Augusta National and Valley Golf Club 'Member Accompaniment Required'
Fishers Island Club 'Access by Boat and Private Plane Only'
Souvenirs Available Only to Chicago Golf Club Members
The Masters battleground, Augusta National, is notorious as a 'snobby club' known for its exclusive operations.
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Money and power are useless. This is a story about golf courses where it is not easy to secure a tee time. Recently, Golf.com in the United States selected and announced 11 golf courses where booking is impossible in the U.S. These are exclusive golf courses where not just anyone can step onto the field.
First is Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, USA, the battleground of the Masters, known as the "Masters arena." It is notorious for its closed operation, earning the nickname "snobby club." Without being accompanied by a member, you cannot enter the clubhouse or even play a round. A famous anecdote is that former U.S. President Bill Clinton was rejected for membership because he "publicly announced his intention to join in advance."
The 300 members are naturally some of the world's top figures, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Black people were only allowed to join starting in 1990, and women were first admitted in 2012, including former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Dala Moore. The green jacket awarded to the winner was originally worn by members. It was created both to distinguish members and to help waiters easily identify who would pay.
Another top course is Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, USA, which is also a difficult golf course to play. It opened in 1913. It is a regular number one on Golf Digest’s list of the world’s top 100 golf courses. It actually topped the "bucket list golf courses" that amateur golfers want to visit before they die. It does not host professional golf tournaments at all because there is no route for galleries to move around.
It is a strict membership club. There are almost no members from the Pine Valley area. Playing without being accompanied by a member is impossible. Pine Valley opened its doors to female members last year after 108 years. The restriction that women could only use the course on Sunday afternoons was removed. Jim Davis, CEO of Pine Valley, said, "It is a historic change that we unanimously deleted discriminatory rules," adding, "From now on, anyone can play without time restrictions."
Fishers Island Club in Fishers Island, New York, USA, is located at the eastern tip of Long Island. It can only be accessed by boat or private plane. It is a place that ordinary people cannot easily visit. When Golf.com ranked Fishers Island Club 9th among the top 100 courses in the U.S. in 1979, the club’s representative responded interestingly. He wrote a letter to the editor saying, "It is an honor. Please remove us from the best courses list."
Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, USA, cannot be left out. It is the first 18-hole course in the U.S. The number of members is only 100. You must be accompanied by a member to play a round. Guests cannot even buy items at the pro shop. Only members can pay and make purchases.
Other golf courses that are difficult to play include Cypress Point Golf Club, Crystal Downs Country Club, Garden City Golf Club, Nanea Golf Club, Ohoopee Match Club, Seminole Golf Club, and Sand Hills Golf Club.
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