Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
Have you ever considered how the golf courses you play impact your score? Although it would be hard to get an exact number for the average handicap at country clubs vs. public courses, there would likely be some differences. As a former golf professional and teaching pro, I’ve been very lucky to play and belong to some great country clubs, but as a kid, all I played was public courses. I’ll give you the rundown on the pros and cons of each and which is better for your game.
What are the major differences between country club golf and public courses?
The major differences between country clubs and golf clubs are the time it takes to play a round and the facilities available.
Playing Times
The pace of play at country clubs is faster. With a limited number of members, most rounds are between 3.5 and 4.5 hours for a foursome.
At a public course, you are lucky if you find a spot with less than 5-hour rounds. I’ve certainly played a few 6-hour rounds of public golf growing up.
You can play great golf at a slow pace, but it’s hard not to wear down and get frustrated when you can’t develop a good rhythm.
Conditions
Most public golf courses have a limited budget when it comes to course maintenance. The private clubs spend millions of dollars and assess the members if they need more.
One key to finding a great public golf course is to find one with great conditions. When the rough is bare, fairways are long, and greens are slow, your game will suffer.
You may see shorter average driving distances, more putts per round, and some bad lies you must contend with.
Practice facilities
Most country clubs are careful to create an extensive practice area where you can work on everything from short game to long game. Some country clubs like Ibis in South Florida even have TopTracer technology on their driving range.
At country clubs, the golf balls are unlimited on the range, you can hit and practice all day if you want to.
Most public courses have a standard driving range where you pay per golf ball to hit. When a small bucket of balls costs $10, you may not spend hours on the range.
Costs
If it feels like country clubs were pulling ahead in this country clubs vs. public course analysis, that’s about to end. Country clubs are undoubtedly more expensive than public golf courses.
Some country club golfers who play daily may do alright because their cost per round is lower. However, most country club golfers pay $10,000 plus in dues each year and play once (maybe twice) each weekend. That works out to about $190 per round.
You can play great public golf for less than $100 per round.
Which is Better For Your Game?
Now, if you are wondering if the country club or public course is better for your golf game, here are the things you should consider. There are benefits to both. When you look at your financial situation and your time commitment, you can make the best choice.
Financial Considerations
Spend some time doing the math before you join a country club. As a former membership director of a country club in South Florida, I’ll tell you that the pricing is always more than you think.
You also likely won’t get in as many rounds as you think. Public golf is cheaper, so if you are on the fence about joining because of the associated costs, you’ll want to run the numbers a few times.
Related: Country Club Membership Costs
Your Golf Goals
What is your plan for the game of golf? Are you a 15 handicap and completely fine with staying there for the next 20 years? Or are you a 25 and working your way down to a 15? The practice fasciitis at a country club is great for lowering your scores.
This comes at a cost, but you’ll have excellent facilities to practice your skills.
Pro Tip: If you want to see if a potential country club is filled with other golfers like you, ask the membership director to see the most recent handicap revision and see where most handicaps fall.
Lifestyle Considerations
Joining a country club is not just about golf. There are social aspects. In addition, you will have access to other facilities that you may enjoy using with your family. It’s a financial commitment, but it’s often well worth the money if it fits your lifestyle.
The Final Verdict- Which Is Better For Your Game Country Clubs vs. Public Courses?
I grew up playing public golf until I started working at a private country club. The employees were allowed to play late in the afternoon or on Monday when the course was closed.
Country club golf was amazing for two reasons. The first was the greens (they rolled true), and the second was the pace of play. Of course, this was late in the afternoon, so even a public course would have been fast. I certainly understood why people invested money into joining clubs.
However, the thing that I missed about public golf was the atmosphere. There is nothing like showing up to a first tee, meeting three strangers, playing 18 holes, and walking away with three new friends.
There is a sort of bond that public golf course players have, and from my experience, you can’t match that at a private course.
What do you prefer?
