.
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Old 11-04-2014, 09:06 AM
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You might want to sign up for Mens day on Tuesdays. can meet many and the competition is good. You will be flighted with people in your handicap range.
Sorry to be so slow, but where would I sign up for men's day? Do the say which course you play on? Thanks
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Old 11-04-2014, 09:43 AM
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Default Best way to start playing Country Club Golf Courses

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You might want to sign up for Mens day on Tuesdays. can meet many and the competition is good. You will be flighted with people in your handicap range.

You need to be a Priority Member to participate in Men's Day on championship courses, right?
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Old 11-04-2014, 05:37 PM
yabbadu yabbadu is offline
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Sorry to be so slow, but where would I sign up for men's day? Do the say which course you play on? Thanks
You can sign up on phone systems or computer system if you subscribe. I have played the Bonifay / Evans Praire pair and the Cane Garden / Havana / Malory rotations. They are also listed in the paper on Thursdays with results from that week and lisiting the game for the next week.

The tee time office can also provide assistance .

Good luck and have fun!
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Old 11-04-2014, 06:16 PM
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You need to be a Priority Member to participate in Men's Day on championship courses, right?
That is correct as far as I know!
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Old 11-05-2014, 12:26 PM
John_W John_W is offline
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Originally Posted by Bay Kid View Post
I am a single golfer. I play the executive courses almost everyday. I would like to learn more about the Country Club courses. I keep a 13-15 handicap. What is the best way to get a round per week? What are the nicer clubs to play? Any groups?
My neighbor already put in for our teetime tomorrow for a threesome. I just looked and the 4th slot is available. If you want to play Mallory tomorrow, go to the villages.net and golf section. Look for open teetimes, look at Mallory and for the time 12:52 and the nine 'Caroline' hole 1. You'll see one player opening is available, press select and enter and you'll be golfing with our group. Caroline is probably one of the hardest nines in TV, especially from the blue tees.
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Old 11-05-2014, 04:56 PM
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I would suggest only playing 9 holes at first and maybe twice as often. Don't care about score, care more about pace of play. See where the others hit their drive and don't be embarrassed about picking up the ball and walking it to the next shortest drive. You can't play your game if you are rushed. Playing the execs is good for iron shots off the tee, sand shots, chipping and putting but the rest of the game doesn't get practiced too much. Hitting a driver, fairway woods and irons without a tee is about a third of the championship game.

If you have been playing regular courses for years then disregard the above.
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Old 11-07-2014, 08:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John_W View Post
My neighbor already put in for our teetime tomorrow for a threesome. I just looked and the 4th slot is available. If you want to play Mallory tomorrow, go to the villages.net and golf section. Look for open teetimes, look at Mallory and for the time 12:52 and the nine 'Caroline' hole 1. You'll see one player opening is available, press select and enter and you'll be golfing with our group. Caroline is probably one of the hardest nines in TV, especially from the blue tees.
Sorry I missed the post. Thank you for trying.
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