Forget the stuffy formality you might associate with the phrase “golf club.” There are only two things a modern golf group needs to qualify as a club:
1. Provide a social outlet and value to ten or more liked-minded golfers.
2. Be affiliated with an allied/regional golf association (like the SCGA) for the purpose of providing legitimate Handicap Indexes.
But finding one that fits your personality, your game, and your schedule can often be anything but fun.
A quick Google search of the term “golf club” will give you a mixed bag (and 1,640,000,000 results). You’ll almost certainly see something from a local sporting goods store about the newest Callaway driver. There will be plenty of golf courses and facilities near you with “Golf Club” in their name. You might even see something for a new golf simulation video game.
Sometimes lost in this shuffle is one of the most common meanings of the word “club”, both in and outside of golf: a group of people coming together for a common interest. In this context, most golfers are familiar with clubs or groups that organize around a home course, whether that be a private facility or the local muni.
It makes sense why so many clubs would form this way. In many ways, these clubs are an integral part of the history of golf. The easiest place to find other people to play golf with is on the golf course and when you're forming a group, having a regular meeting place is an easy way to keep things consistent and attract new members. Plus, whether it's a connection to the surrounding community, the feeling of becoming a local expert as you play the course multiple times, or simply having a place to call home, many golfers find themselves drawn to find a "home course". In many ways, these clubs are an integral part of the history of golf.
Here's a great example of a group that calls Rancho Park Golf Course home:
However, there are also thousands of groups that don’t claim a home course and decide to play different courses throughout the year. Called "travel clubs" or sometimes "affiliate clubs", these groups are made up of friends, co-workers, alumni or just people who simply love golf, and will play a multitude of different courses throughout the year.
Swing Sisters Golf Society is a travel group that plays all around the Orange County area:
What makes many of today’s golf clubs stand out isn’t just where they play, but why they play. The real value in joining a golf club is spending time on the golf course with people you can connect with. Sometimes that connection is your favorite course or something else about the game. Sometimes that connection has nothing to do with golf at all. There are clubs organized around everything from surfers and beer lovers to military veterans and LGBTQ+ golfers.
Want to play with people who share your taste in music or love dogs or root for your favorite football team? Of course you do, and odds are, they’re already meeting up on weekends for a few holes and a few laughs. Golf becomes the thread, but the community is built on the personal connections made.
No matter what kind of group interest you, each club has their own style that makes them unique. There are clubs that exist for every demographic of golfer: men and women, seniors and millennials, beginners and scratch golfers, aerospace engineers and film editors.
The L.A. County Firefighters find time on the course to unwind from their stressful job:
Ask anyone who’s joined a golf club like this, and chances are the first thing they’ll mention isn’t a score they shot—it’s a person they met. These clubs foster real friendships, give you a group to celebrate (or commiserate) with, and help make a big region like Southern California feel just a little smaller.
In fact, many golfers say they didn’t realize how much they were missing from their lives until they joined a club. Here are a few real examples of SCGA members that opened a whole new world of opportunities once they joined a golf club:
I moved to SD in August 2020 during the pandemic. As a single person working from home I’ve had limited opportunities to meet people. I found the Stroke of Luck Golf Group and the members have all been welcoming and inviting. Playing twice a month with the group has been a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests. They’ve made the transition to a new area a lot less lonely.
- Brian C., Stroke of Luck Golf Group
Our club is more like a family of women who have each other’s backs. We all love golf and participation is very high not only with our club but also Pub Links tournaments. If someone gets sick or needs help, you can always count on our lady’s to come through. I can say my best friends belong to this group.
- Judy B., Mile Square Swingers
Clubs like these are what is needed to move golf forward. It has brought together an ever increasing mix of guys and gals, giving an opportunity to meet new people and play golf any day you wish. I have met and played with folks from all over LA and played new courses I otherwise might've never played. The events and tournaments are targeted at golfers of all ages, skill levels. There is a chance to play for fun, for money, and just have a damn good time. Just a good bunch people out to have enjoy the greatest game on earth.
- Steven S., Tropicana Golf Club
Southern California is so diverse that's it seems impossible to define any group as the "typical golf club". There's such a blend of cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles that every group offers their own unique experience, so all it takes is the right one that fits your vibe. For so many of the transplants to the region, golf offers an opportunity to truly feel embedded in the SoCal community. Just ask Alex, a Cleveland native, music producer, and proud member of Tiny Putters Golf:
All that said, don't think that means golf clubs don't take their golf seriously. Golf is still the cornerstone of what brings these groups together and golf clubs offer you an experience you simply can't match during your typical golf round. There’s a wide variety of events that these groups hold, from competitive individual tournaments, to team competitions, to skins games, to social outings. But don't let the idea of playing in a tournament fool you: more clubs identify as a place for fun, social outings than strictly for competitive golf.
Tired of playing alone? Looking to grow your network of golf buddies? There are over 1,500 golf clubs in Southern California, so whether you’re a Happy Gilmore or a Judge Smails, there’s a group of golfers like you out there.
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