Things That Visitors Want From a Golf Course

Golf club members and nomadic golfers all have one thing in common - they enjoy playing unfamiliar courses and having new and memorable experiences.

We have already looked at what members expect from their clubs, but what do we all expect when we visit new courses?

The Course

First and foremost, we all hope to find a course in good condition. We want well-manicured tees, fairways upon which the ball sits up begging to be hit, bunkers with plenty of proper sand and immaculate greens. That’s just for starters though. We want those bunkers to be raked, we want greens with no pitchmarks and we want fairways with no divot holes. We don’t want much, do we?

And surely just as important is the scenery. There is NOTHING better than playing a layout where there are plenty of breathtaking views. It could be looking out at sand dunes and beyond to a stunning coastline, it might be surrounding hills and mountains. It could even be beautiful man-man ponds and lakes with fountains, teeming with wildlife. 

We want a course that will stick in our minds for many, many months, where we go back to our clubs and tell everybody about what a wonderful experience we have had. And we will want to return as soon as possible.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Green Fees

This is, of course, the top priority for many. If money is no object for you then the sum you are handing over will be of no concern. But for most of us, life is rather different. 

We are looking for value for money. And what exactly does that mean? For starters, nobody wants to feel like they have been ripped off. Donald Trump has created an absolute masterpiece at Turnberry. But £1,000? Seriously. I don’t care what anybody says, there is no golf course anywhere on the planet that is worth this kind of outrageous sum. 

The majority of us are looking for a day out that is going to cost us around £50 - and there are plenty of excellent courses the length and breadth of the country that will cost you less than this. 

Shop around and you may even be able to find a deal that includes a coffee and bacon sandwich on arrival and a meal when you finish. Yes, green fees can be expensive - very expensive - but there are great deals out there. And with the nights drawing in, this is the perfect time of year to start looking for those bargains.

Welcome

First impressions matter. If you turn up at a course that you haven’t played before, you want to be greeted by a professional who makes you feel welcome and wanted. If he is doing his job properly he will take your green fee and then talk you through the course, telling you about the hazards to avoid, about any work that is being done and whether there might be some tees that are difficult to find.

We have all played at clubs where it is quite obvious that the members don’t want us there. A good sign of whether or not you are going to be made welcome is the car park - I will always avoid playing any club that has a members’ car park and a designated visitors’ parking area. Why would anybody do that?

Tee Times

Ah yes, that old chestnut! 

How easy is it to book the tee-times you want? If you can only get on the course in the afternoon the chances are that you are going to be in for a slow round. A very slow round. And if you are playing in the afternoon, will the clubhouse still be open when you have finished your round. This is something that is always worth checking. If you are playing later in the day, you should also be looking for some discounts. 

Clubhouse

The first place you will probably head for after holing your final putt is the changing rooms, and they can tell you a great deal about what might be to come. In this day and age, it is not unreasonable to expect the changing rooms to be warm and clean and for the hot water to be above freezing point!

How many times have you finished your round, walked into a clubhouse for the first time and been greeted by a miserable individual standing behind the bar? He or she is all smiles for the members but knows you are a visitor and scowls at you. I simply cannot fathom why so many people who work in the hospitality industry don’t seem to like people! 

If you are ordering a pint of beer you want it to be served at the correct temperature - and you don’t want to be taking out a bank loan to buy a round. 

Then there is the food. This is an area where I am delighted to report that there has been a vast improvement. The days of stale pies are largely gone. Most clubs now offer excellent homemade food at reasonable prices.

Accessibility

How far away is the course? If you are having a day out then you want the course you are visiting to be within striking distance.

How Do You Choose?

I am a great believer in doing some research before you take on any golf course for the first time, and that means checking out websites. In this day and age, there is absolutely no excuse for any club to have an outdated, clunky website that looks like it might have been designed for use on Noah’s Ark. Check out the course flyovers and look for reviews.

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