Without question, you can have a great day on a golf course playing either by yourself or with a group of strangers.
But as most of us know, a great day of golf can be made even better in the company of good friends. And that’s the whole point of men’s and women’s clubs at public golf courses in and around Snohomish County.
“It’s simply the best way for someone who likes a regular golf course and wants to make friends to find a regular game with some friendly competition,” said Dave Castleberry, the head pro at Marysville’s Cedarcrest Golf Course, which has active women’s and men’s clubs.
“For a lot of them, the one thing they have in common is golf at the same golf course,” he said. And being in a club “is a way to have friends outside their regular endeavors — work, family life or whatever — and it’s the best way to find a regular game without having to make a bunch of phone calls.”
The Cedarcrest Women’s Golf Club has events every Tuesday and Friday morning during the golf season. Members have varying skill levels, said captain Judy Wolinski of Bothell, “and that’s pretty much starting with beginners up to handicappers of about 10 or 11.” But differing abilities is not a big issue, she said, because members establish handicaps and compete based on net scores.
One of the primary appeals for club members, she said, “is the camaraderie, because you’re meeting a lot of like-minded people who love to play golf. And it’s good exercise.”
And when the round is finished, members usually retire to the restaurant for a snack, a beverage and the chance “to brag about our good holes and complain about our bad holes,” she said.
Most public golf courses in the area have golf clubs for men and women. Members pay an annual fee — usually between $50 and $175 — for the chance to participate in weekly events. With the membership fee, members can also establish a handicap and often receive discounts on green fees, pro shop merchandise and restaurant purchases.
Another nice perk is that club members often get first crack at weekend morning tee times, even on non-event days.
At weekly events, club members usually toss a few dollars into a pot for prize money, which makes the competition a little more exciting.
Charlie Magee, president of the Cedarcrest Men’s Club, calls it “a friendly competition,” but admits “the juices start flowing. It’s the thrill of competition. And I think for most guys, that’s what they really look forward to.”
Many of Cedarcrest’s club members “have grown up around here and they’ve been friends all their lives,” Magee said. “Others are new to the area or maybe they’re new to golf, and now they’re making new friends.”
One of the largest clubs in the area is the Harbour Pointe Men’s Club, which has about 300 members. According to club president Steve Weaver, the club has “a nucleus of probably 100 guys, and it’s a pretty doggone strong nucleus.” There are events every Wednesday night and every other weekend, and members wrap up their Wednesday night get-togethers with a popular steak dinner.
“Socially, there is a great camaraderie,” Weaver said. Being a club member “is probably the closest thing to (being in) a private club without the private club costs associated with that.
“A fairly common statement you’ll hear from guys who’ve been men’s club members over the years is that the guys they now call their best friends are the ones they met through the men’s club.”
Snohomish Golf Course, meanwhile, has over 200 members in its men’s club, and they participate in alternating Saturday and Sunday events during the golf season.
“If you love the game,” said Steve Goedecke of Bothell, the club treasurer and a longtime member, “it’s an avenue to be able to meet a lot of different people from different walks of life. Usually they’re pretty good people. You tease each other, bet with each other, laugh at each other, and basically go out and have fun.”
The best part, he added, is “being around people you enjoy being around. Most people who play golf on a regular basis love the game. And when people have that in common, it’s fun to go out there and play.”
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