Can You Really Play Whenever You Want at a Private Golf Club? Here’s What to Know
By: Jason Becker – CEO of Golf Life Navigators
June 10, 2025
If you’re new to private golf clubs…
Or considering one in a new geographic region…
Knowing how crowded it gets is important, especially if you plan on playing multiple times per week.
Let’s start with…
Peak Season / Tee Times
Private courses can get extremely crowded in high season, so it’s perfectly acceptable to ask club officials what you should expect in terms of tee time availability.
They know how important golf is, and they may even let you peek at the tee sheet if you ask politely.
Understanding how the tee time system works is key, too.
For example, many busy clubs use the “Chelsea” reservation system, a weighted lottery where you earn or lose points (ie, booking priority) based on your booking/playing history.
(By the way, “no tee times” is one of the many things you can request when you Complete your ProGuide³.)
Now let’s talk about…
Maintenance and Weather-Related Factors
Beyond peak season crowding, the climate can significantly impact your ability to play “whenever you want.”
Even places where “the weather is perfect” can have heat/drought restrictions or regular afternoon thunderstorms that limit playable hours.
Some clubs close for overseeding in fall, while others have periodic aerification schedules that temporarily impact playability.
Again, it’s perfectly fine to ask club officials about these seasonal playability patterns.
Finally, pay attention to (or ask about) how well the course drains and how quickly it recovers after rain.
This can mean the difference between a course being unplayable for a few hours…or a few days.
Likewise, it’s smart to consider the club’s cart usage policies during extremely wet (or dry) conditions.
Extended path-only or walking-only periods could affect your enjoyment if mobility is a concern.
In Summary…
By understanding peak-season playability…
The tee time system…
Known weather / maintenance patterns…
And cart usage policies…
You should be able to tell if a given golf course meets your year-round playing expectations.
To drill into more details like this, complete your ProGuide³ and we’ll send you a list of your best matched club communities.
