Boy, does it pay to do a little research. My recent interest in golf is tempered by only two things - time and money. When I can find the time to play, I like to get the best prices possible (who doesn't?).
I found a web site for golf tee times and it had some of my local courses listed. So I signed up (for free), filled out my profile and looked at some prices. It has a two-tier pricing system where you can pay a higher price to reserve a tee time but pay at the course, or pay a lesser fee and use your credit card online. (Impulse buyer's discount?)
I was ready to take advantage of the lower priced fee and decided to call the course before I clicked the mouse. Their price was a full $5 cheaper than the cheapest online price. Plus, I was told about the 'senior' rate (over 50) which saved me another $4. No mention of the senior rate with the online system. A $9 savings for picking up the phone and making my own reservation.
I completely understand that the reservation web site has to make money, too, and that there has to be some kind of fee to either the golfer to the golf course (or maybe both). But a $5 difference seemed high to me. I'll check around with some other courses and see if this was an exception, or the rule. After all, $9 will buy a modest lunch and a bucket of balls at the driving range.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Golf Bug Bites Hard
Last year I finally succumbed to golf. I had played in a couple of outings (with borrowed clubs) some 30 years ago and never found a thirst for the game. I could watch it on TV, be amazed at the skill of other golfers, but never had the urge to play. That changed last year.
I took four lessons in March & April of 2008, bought a starter set of clubs at the end of April and played my first round at a scramble outing in mid-May. I played a fair amount of golf last year (once a week, sometimes twice) and decided to join a league this year.
As I play more, I want to play even more. Of course, that's not possible since I still work. But I do have a certain latitude with my hours and an early morning tee time allows me to play 9 holes and still begin work before 9:30 or 10am. I like to hit a couple buckets of balls each week, too.
Some days I go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls instead of eating lunch. Actually, I think that's been good for me as I notice lately that my belt is being fastened at the end notch, a place I haven't been for some time!
As I hit better shots more often, I want to hit better shots all the time. Not realistic since even the pros blow a shot now & then, but hey, it's a goal to work towards. There are a lot of great courses here in Livingston County, and long-time golfers tell me golf has not been this affordable for a many years.
Some of my favorite places are:
Chemung Hills Golf Course. Beautiful, but tougher with a lot of water hazards and subtle, tricky greens. If you can putt here, you can putt anywhere. A big bonus for those living nearby is the best driving range prices I've found at $3 for a small bucket and $6 for a large bucket of balls. Also a very nice club house and good food. I've used their banquet center a couple of times, too, and it's first-class.
Faulkwood Shores, not far down the road, is a great value (see their website for monthly specials) and challenging in a different way. Narrow fairways penalize those who hit 'banana' balls but it is still a 'fair' course, even for golfers of my limited ability. Greens are usually very fast, too.
The Jackal, at Mt. Brighton, is scenic - and tough! I had no business playing this course last year, but I did anyway. (I still have no business playing it, by the way.) I lost a lot of balls, but it was worth it. Elevated tees on various parts of the downhill ski slopes, plenty of water, wetlands and woods to challenge you, but overall one of my favorite courses. Very good food in the lodge and convenient to an I-96 interchange to make it convenient for your friends to play.
Huron Meadows, part of the Huron-Clinton Metropark system, is perhaps the best maintained course on which I've played. Granted, Metropark fees are a little higher, but everything is in great shape from the tee boxes to the greens. Their carts have little 'perks', too - a combination club and ball washer, and a flip-down cleat cleaner on the rear! I love this course. And you don't need a metropark pass to enter if you're paying for golf, so don't let that park fee stop you.
There are a lot of other great golf venues within a 30 minute drive of the Brighton-Howell area, and just because they're not mentioned here doesn't mean they're not worth playing. If you're a golfer with suggestions, leave a comment with your suggestions.
I took four lessons in March & April of 2008, bought a starter set of clubs at the end of April and played my first round at a scramble outing in mid-May. I played a fair amount of golf last year (once a week, sometimes twice) and decided to join a league this year.
As I play more, I want to play even more. Of course, that's not possible since I still work. But I do have a certain latitude with my hours and an early morning tee time allows me to play 9 holes and still begin work before 9:30 or 10am. I like to hit a couple buckets of balls each week, too.
Some days I go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls instead of eating lunch. Actually, I think that's been good for me as I notice lately that my belt is being fastened at the end notch, a place I haven't been for some time!
As I hit better shots more often, I want to hit better shots all the time. Not realistic since even the pros blow a shot now & then, but hey, it's a goal to work towards. There are a lot of great courses here in Livingston County, and long-time golfers tell me golf has not been this affordable for a many years.
Some of my favorite places are:
Chemung Hills Golf Course. Beautiful, but tougher with a lot of water hazards and subtle, tricky greens. If you can putt here, you can putt anywhere. A big bonus for those living nearby is the best driving range prices I've found at $3 for a small bucket and $6 for a large bucket of balls. Also a very nice club house and good food. I've used their banquet center a couple of times, too, and it's first-class.
Faulkwood Shores, not far down the road, is a great value (see their website for monthly specials) and challenging in a different way. Narrow fairways penalize those who hit 'banana' balls but it is still a 'fair' course, even for golfers of my limited ability. Greens are usually very fast, too.
The Jackal, at Mt. Brighton, is scenic - and tough! I had no business playing this course last year, but I did anyway. (I still have no business playing it, by the way.) I lost a lot of balls, but it was worth it. Elevated tees on various parts of the downhill ski slopes, plenty of water, wetlands and woods to challenge you, but overall one of my favorite courses. Very good food in the lodge and convenient to an I-96 interchange to make it convenient for your friends to play.
Huron Meadows, part of the Huron-Clinton Metropark system, is perhaps the best maintained course on which I've played. Granted, Metropark fees are a little higher, but everything is in great shape from the tee boxes to the greens. Their carts have little 'perks', too - a combination club and ball washer, and a flip-down cleat cleaner on the rear! I love this course. And you don't need a metropark pass to enter if you're paying for golf, so don't let that park fee stop you.
There are a lot of other great golf venues within a 30 minute drive of the Brighton-Howell area, and just because they're not mentioned here doesn't mean they're not worth playing. If you're a golfer with suggestions, leave a comment with your suggestions.
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