Which ClubLink course is best value

[FlipWedge]

As the title says:

If you were inclined to join CL ... which course is the best value or bang for your buck.?

Keep in mind I don't require swimming pools, tennis courts, massage attendants (boy, that one will get some response), and what not. I do require solid practice facility and a roughly 7,000 yard .... tough as yer granny's haggis course to play.


How much does it matter if you rarely (or ever) play the course you joined?

What happens if you move ? Are you required to pay the initiation fee difference if there is one for the course closest to you?

Any other ideas or comments welcomed.


OH, BTW I did call them but I thought I'd get some feedbacl here while I wait for them to return my call.

[Frank101]

Station Creek is definitely NOT the best value.

;)

[outthere]

If you like to play early on the weekends, it is very important that you like your home club. It is not easy getting early tee times on the weekends at clubs up a level from your home club.

[geekboy]

Well, that is one thing i wouldnt have to worry about ... NOTHING is worse than weekend morning golf. I have never understood why that is some sort of "prime time" ...

[nobdyhere]

You don't have to join a perticular club to use their facilities. As long as you are a member of CL you can go to any course to use their practice facilities. Like i'm a member at Caledon Woods that doesn't have a pratice facility but i go to Emerald Hills, King Valley, Diamond Back and Station Creek for some driving range time.

Well right now there is a great offer for Caledon woods. 4th Level pricing.
9500 initiation and their anuals aren't too bad and the golf course looks like it's in great shape. But no range just a hitting net and a large practice green.

J

[FlipWedge]

So lets say I join there but never play at CW b/c I live too far away.

How much do I pay to play Rattlesnake cause their initiation fee is 80K :eek:

[Steve_Swingman]

Caledon Woods is a Gold Course.
Rattlesnake is a Pretige course.

The levels are as such:
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Prestige

You can play one level up from you home course for no additional cost. If you want to play two up (or Prestige - from gold.) you have to pay, I believe 70.00 or so. On days when they have tournaments at your home course that fee is waived. There are only currently three Prestige courses.

Stick with a gold course they are, in my opinion, the best value.

Steve

[FlipWedge]

Where on CL's website can you find what level each course is?

I think Blue Springs is closest to me. Is it a solid track?

[Grass Roots Tour]

Even RACMBS has gone to the dark side. :p

Does that mean I have to look into it as well ????? :eek: :help:

To be honest ... public courses are getting on my nerves and I don't know where I'll settle down after I complete this welding coarse in 4 months. So maybe ... just maybe, I'll have to suck it up and find a bag of money roadside in Scarborough to fund my next golf season. :D

[achow]

Course levels can be found here: http://en.clublink.ca/membership/membershipfees.cfm?section_id=17&PARENT_ID=10

Click on the left nav to find other info for all courses i.e. membership fees, annual dues, guest fees and F&B mins

[ralexander]

As interesting as this financing option makes CL for me, I find the lack of a decent home course in the Oshawa area a bit of a put off.

Wyndance is obviously the best option being very close, but 70K initiation? Would be nice if CL would invest in some more mid range courses out on the north east side.

Here's to hoping.

[simar]

welcome back Will. If they had more courses closer to me in mississauga, i would consider joining.

[pir2]

welcome back Will. If they had more courses closer to me in mississauga, i would consider joining.

Glencairn
Bluesprings
Board of Trade
Rattlesnake
Greystone

All pretty close to mississauga :)

[simar]

none quite as close as lakeview or braeben (about a 5 minute drive)...

[under4hrs]

I joined Cherry Downs this year - just north of 407 & Brock Road. For all the quirks that Cherry has, it will force you to be a better golfer.

$9500, play any other course but KV, Greystone, & RP...only one I miss is Greystone, and I have played there plenty this ummer with all the reciprocals.

Clublink is the devil...no doubt about it...but the selection of courses is insane if you have the flecibility. If I lived in East end, I would like to see them add another course...heloo Timber Rdge??

[Frank101]

I joined Station Creek for three reasons.

1. The cheapest Gold course at the time
2. My normal golfing buddy and good friend is a member there (so we can play in events together)
3. Closest to my home (early morning weekends are quick and close)

Those were my reasons. There are some good deals on other courses though that are tempting even to me, but in the end, as much as I despise Station Creek conditions...it was and is my best choice.

You have to evaluate what you want and what is best for you.

And to answer your questions,
1. It doesn't matter how much you play your home course as long as its in your geographic area (but its nice to take part in the events and get to know people)
2. If you move you have to pay the difference in initiation dues as well as a 10% transfer fee

[rbaker]

Best bang for the buck is Caledon Woods, hands down or CD if they still have the deal.


RB

[Bellyhungry]

Rolling Hills is the bext value of them all....

[Grass Roots Tour]

Theres nothing CL close to me here in Kitchener but I have no idea where I'll live after the welding coarse is completed and I go find work.

What I DO know is I'm sick of public courses (well, some of the clientelle more so) and I want a membership. We'll see when the time comes.

[bigbertha]

Theres nothing CL close to me here in Kitchener but I have no idea where I'll live after the welding coarse is completed and I go find work.

What I DO know is I'm sick of public courses (well, some of the clientelle more so) and I want a membership. We'll see when the time comes.
That was exactly the reason why I joined. I can't say the pace is always smooth but buying large I have always had good pace and company at CL courses.

[JEBS]

Theres nothing CL close to me here in Kitchener but I have no idea where I'll live after the welding coarse is completed and I go find work.

What I DO know is I'm sick of public courses (well, some of the clientelle more so) and I want a membership. We'll see when the time comes.

