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Should You Join An “Online” Country Club? Here Are Five Options
Golf is a social game. There are times when a solitary walk down a fairway brings solace and comfort. The silence can put a busy mind at ease and reset a rabbiting heart.
But isolation is not sustainable.
There is a rich history of clubs across the globe. Storied traditions lining the halls of these sporting and social cathedrals are rarely seen by the uninitiated. Originally a divide of the haves and the have nots, the who’s who and the elites, an escape for those desirous of the seclusion of an upper-class lifestyle.
But times change, and golf evolves.
With the explosion of the internet and social media, we’ve seen the arrival of a new “country club” without a physical embodiment of structure or routing. One built on connection and appreciation. A community of like-minded individuals in pursuit of a singular goal.
The “Online” Country Club
You’ve probably heard of a few already. Random Golf Club, the brainchild of Erik Anders Lang, and the Broken Tee Society (part of your membership to the Golfer’s Journal) are two that come to mind first.
But there are countless others: No Laying Up’s “The Nest,” The Buck Club, The Eighty Club, The Dormie Network… you get the point.
Each may vary in their structure but they all share a common purpose in bringing people together. Whether it’s through apparel or events, these societies are redefining what it means to be a member at a club.
Sugarloaf Social Club, for example, has one simple goal: “To bring joy to ourselves and to folks who follow along through our golf adventures and fun products. We are interested in the high-low of the game—that is really the spice of life—top 100 chasing one day, dusty bucolic muni the next. Modelos and caviar type stuff.”
“When you see a stranger wearing our logo, you know you’ll be instant friends—it’s a bat signal for golf nerds.” Ian Gilley, President Sugarloaf Social Club
Take the Outpost Club, for example. Originally hoping to build a course, founders Quentin, Colin and Will pivoted and started the Outpost Club in 2010, modeling their approach after British golfing societies. Their goal? “To create a community of like-minded golfers who love to travel and play great places. Through this shared passion, to create friendships and long-lasting bonds.”
That is a tenet followed by many clubs/societies today.
With rising costs of initiation dues and the ever growing waiting list, what’s not to love about these communities? Here are a few of our favorites:
Broken Tee Society
Cost: $275 (Premium), $90 (Subscription), $60 (Digital)
Benefits: Each tier comes with its different benefits. The “Premium” membership allows individuals to become a benefactor of The Broken Tee Society and get access to our most exclusive events and premium members-only gifts.
Why Join? For starters, you get copies of the Golfer’s Journal, a fantastic publication. And the private community is full of golf lovers. It’s a group of golf purists who have evolved to appreciate the game in a more modern form.
The Nest at No Laying Up
Cost: $90
Benefits: Members of the Nest receive exclusive access to message boards, podcasts, giveaways, event access and discounts to their own pro shop items. There is also an annual member’s gift.
Why Join? There is a lot of overlap with Broken Tee Society here. The NLU pro shop is more robust and their content game can’t be matched in the golf industry, so those could be reasons to opt for The Nest. Both are excellent so it’s splitting hairs.
Outpost Club
Cost: Undisclosed
Benefits: The OC conducts more than 70 events and dinner matches each year. They also provide members with limited playing privileges to “a select peer group of architecturally significant private clubs throughout the country—and around the world.”
Why Join? If you are an architecture nerd and more of a golf traditionalist, the Outpost Club is a great option. It’s also a great way to play some of prestigious and historically significant courses.
Random Golf Club
Cost: $90 for a Member Box
Benefits: Access to online pro shop, member events, podcasts and more.
Why Join? RGC is all about inclusivity and making golfers feel welcome regardless of their background or how they got into the game. There are a lot of events and a growing community that feels more informal than some of the previous ones on this list.
Sugarloaf Social Club
Cost: Free
Benefits: Online pro shop, events, online network.
Why Join? It’s free, which is a nice start. If you’re interested in swag and accessories with a common linkage among golfers, this is a cool place to visit.
So welcome to the age of the “Online” Country Club.
Are these clubs here to stay or a fad? Tell us what you think.
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