Old Charlie

Finalizing some routing details @OldCharlieGC with @KeithRhebb. Every time we get back on site we discover more, and the more we discover, the more excited we get. Ground breaking getting close!

@Notkopisburner All really great but partial to Mid Pines on that list. Haven't played Tot Hill Farm since the renovation, but I hear great things and it was a fantastic track back in the early 2000s. So much fun and sort of a mid-point between the craziness of Tobacco Road and the Pines ones.

On the schedule for September: - tot hill farm - Tobacco Road - Mid Pines - Pine Needles - Southern Pines Give me some of your hot takes on any of these courses

Welcome to Old Charlie! oldcharliegolfclub.com

‘Fore Love of Golf: Cliff McKinney - Old Charlie Golf Club’ is on #SoundCloud on.soundcloud.com/LWqFGPd5jMWiwW…

A lot of folks are saying they want to see the pros play more links golf. Me too, but I think what folks are really saying is they like seeing these guys get really creative. Links is great for that but not a prerequisite. Variety is.

Podcast Episode 3 is up. If you've wondered how we can promise the quality and conditioning of a top private club when we're charging so little to join and play, this episode is for you! open.spotify.com/episode/6U3sKk…

Golf makes us better. Agreed? If you're interested in what we're doing with Old Charlie, check out the podcast! open.spotify.com/show/6NovbMQ4p…

@swatworthy Love that bag!

Would you play Fishers with a pull cart? Or is it push cart?

@SpartyOn21 @Top100Rick Definitely not disregarding etiquette or rules. Our rules effectively boil down to “ take care of the golf course and be mindful of your fellow players.” It’s just a bit more casual and laid back than most private clubs.

@Top100Rick Sounds like a nightmare if you play golf. Course is inviting chaos, disregard for etiquette and rules. 10 hour rounds incoming.

A vacation timeshare…but for a private golf club? Could this work? Would you join something like this? Old Charlie is a new Florida golf club with an intriguing idea. Private golf. But instead of a few hundred members ponying up 6 figures, thousands of members buy the rights to their annual golf dates. Imagine having your once a year buddies trip guaranteed and at a reasonable price. Just $150 a day per guy. With only 72 players per day, it should be a true private experience. There is nothing else like it. I think it’s brilliant. An amazing opportunity to bring the private golf experience to regular people. Rooting big for this to succeed!

@MattR69391492 @Top100Rick No equity, so no assessments. The only price change noted is an inflation adjustment for the yearly fee but never more than 5% any year.

@Top100Rick So the country club for a day model that failed in 90s. Learn some lessons from that and maybe it can work. I kinda doubt it. Private clubs have camaraderie. That won't exist. Costly surprises happen...assessments. how that work? Are rental people that committed?

@ben_reno @Top100Rick Pretty similar except at OC you get to come every year and you don’t have to run the lottery gauntlet every year.

@Top100Rick This is essentially what Sweetens Cove does with their day pass setup, and it's great

@Top100Rick @bajabrian420 *comparison

@Top100Rick @bajabrian420 Quality of golf and golf experience-wise Dormie is a good composing but as Rick mentioned it’s much less expensive. Lodging isn’t in our phase 1 plan but we’ve had a ton of requests for it so we may re-think. We’re certainly leaving room for the possibility.

@CFBexpert12 @Top100Rick Routing this fall/winter. 2028 is best estimate for opening. Considering a lot of private national clubs have a years long waiting list it’s not too bad, plus we’ll do plenty before we open to make it worthwhile for members who join now.

@Top100Rick Do they have a layout / estimated opening date yet?

There is no yearly fee other than the $150/round when you play. We’re setting the place up from the beginning with an eye toward low overhead and maintenance costs. It’s a big reason we didn’t try to redo an existing course. Most are spread too far apart over too much acreage and questionable land to begin with. So we’re starting on lower acreage with great soil. No big clubhouse is another example. Partly that’s because it’s not our vibe but it’s also really expensive to build, maintain, and staff.

@Top100Rick Isn’t this basically what national memberships are, prob with worse /more limited access

@jfabspga @Top100Rick Another is the guaranteed time. At least here in Florida finding an early time at a good public course is next to impossible and they space them at 7 minute intervals so it’s a five hour round a lot of days. At max daily capacity our intervals are still 15 minutes apart.

@Abar_VFL @Top100Rick It’s basically do what’s comfortable for you. Many newer high-end private clubs are like this now. Grove 23 for instance. But I agree with Rick it’s not for everyone and that’s okay.

@Top100Rick You lost me at “drip > dress code”

It is like a resort in that you only pay for the time you use. But not like a resort in that the space is guaranteed, only 72 players a day so it’s more of a private feel, unlimited golf and no hidden charges, drinks are reasonably priced, and you can pretty much do what you want so long as you take care of the course and are mindful of your fellow players.

@Top100Rick So a resort? 😂

@pcal051 @Top100Rick Definitely hot in summer which is why it’s the lowest price. But having all day access will help a bit to work around hottest parts of the day if you want.

Main issue is the location. 40 minutes inland in north Florida during the summer time may as well be an oven. If you’re not done by 12:30, it’s either too hot to play or you’re getting rained out. That’s 4 months out of the year. If you’re going to do this you better pray you get an October or April week

@MLynch22 @Top100Rick Not encouraging “drip” so much as we’re saying “this is your place so dress whatever way is most comfortable for you and we won’t fuss if you’re wearing a hat indoors.”

@Top100Rick It’s not really “private club” experience if people are out there in “drip” and barefoot. It’s a redneck riviera timeshare.