Colorado WRX 2021

[pseudoswede]

Weather looks good this upcoming weekend. You can probably make a 2pm tee time and be done before sunset.

[hoselpalooza]

1 hour ago, pseudoswede said:

Weather looks good this upcoming weekend. You can probably make a 2pm tee time and be done before sunset.

 

thanks for the reminder. it was 30º out today and the driving range at family sports center was packed. i can only imagine how quickly tee times are gonna get snapped up for this upcoming weekend.

[ASak10]

Seems like it's going to be a repeat of last year with having to snap up tee times the minute they are available.  Makes joining a course to get advanced tee times very tempting....

 

Thankfully got a time at GVR for Friday.  Weather so far looks great, hope it holds.  Crazy we're only a few weeks away from being able to post scores again.  

[CDM]

17 hours ago, Dancin said:

With all the play they got last year, courses are taking advantage and bumping up their weekend rates this year. Walnut Creek/Legacy Ridge are raising their walking rate to $55 on weekends 4/1.

 

Just had this conversation on rate increases with friends this weekend. 

 

Dancin I know your tuned in well on aspects like this, but wondering if others really think this will continue or smart?

 

I don't. We all know golf was on a slow decline and a few key factors which are ending I think will change it by late this summer/fall.

 

My 3 factors (tons of aspects behind each😞

Vaccine(s)

Federal Coverages / Unemployment benefits ending

Remote working ending (this I think will be the biggest aspect)

 

My guess is any rate increases will hurt golf later. We all know they "never" truly go back once increased.  So with people going back to 85-90% normal there will be less play. Less free time moving forward and increase in cost..... seems like dbl negative. 

 

**Maybe there was a lot of new players who started and they will stick around...?

 

 

[Dancin]

2 hours ago, CDM said:

 

Just had this conversation on rate increases with friends this weekend. 

 

Dancin I know your tuned in well on aspects like this, but wondering if others really think this will continue or smart?

 

I don't. We all know golf was on a slow decline and a few key factors which are ending I think will change it by late this summer/fall.

 

My 3 factors (tons of aspects behind each😞

Vaccine(s)

Federal Coverages / Unemployment benefits ending

Remote working ending (this I think will be the biggest aspect)

 

My guess is any rate increases will hurt golf later. We all know they "never" truly go back once increased.  So with people going back to 85-90% normal there will be less play. Less free time moving forward and increase in cost..... seems like dbl negative. 

 

**Maybe there was a lot of new players who started and they will stick around...?

 

 

The big increases are likely masking that many public courses actually dropped rates last year due to not wanting to deal in person with determining if someone is a resident or not (I know Walnut/LR were giving everyone the resident rates all year). So instead of a couple dollar raise each year, we get $5-10 raise this year. They can always offer discounts if they scare away too many people.

 

Remote working is here to stay. Office parks eternally screwed. That isn't going back in the bottle for many people.

Edited March 1, 2021 by Dancin

[birdiemachine]

On 2/23/2021 at 10:54 PM, hoselpalooza said:

hey gang, so i just joined commonground men's club. can't wait to compete and meet some of you guys out there! who else in this thread is a member? 

I just joined the men's club as well.  This comes with CGA membership, correct?  So we can get 7 days advance tee times?

[hoselpalooza]

47 minutes ago, birdiemachine said:

I just joined the men's club as well.  This comes with CGA membership, correct?  So we can get 7 days advance tee times?

 

yup! CGA membership + GHIN.

 

7 days is correct. you've gotta act fast though. i called on monday (mid-morning) and the earliest tee times available for saturday and sunday were at 3pm. they go fast. yikes!

Edited March 2, 2021 by hoselpalooza
words

[birdiemachine]

2 minutes ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

yup! CGA membership + GHIN.

 

7 days is correct. you've gotta act fast though. i called on monday (mid-morning) and the earliest tee times available for saturday and sunday were at 3pm. they go fast. yikes!

Yeah just looked at tee sheet. Depressing. Seems like this year will be even worse than last year in terms of getting good tee times. There are no times available on any of the Denver munis next Monday or Tuesday. 

[hoselpalooza]

1 minute ago, birdiemachine said:

Yeah just looked at tee sheet. Depressing. Seems like this year will be even worse than last year in terms of getting good tee times. There are no times available on any of the Denver munis next Monday or Tuesday. 

 

a friend told me he had to book his times at midnight last year. 😬

[ASak10]

Ugh, that's not a good sign.  Confirming my fears about how the year will be with getting tee times. I don't even care about weekend times, I just want to be able to get out early during the week. 