I am in the same boat!! I am thinking of GreenHills gold level course and probably the most affordable. I am not sure if there are proximity rules where you have to join the closest course? Since I live in the west end and I work in SW Ontario I do not mind trucking out there to play.. and since my father's home course is Glencairn I am sure I would let him book some of the better tee times.

[mirak]

I guess I will have to wait to see if they put a especial rate for eagle ridge since I'm in Georgetown

[D_Whoa]

Their FAQ section says that you can play the daily fee courses (i.e. glen abbey) without a reciprocal fee, but two paragraphs down it says that "members have access to glen abbey throughout the week for a $55 reciprocal fee and mandatory cart fee". That's a bit of a contradiction.

Anybody out there a clublink member that can shed some light? Do you have to pay to play glen abbey?

I'm interested in becoming a member as my personal feeling is that on average there will be less slack jawed yokels when there's an initiation fee and annual dues. People can be complete jerks on public courses and after playing 50 rounds per year for the past few, it becomes grating.

Anybody able to dispel that with their experiences behind the velvet ropes?

[planet]

Their FAQ section says that you can play the daily fee courses (i.e. glen abbey) without a reciprocal fee, but two paragraphs down it says that "members have access to glen abbey throughout the week for a $55 reciprocal fee and mandatory cart fee". That's a bit of a contradiction.

Anybody out there a clublink member that can shed some light? Do you have to pay to play glen abbey?

I'm interested in becoming a member as my personal feeling is that on average there will be less slack jawed yokels when there's an initiation fee and annual dues. People can be complete jerks on public courses and after playing 50 rounds per year for the past few, it becomes grating.

Anybody able to dispel that with their experiences behind the velvet ropes?

The FAQ has an * beside the reference to the daily fee course. This is because the Abbey is excluded. See the rules and regulations section for wording that is more clear.

The net of it is, everyone pays $55 plus tax/cart to play the Abbey during the week. Platinum/Prestige members pay cart fees only on weekends and holidays.

Generally speaking, you'll see better golf etiquette at Clublink as it is generally more experienced avid golfers that play. With approximately 15,000 members however, you are still going to get your share of clowns.

IMO, it's not going to be a night and day difference. There are plenty of appealing aspects of a CL membership but I wouldn't call this one of them. Best way to deal with it is to find yourself regular playing partners (whether it's inside or outside of CL), and reduce the chances of dealing with jerks.

[rbaker]

Problem is there are Round restrictions for GreenHills. I cant remember the amount or how they enforce it. It applies to CL in, Quebec, London and Ottawa. Not the GTA
CW is your best bet right now, but the deal ends this week.
I w


RB


I am in the same boat!! I am thinking of GreenHills gold level course and probably the most affordable. I am not sure if there are proximity rules where you have to join the closest course? Since I live in the west end and I work in SW Ontario I do not mind trucking out there to play.. and since my father's home course is Glencairn I am sure I would let him book some of the better tee times.

[rbaker]

Problem is there are Round restrictions for GreenHills. I cant remember the amount or how they enforce it. It applies to CL in, Quebec, London and Ottawa. Not the GTA
CW is your best bet right now, but the deal ends this week.
I was


RB


I am in the same boat!! I am thinking of GreenHills gold level course and probably the most affordable. I am not sure if there are proximity rules where you have to join the closest course? Since I live in the west end and I work in SW Ontario I do not mind trucking out there to play.. and since my father's home course is Glencairn I am sure I would let him book some of the better tee times.

[drduffer]

As for me... I'm leaving the club I'm at next year because it's outside the GTA.

What's the fascination with CL?

I live in Thornhill. I'd much rather play at Summit or Thornhill CC than any of the Clublink courses I've played... including King Valley and Emerald Hills.

I just like old historic courses, i guess.

Cheers,

[Frank101]

I find courses like Summit or Thornhill are hard to find tee-times because they either have a HIGH amount of people playing (especially retired seniors) who play on off times and then on weekends they are just packed.

Another thing about clubs like that is that they are, for me, and intermediate, much more expensive to join. If I could afford it I would however prefer a true private "club" over Clublink.

If I had to join a club where I would only be able to play one course however, I'd want to make sure they have no tee times and definitely not like the summit where you have to enter a lottery for weekend morning times (might be that way at Thornhill as well).

[rbaker]

I played at Brampton Golf Club with a member, and another guy froM Barrie Golf Club.
These guys like CL courses, but dont see it as really private, and they are right!
In my case I prefer having multitudes of high end courses to play, I'm a core golfer. As far as chatting it up with the members I don't mind a bit of that, but its not why I chose to go outside of the public domain.
CL its all about the golf, Brampton, Thornhill et, its all about the relaxing atmosphere et.
You wont have people on carts riding up your A.. and hitting balls into your group, with hands on their hips like you find at Clublink.
On the other hand I would rather not be stuck at one course for all the financial output. Pros and CONS all the way around.
I play 150 times a year, I can't imagine doing it at Brampton day in and day out.
In my case Brampton or Thornhill is less money then Clublink.
If I played 30 -50 rounds a year then yes CLUBLINK would be OUT.:)

[Fiji]

Glencairn
Bluesprings
Board of Trade
Rattlesnake
Greystone

All pretty close to mississauga :)

How's Greystone? I'm playing it tomorrow. Any quick advice?;)

[drduffer]

I could be wrong... but Summit is 25 K initiation and about 5 K annually... that's less that some of the Clublink courses...

Cheers,

[ontario]

How's Greystone? I'm playing it tomorrow. Any quick advice?;)

Make sure you spend some time on the practice green. And, all putts break away from the escarpment.