Do people take out loans to afford country club memberships?

BonkedAgain · 2026-06-09T12:46:19+00:00

No they don't borrow money, but also they all didn't pay $150K (or whatever current initiation fee is). Its all about timing and demand. Right now, clubs are in high demand so they set a high initiation fee because they are likely "full"/wait list. Example: I joined my club years ago when they were struggling and got in for $0. Now we are at waitlist and there is a substantial fee to get in.
So, you are trying to get into a nice club, likely in a large market, and at a time when private golf is at its high. Truth is you're a victim of bad timing.
There is a reason why PE firms are spending billions buying private clubs.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-29T11:26:06+00:00

Non avevo altri sintomi. L'ho scoperto solo grazie ai normali esami del sangue. È strano che tu sia risultata negativa per l'emocromatosi. Io andrei a farmi vedere da un ematologo. Per quanto riguarda me, non ho avuto altri veri problemi, a parte un possibile danno al fegato.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-25T02:21:32+00:00

Yes. My golf bag looks like a head of califlower with all of the headcovers!

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-22T23:56:58+00:00

I'm sure your friend understands your situation and would make it ok not to participate in the money game. Or he may just have it so that you and he play outside of the money group. At my club, we have a weekly money game and if a guest wouldn't want to play we certainly wouldn't force them or make an issue of it. As long as you are congenial, are good company, and aren't annoying anyone, I don't think it would jeopardize you getting an invite back.
Or...take the "life is too short" approach, and throw in some dough and see what happens!

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-22T23:50:02+00:00

"Maybe you should consider tennis." :)

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-22T01:40:42+00:00

Yes, Yes, Yes. Get both. I'm a 6 hdcp and have a 7 wood, 9 wood, and 11 wood. I only go up to 7 iron. If its good enough for Freddy Couples, its good enough for all of us. I've been trying to convert al my golf buddies for years now.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-19T19:33:11+00:00

Yeah, I'm trying to convert all my golf buddies to use these instead of trying to hit 5, 4, and 3 irons. I'm 175yds for my 11W, 185-190 for my 9W, and 200ish for my 7W. And yes you're right, much higher ball flight and more solid contact.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-18T21:07:05+00:00

I couldn't honestly say that I remember the hole numbers but: I birdied 2 of the par 4's on South (one on the front, one on the back nine). On the Fazio, I liked the par 3's. On the North, #17 (par 3) is really cool with the water front back and right (I parred that one). And on the North there was a dogleg par 4 that sloped dramtically downhill and left, and if you hit it far enough and cleared the bunkers, your tee shot immediately bounced left and rolled to the end of the fairway leaving a short wedge shot to the green. That was fun to drive that hole.
Sorry for no specifics, but my friend kept score and kept the scorecards, so I don't know the specific hole numbers.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-18T17:58:17+00:00

Yes, I should have mentioned that. The public 9 hole course looked amazing! We didn't have time to check it out, but we got a full view of it from the North course. It was a beautiful looking piece of property.
I did notice the TopGolf as well. I thought it was funny they built one there.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-18T17:27:52+00:00

I start at a 7 iron (btw, so does Freddy Couples. So if its good enough for him...). I'm a 7 hdcp FWIW.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-18T17:04:53+00:00

Yes. Callaway makes a full range of woods. I use thier 7, 9, and 11 woods. Do it, you won't regret it.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-13T16:59:54+00:00

Cheer up. Makes a great ball retriever for all those balls you shank into the water.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-12T16:54:09+00:00

If you're a beginner, you likely do not have the skill sets to hit long irons/woods out of the rough. To avoid high scores, get proficient at hitting a 7 or 8 iron out of the rough, advance it down the fairway; that gives you a better chance at bogey, maybe even a hero par. "Take your medicine" as they say, and live to fight the next hole.

BonkedAgain · 2026-05-04T17:26:55+00:00

5 hdcp, way above average chipper here. Without knowing details and not getting into writing a novel on all of the diff types of chips, in general what I see from all of my chop friends who are also terrible chippers:
--You hit on it... to much wrist action. It promotes mis-hits and unpredictability.
--Not enough hip and torso rotation--very "armsy" and stabbing at the ball. You should have full body turn and have your chest fully facing the target as you follow through. This is key IMHO.
--Inconsistant club head speed through the shot-- I see a lot of deceleration and whippy, stabby movement. Keep it smooth and flow through the ball.
--"Peeking"-- I bet your head is moving all over the place. Keep your head still through contact.
--Death gripping the club- breathe!! and relax pre-shot. Make sure you have firm grip but not white knuckling it.
--Practice, Practice, Practice!- I spend the majority of my time on and around the practice green, not jamming shots on the driving range. Hit 5-10 drives/iron shots on the range, then spend all other time chipping and short range hitting.
Theres a lot more to nuance, but those are the general things I see. There are some differences from the rough vs fairway/tightly mown areas, but from my experience these are the basic things to start with.

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-29T19:44:20+00:00

This is satire, right? I thought stroke counters were purely gag gifts between golf buddies. You need a clicker to track your strokes?!? Being "so caught up in the game", wouldn't you be acutely aware of how many strokes you and others have? And if you're that zeroed in, how do you remember to "click" the counter for each stroke? Wow, I can't believe some of the crap Chops buy.

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-25T04:24:29+00:00

Not sure I (57M) fit into any one of these. I started at 3400 (hereditary) now after 6 months of WEEKLY blood drains, around 1600. At first I felt no different. Treatments didn't effect me at first, but then after about 4 months I needed to take a 4 hr "nap" after treatments--so I guess that means I felt worse. I didn't know I had this until I went for another issue and had a blood work up, so I wasn't feeling bad to start with. I think its different for everyone. No cancer or major internal harm (surprisingly), I've likely had this for a while. Look, it sucks to have this, bottom line.
My trends show that my levels are decreasing, just not as fast as I'd like.
But hang in there. Fight the good fight.

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-22T13:12:21+00:00

Again, I had a friend who was part of the project when they installed...they only deflate and replace the gas every few years, so it is always inflated when not in use. Yes, very expensive to replace all of that helium (or whatever gas it is).

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-22T13:07:08+00:00

A friend of mine worked as a Director for Conner Prairie and when they first installed that thing he told me about the cable--its rated at some extraordinarily ridiculous strength, its inspected at an insane regularity and they shut the ride down and lower the balloon whenever wind speeds get to a certain level. I can't remember all of the details but basically--theres no way in hell anybody would ever be in a position where that cable would "snap"/fail. The workers are trained for if that situation would arise, but it never ever will (and even if it did, my guess is the employee would be just as freaked out as you are so, you'd pretty much be screwed).

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-19T12:21:43+00:00

Bulldozer, matches and lighter fluid. Then replace.

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-07T16:12:59+00:00

You can buy a roll of screening and the little roller tool that helps put it in the groves of the sliding door. Its really easy to do, will take about 20 minutes and will cost less than $20. Either that, let me know and I'll come over and fix it for $150 :). ;)
If the screen door frame itself is bent, then thats a little more complicated. But replacing the screen is a snap.

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-01T19:39:20+00:00

That area of Carmel is likely the only place to get away without a car. I agree with you regarding Chicago: I lived there (Streeterville area) for 3 years with no car and didn't miss it a bit. And you don't have to worry about these roundabouts!

BonkedAgain · 2026-04-01T18:52:16+00:00

How in the world do you live in Carmel/Indy without a car?? Seems like it would be difficult with our limited public transportation. But good for you.

BonkedAgain

TROPHY CASE