For some people there has always been a somewhat negative perception about a public golf course, with the inference that it is not as well maintained as private courses or country clubs. The reality is, that just like many businesses open to the public, there are good ones and ones that are not so good, and there are others that rival some of the best private courses in terms of grounds condition and amenities. Some also believe that those who play on a public golf course are not serious about the quality of their game.
While many tournaments pit players against one another, to the golfer on the public golf course, it is not enough to have a better score than their competition. While cruising around the course, most rarely consider how well, or how bad, the other person is performing. Instead, they are competing against the golf course and not the other players in the contest. It is not until the end of the round that scores are tallied and then the friendly banter begins and the trash talk begins about beating them the next time.
Memberships in private clubs can be pricey with the selling point being better course conditions and fewer people on the course, making play faster and less stressful than that on a public golf course. However, those that consider a public golf course their home turf, there is something stuffy about other courses that brag about having fewer people play on their grounds.
Course Conditions Can Vary Greatly
Depending on the golf course being played, conditions such as the cut of the greens, the length of the fairway grass and the condition of the tee boxes can vary. While most people believe that private courses and country clubs will offer the best conditions, many times a public golf course will have superior conditions, surpassing some of the exclusive playing fields.
Most golfers are willing to pay slightly more to play on a public golf course that is in good condition, where some food may be offered and the employees make them feel like a welcome addition to their daily work instead of an intrusion. Many of these courses, especially those near popular vacation areas often offer some of the best golf available.
It is also recommended that, while playing the same golf course repeatedly allows people to become better at the game, to truly become a better golfer it will pay to book a golf travel package to see how well different angles and views can be determined in unfamiliar territory.