Which course to join? Melbourne Eastern Suburbs

[jonti]

After recommendations on a course to join
Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne - within 30minutes of Ringwood

At this stage I'm thinking Cranbourne
Good track, no waiting time and no joining fee

Just there may be a few thoughts of other courses/ options
Dont really want to wait and would prefer no joining fee

Cheers

[Webster]

Eastwood?

[jonti]

I thought about Eastwood but the joining fee is nearly $1000

If it wasn't for that I would be keen,
It's close and a good clubhouse

[Webster]

You'd spend that in fuel and tolls, plus time going to Cranny.

[spanner039]

How does keysbourgh stack up compared to the cranbourne courses? No joining fee.

[jonti]

Keysbourgh sounds alright - great track!
But looks like yo have to buy a share?
Anyone have any idea how much a share is?
And do you pay an annual fee? and how much?

[Webster]

Keysborough is an average track, populated by half the morons from ISG. They are in a dire financial state with an old clubhouse falling down around them. You be better off joining Southern or Long Island.

[timinsa]

True jack. The other half of the morons from ISG are here.
Having been an impartial visitor there its a decent track that is doing deals for new members.

[Webster]

Correct on both points timinsa.

They have backed themselves into some serious financial corners though. One of the worst managed clubs in the country.

[Hidepenny]

How about freeway? Not sure about costs and fees but a well maintained IMHO

[Goldy]

Freeway is a public course with the Camberwell GC attached - but it's like playing down your front hallway.

If you were going public in the East you'd be way better off at somewhere like Ringwood, IMO.

There's Box Hill, but the layout is weird - but they usually have specials around joining fees and such.

Yering Meadows? Nice layout - not sure what the costs are.

[jonti]

Thanks guys,
Its either come up with the $$$$'s and join cranbourne or play socially @ Ringwood.
The descion is up to me but thanks for the feedback
Cheers

[Puji]

Re: Keysborough.

So I guess I am one of those Moron's but on ozgolf more than ISG.

I am a junior member in the 21-24 age bracket.

I enjoy the course.

LAYOUT:
The reason why I joined the course. I really enjoy the set up of the course. I find it difficult to score on, and I feel that the course can spit you out if you are not on your game. I like the space the course occupies - very open with some very picturesque positions. I appreciate that fairway's are quite distant and do not go 'back to back'.

The course is sheltered from roads/houses, which i really like as I live and work in the city. It is good to get as far away from concrete as possible.

CONDITION:
When I joined <8 months ago; it was in great condition - particularly the greens.

Since then the greens have suferred from disease and the club has grown them in an effort to protect them. For the first half of the year the greens have been terrible. But now they are almost back to how they once were. The greens have sped up and have been very true and testing. What lets the course down is the lies around the green. Bald patches and uneven mowing really hurt the experience.

Fairways have always been a strong point. they have always been great, good bounce and roll. Although some holes do suffer from saturation during winter - although last year they did extensive work to fix the drainage issues.

Bunkers - always GUR when water hits the course, varying sand conditions depending on the hole. The layout of the bunkering is fantastic, but the conditions leave a lot to be desired. some hard pan lies and some fluffy, pluggable bunkers as well. You learn this as you play the course

Financial situation: I have absolutely no idea about - and the fact there isn't a joining fee for myself as a junior member it doesn't bother me.

The clubhouse is old, but again not something which will sway me graetly when making a decision about a golf club. The members seem to enjoy it however. I'm just boring like that. I play golf and leave.

Having said that, I think I am moving to southern next year as I will be up for full subs + lease fee next year as I am no longer eligible for the junior rates. Southern have offered me a great deal.

[Webster]

Puji, what did Southern offer you?

[chappy1970]

I have been a member of Southern for a number of years and for the first time in more than 25 years of club membership I dropped back to non-playing, due to cost and my lack of playing.

I was seriously considering dumping my membership all together this year as the non-playing membership in its previous form was ridiculous.

Anyway the old GM has gone the new GM is fantastic, they have competely changed the non-playing scope and cost model, so I will saddle up for another year.

Jonti, you'd do worse than joining Southern

[Pingsta]

Jonti,

My vote is for Cranbourne and with the current deal on offer for new memberships this is an opportunity to good pass up; but you'd better act quickly as I think the deal ends pretty soon.

Alternatively if you are going to play socially close to home you can't go past Waterford valley; in my opinion I rate the course much higher than Ringwwod-Dorset-Morack etc in terms of challenge and interest factor.

[hocko]

Cranny is a more than decent track, it's not woodlands but it's not 10K either.
For me it's a no brainer.

[RobNewy]

Keysborough is an average track, populated by half the morons from ISG. They are in a dire financial state with an old clubhouse falling down around them. You be better off joining Southern or Long Island.

Did someone piss on your toes at Keysey, Jack.

The course is great, granted the wet weather hit it pretty hard, dunno were you get your financial info from havent heard any dire straights, and the clubhouse is old, but very comfy. The beer is cold and clean, the staff are excellent, the food is great.
What more do you want

[ozdevil]

you could also try eastern golf club...

[Webster]

Rob, the course is not 'great', it's average. Barely top 100 in the country, and a wet slopheap whenever it rains. The club is broke, have a read of last years annual report.

Are you following the Henry Griffitts thread tonite on ISG? The self promoting Zenolink man has had a bit of a meltdown. Hilarious.

[RobNewy]

I did read itJack. Was a touch unusual

[Webster]

Ron, I have nothing against Keysey, it's always a pleasure to play there. But I fear for it's future, due to the current financial stresses, an ageing clubhouse which will shortly need a big capital injection, and a weakening golf market reducing members everywhere. I can understand why it suits you (the cost in particular), but I just don't see how they can compete longer term with the likes of Southern and Spring Valley, unless it's solely on price, which of couse can't last forever.

There are too many Clubs in that part of town who are struggling, and sadly Keysey might be the most exposed of all of them.

[RobNewy]

True Jack, i see your point.
For the price it is very hard to beat, but a lot of courses are doing great things to get new members now
Im looking in particular at Rosanna who have jalved there joining fee untill September, which coincidently is when my Keysey subs run out.
Have you heard any financials about them or know were i can find any?

[Raymagoo]

Cranny of the privates down there is the best course, new clubhouse looks like a public library thou. Keysy is in financial strife course was very average last time I played there! Peninsula is great! Southern decent.

[shankguru]

aaahhh... just jumped over from ISG and good to see some common sense in a thread like this. Over there a thread like this gets hijacked pretty quickly!

Jonti, what's your price range for annual subs (you mentioned no joining)? At most clubs these days you could negotiate a pretty good deal upfront... not sure where they are at, but Kingswood, Southern, Spring valley are all good tracks and play pretty well throughout the year, that's where you get the value from joining a course that you can play for 12 months a year as opposed to 8?