an informal survey of how things are in various parts of the country. Why
not take a minute to post a short reply and tell us 1) Where you live, 2)
how long it takes to play 18 holes on a Saturday morning, 3) how long it
takes to play 18 holes on a Monday afternoon and 4) are there any courses
you know of where you can ever play as a single?"
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For 15 years, up until last year, I lived in Lubbock, in West Texas. It had
3 Country Clubs (private), 4 municipal courses and two executive courses.
Most of the small towns surrounding Lubbock also had their own courses.
Many were 9-hole, but there were some 18-hole courses as well.
Anyway, my regular partner and I could head out of town on the weekend, walk
on any small town course before 9:00 AM, and play immediately. We seldom
got paired up with anyone, and usually played 18 in under 3 hours. After
noon it could take another hour. This was more true on Sundays in some of
the smaller towns (big post-worship crowds). There were always singles
playing.
There are great towns out there; Littlefield, Floydada, Post, Sundown,
Lorenzo, and Plainview. And every one of them has a couple of good ol' boys
in old jeans and gimme' caps that can flat-out 'tater a golf ball ... and
who won't think twice about separating you from your money with a
proposition that starts out with, "... Aw hell, as long as we're gonna' play
together, why don't we go on an' make it a little interestin'..."
The courses aren't always well-maintained manicured tracks, either. They
are more likely to be flat, dry and have their "rules" posted on a big sign
next to the first tee box:
"No firearms allowed on course"
"No boots or high heels."
"No more than six in a group without prior permission from the club house."
"You may take free relief from the oil derrick on #9"
If you wanted to play one of the muni's in Lubbock, you needed a tee time.
They weren't too hard to get -- but even with an early start, the rounds
could take from 4 1/2 to 5 hours, and you could plan on getting grouped-up
to foursomes. The traffic eased up in the afternoon (after 2:00 PM). After
that you could walk on most of them, but you might have to wait 30-45
minutes to tee off. Playing time didn't change much. During the week you
could walk up and be finished in 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
I moved to the Dallas area last year. I got a membership at The Ranch CC
when I built at Stonebridge Ranch, so I don't have much information on the
municipal courses in this area. Since moving, I haven't played many of
them.
I'd like to, but it just hurts too bad to cough up $30-$50+ over and above
my monthly dues to play another course. Especially when I can walk my home
course 'free' (I know it's not *really* free, but at least I don't have to
pay more than my dues).
The club allows public play, so there is usually a lot of weekend traffic.
There's not much difference in morning and afternoon on the weekends;
typical rounds are 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Weekdays play under 3 hours, and have
light traffic. I've heard guys at work complain about getting a tee time,
but I don't know how true it is. Anyway, there are a lot of folks on the
list from around here that can probably give you more information.