The Secret to Playing Private Golf Courses Without a Membership
If you've ever stood outside the gates of a members-only club wondering what it would take to play a round there, you already know the usual answer: a waitlist measured in years and an initiation fee that could buy a small house. For a lot of golfers, that's simply not in the cards. There's a workaround that savvy travelers have been using for years, and it doesn't involve knowing the right people or paying dues. It involves booking the right room.
Your hotel key might be your tee time. A number of resorts across the country have quietly built partnerships with the private clubs next door, meaning guests get course access that outsiders simply can't buy. Stay at the right property, and suddenly you're walking fairways that are otherwise reserved for members only. Exclusivity has always been part of golf's appeal, but it doesn't have to mean exclusion. The right stay can put you on courses most players only see in magazines; no initiation fee, no waitlist, no sponsor required. The bottom line, booking the right hotel could mean temporary "member" status at otherwise exclusive clubs.
Check out this list of resorts where these perks might work for you!