[ALi3]

I had this same issue. I was responsible for booking a time for this Saturday last week. When I checked GVR and Walnut Creek they were already booked through the afternoon. I waited until midnight for Riverdale Dunes to open up and when the tee sheet finally populated I was just getting errors. Went to bed thinking I could get a jump in the morning. Woke up at 5am to grab a time and the earliest I could get was 11:45. by the time I checked out and got back the times were going into the afternoon. Ridiculous.

 

While they aren't the best, I was looking to the club corp courses (Black Bear and Blackstone), since I live between them and they're the closest to me.  They recently decided to drastically increase dues to reduce the membership due to how much play they've been getting. If the price increases don't deter enough members they will be removing members based on seniority. So no private golf for me in the foreseeable future for now. Originally I was looking at joining in the next year, but no where else is close enough based on where I live.  

[pseudoswede]

2 minutes ago, ALi3 said:

While they aren't the best, I was looking to the club corp courses (Black Bear and Blackstone), since I live between them and they're the closest to me.  They recently decided to drastically increase dues to reduce the membership due to how much play they've been getting. If the price increases don't deter enough members they will be removing members based on seniority. So no private golf for me in the foreseeable future for now. Originally I was looking at joining in the next year, but no where else is close enough based on where I live.  

 

I think Meridian would be roughly the same monthly price as Club Corp. The problem with Meridian is that you don't get much/any reciprocal privileges, and there aren't really any amenities.

 

Lone Tree is $325/month, but the back 9 is an awful walk.

 

Another option would be Spring Valley. I think you're about a 15 minute drive away.

[CSURam_06]

1 hour ago, ALi3 said:

While they aren't the best, I was looking to the club corp courses (Black Bear and Blackstone), since I live between them and they're the closest to me.  They recently decided to drastically increase dues to reduce the membership due to how much play they've been getting. If the price increases don't deter enough members they will be removing members based on seniority. So no private golf for me in the foreseeable future for now. Originally I was looking at joining in the next year, but no where else is close enough based on where I live.  

I would not join a Club Corp course at all.  I've heard that you can't get tee times hardly at all on the weekends.  Not sure if its true, but I've heard it more than once.  If you're interested in a club I can give you the run down on Valley.  We joined last year and it was awesome.  Initiation has effectively gone up because of a new pool and other projects in the works, but you can pay it over a few years.  It was the best decision my wife and I have made in a while.  

[Dancin]

Ditto on the club corp courses. You won't be able to get weekend tee times unless you are calling at weird times as soon as they open up from multiple people I know who left. Way too many members. I wouldn't trust them to follow through on kicking out members if the existing members keep paying the higher dues.

[Dancin]

3 hours ago, ALi3 said:

While they aren't the best, I was looking to the club corp courses (Black Bear and Blackstone), since I live between them and they're the closest to me.  They recently decided to drastically increase dues to reduce the membership due to how much play they've been getting. If the price increases don't deter enough members they will be removing members based on seniority. So no private golf for me in the foreseeable future for now. Originally I was looking at joining in the next year, but no where else is close enough based on where I live.  

Pradera and Pinery aren't too far from you and they are running some sort of membership deal right now.

[birdiemachine]

4 hours ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

a friend told me he had to book his times at midnight last year. 😬

Dude, just watched the YouTube videos in you sig. Your swing is very intimidating!  I’d be giving up a 100 yards to you off the tee. 

[birdiemachine]

3 hours ago, pseudoswede said:

 

I think Meridian would be roughly the same monthly price as Club Corp. The problem with Meridian is that you don't get much/any reciprocal privileges, and there aren't really any amenities.

 

Lone Tree is $325/month, but the back 9 is an awful walk.

 

Another option would be Spring Valley. I think you're about a 15 minute drive away.

I belonged to meridian for 3 years. Love the course and practice area. Has a lot of good sticks. I left only because I live on the north side of Denver and the I25 traffic sucks. 

[CDM]

30 minutes ago, birdiemachine said:

I belonged to meridian for 3 years. Love the course and practice area. Has a lot of good sticks. I left only because I live on the north side of Denver and the I25 traffic sucks. 

All traffic seems to suck depending on time/location 😁

[pseudoswede]

2 hours ago, CDM said:

All traffic seems to suck depending on time/location 😁

 

I'm like a 7-minute drive from Meridian, mostly traffic-free. I'm also like a 15-minute traffic-free (but lots of stoplights) drive to Valley CC.

 

The worst was when I worked for a company where the building was on Meridian's back 9 (I think 15th hole? the par 4 after the par 3).

 

But, yeah, I complain if I have to drive anywhere west of 25 or north of Belleview. haha

[hoselpalooza]

8 hours ago, birdiemachine said:

Dude, just watched the YouTube videos in you sig. Your swing is very intimidating!  I’d be giving up a 100 yards to you off the tee. 

