The places to play golf in Quebec, Canada, or plentiful. Golf Max.com lists 281 public and private courses in the province. Thirty of those courses are private and most of them are open to new members. The golf industry has not fared well in the recession of 2008-2010, and many private clubs have seen their membership rolls dwindle and have slashed their initiation fees accordingly. However, the top-rated golf course in Quebec, Royal Montreal, appears to be closed to new members, although Prince Andrew would undoubtedly be welcomed.
Memberships
Private golf courses usually charge an initial fee to join and then impose monthly dues on their members. Private clubs usually have a number of different categories of membership. The Balmoral Golf Club in Quebec, for example, offers a dozen membership levels, from a principle member at an annual rate of $4,300 to a junior rate for youngsters 7 to 20 years old, to a senior weekday rate or $1,500.
Closed Membership
The Royal Montreal County Club is an example of a private club that appears to be closed to new members. The oldest golf club in North America, it was founded in 1873 by a group of eight men, and in 1884 Queen Victoria gave the club the right to use the "Royal" prefix. In addition to its haughty beginnings, the Blue Course at Royal Montreal is ranked at the best golf course in Quebec and the 10th best course in Canada by ScoreGolf. Continuing indications of the club's aristocratic origins is found in the dress code, which forbids jeans and shoes without socks while requiring women to wear shorts and skirts at a "conservative length."
Advantages
A country club has certain advantages over a public course. The Knowlton Golf Club in spells out some of these benefits on its website. You can always get a tee time. Good teaching pros give you lessons. The club organizes tournaments. A dining room with fine cuisine is in a "unique, informal but exclusive atmosphere." In addition, a private club can be a great place to conduct business. Many private clubs have swimming pools, gyms or exercise rooms, and many social activities for the whole family.
Considerations
Joining a private club can be expensive. You might not enjoy playing one course all the time and prefer the variety of public courses. Memberships can be hard to sell. The value of memberships, especially in the early 21st century, have plummeted at many clubs. If you can afford it and the club you are considering joining offers it, an introductory membership may be the way to go. You can play the course to see if you like it well enough to want to play it again and again. You can see if you and your family feels comfortable around the other members. In Quebec, The Knowlton Golf Club offers and introductory membership for $2,000. The membership includes 12 rounds of golf, a $375 credit at the bar, all clubhouse privileges, and up to 12 guests.
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