 

appreciate the kind words, thank you! i seem to have the bomb part down but need to work on the gouge. 😂 haven't practiced chipping and lag putting since late last fall. 😬 😅 

[RobotDoctor]

On 3/2/2021 at 9:06 PM, hoselpalooza said:

 

appreciate the kind words, thank you! i seem to have the bomb part down but need to work on the gouge. 😂 haven't practiced chipping and lag putting since late last fall. 😬 😅 

 

I think I pulled muscles in my back just watching your swing.  Old guys can't take that.  🤣😂🤣

[Illy]

On 3/2/2021 at 10:27 AM, CSURam_06 said:

I would not join a Club Corp course at all.  I've heard that you can't get tee times hardly at all on the weekends.  Not sure if its true, but I've heard it more than once.  If you're interested in a club I can give you the run down on Valley.  We joined last year and it was awesome.  Initiation has effectively gone up because of a new pool and other projects in the works, but you can pay it over a few years.  It was the best decision my wife and I have made in a while.  

@CSURam_06 How do you like Valley? I have been looking for a private club to join. Hit me up with some details.

[pseudoswede]

7 minutes ago, Illy said:

@CSURam_06 How do you like Valley? I have been looking for a private club to join. Hit me up with some details.

He posted his thoughts on page 2... https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1784804-colorado-wrx-2021/?do=findComment&comment=23352880

[Dancin]

1 hour ago, Illy said:

@CSURam_06 How do you like Valley? I have been looking for a private club to join. Hit me up with some details.

Not that you asked me, but Valley is a nice course and they have a good group of members. They also have a nice short game practice area. I've played a few times now. Their super has been doing a lot of tree removal too which is greatly enhancing the course. I still think it is at least $100 overpriced on the monthly dues for what it is, but they get it due to their location and lack of competition in that part of town. The monthly dues are in the same range as Pinehurst and Glenmoor, which are dramatically better facilities (although those have much higher initiations too).

[birdiemachine]

Commonground was a giant puddle today. But nice to get out and play. Couldn’t get times this weekend. Hope you all get out. I’ll be playing Monday and Tuesday. 

[CSURam_06]

5 hours ago, Dancin said:

Not that you asked me, but Valley is a nice course and they have a good group of members. They also have a nice short game practice area. I've played a few times now. Their super has been doing a lot of tree removal too which is greatly enhancing the course. I still think it is at least $100 overpriced on the monthly dues for what it is, but they get it due to their location and lack of competition in that part of town. The monthly dues are in the same range as Pinehurst and Glenmoor, which are dramatically better facilities (although those have much higher initiations too).

I agree that the cost are a bit high, but they are doing a big project over next summer that will easily put us into that tier of club, maybe not Glemoor, but definitely Pinehurst and Lakewood and others.  Completely new pool area, new turn grill and restrooms, fitness center, kids area, and golf simulators. They are also completely re-doing (excavating, relining, dredging) all of the ponds on the front 9.  And some bunker work on the first few holes. 

[Illy]

On 3/5/2021 at 3:49 PM, Dancin said:

Not that you asked me, but Valley is a nice course and they have a good group of members. They also have a nice short game practice area. I've played a few times now. Their super has been doing a lot of tree removal too which is greatly enhancing the course. I still think it is at least $100 overpriced on the monthly dues for what it is, but they get it due to their location and lack of competition in that part of town. The monthly dues are in the same range as Pinehurst and Glenmoor, which are dramatically better facilities (although those have much higher initiations too).

 

Thanks for the extra info. It is nice to hear the other opinions. It's wild how expensive the private clubs are here in Colorado. Seeing what my friends get in Texas and AZ for their cost is wild.

[hoselpalooza]

On 3/5/2021 at 8:42 PM, birdiemachine said:

Commonground was a giant puddle today. But nice to get out and play. Couldn’t get times this weekend. Hope you all get out. I’ll be playing Monday and Tuesday. 

 

teed off at 3pm yesterday and got in 13 before sundown. still very puddly and the greens were very rough. still made a few birds... and a few bogies 😂 all in all was a gorgeous day and happy to get out for the first time in '21. can't wait for that springtime and summertime weather!

 

btw -- i have an extra tee time at CG for next sunday at noon. if i can't find a buddy to join by tues i'm going to call and try to convert to a single. weather looks dodgy next weekend (40º F and potentially wet) so i can't say this is a hot ticket. 😂

[golf4pj]

Great golf weekend, went south to Colorado Springs to play on Friday at Cheyenne Shadows.

Then South Suburban on Saturday and finished up at Eisenhower on AF Academy on Sunday!

My last round prior to this weekend was Feb 6th, was so good to be back out there again!

[hoselpalooza]

anyone know where is the best practice facility within 30 mins of downtown? looking for a place to practice bunker shots (fairway and green-side) as well as 20y-50y pitches. thanks!