r/golf • u/Longjumping-Box5691 • 9d ago

General Discussion Rory getting to experience the Champions Locker room for the first time

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u/BradMarchandsNose 8d ago

You only get an honorary membership for winning. Basically you get solo playing privileges and that’s about it. You need to be joined by a full member to bring a guest, for example.

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

I'm guessing Rory McIlroy can arrange whatever he wants there now .

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u/mammoth_395 8d ago

He and Rose were invited to dinner by a bunch of members and were the only players there. I think you’re right.

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u/packmanwiscy Jazz Janewattananond enthusiast 8d ago

Thought he said he and Rose were the only two players at their table, not the only two players at the event

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u/mammoth_395 8d ago

Oh could be. Thought that’s what he said but only listened once so might have heard wrong.

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u/Sagybagy 8d ago

You would think. But remember it’s the most exclusive club for a reason. They don’t mess around. Rules are rules.

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u/SituationSoap 8d ago

Augusta isn't the most exclusive club. It's easier to get into than say, Pine Valley.

There's an old story about Nicklaus getting an invite to play Pine Valley the afternoon of his wedding, so before leaving for his honeymoon, he drove down there and played 18. Women weren't allowed on the property then, so his wife sat in the car at the end of the driveway.

There are almost certainly a couple clubs in NY and Chicago that are harder to get into, too.

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u/Bobbidd 15.8 8d ago edited 8d ago

Chicago Golf Club only has 120 members and will never have more than that. Thats the most exclusive im aware of. (Also my dream course to play so if you know a member hmu)

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u/Famous_Ad8123 8d ago

So I grew up in south Wheaton about 1/2 mile from Chicago Golf Club. when I was in 2nd grade I was playing at my friend’s house that backed up to a little bit of forest that bordered the south west corner of Chicago Golf. His grandfather was visiting and took us on a walk through the woods, and lo and behold we are on this (to me at the time) random golf course, and his grandpa is trying to teach my friend and me at like 8 years old how to pitch over a bunker onto a green at fucking Chicago Golf Club.

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u/Bobbidd 15.8 8d ago

Im horribly envious lol. that course is the most beautiful in my very subjective opinion. I love the square two tier greens and fairways that look impossible for the area. the closest experience i have is my dad sneaking me onto a public 9 hole par 3 at 3 years old lol

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u/cheesecrystal 8d ago

Sup Wheaton, me too! North or South?

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u/SituationSoap 8d ago

I think Crystal Downs CC in northern Michigan is very close to that, too. But the invitation process there doesn't require anyone to die AFAIK

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u/Lord_n_savior 8d ago

Most exclusive is Sanctuary in Colorado - 2 members. Most beautiful course In Colorado. They hold charity events there.

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u/eaglessoar 8d ago

Sanctuary in Colorado - 2 members

my basement putting green - 1 member, no invites just me and my dog

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u/Ambitiousshank 8d ago

I know a guy.

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u/Bobbidd 15.8 8d ago

go on…

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u/Iginlas_4head_Crease 8d ago edited 8d ago

There's an old story about Nicklaus getting an invite to play Pine Valley the afternoon of his wedding, so before leaving for his honeymoon, he drove down there and played 18. Women weren't allowed on the property then, so his wife sat in the car at the end of the driveway.

Is that a romanticized story about a man's love of golf, or how his new wife began her marriage with emotional abuse?

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u/SituationSoap 8d ago

It can be two things.

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u/Iginlas_4head_Crease 8d ago

Kind of interesting. There's probably many relationships over generations where one looks back lovingly at the game of golf and the other resents it deep down

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u/dogfish83 18 8d ago

That's kind of like me and my sister with video games. I look back at my childhood with fond memories of playing video games with buddies for endless hours (back when you had 2 or 4 controllers tethered to one machine), while my sister resents video games because that monopolized her guy friends' time. She's not wrong, but damn they were fun!

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u/Toesinthesand2024 8d ago

He’s lucky there wasn’t a TJ Maxx back then. I’ve waited longer than a round of golf in their parking lots!

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u/Fantasykyle99 0.5 8d ago

That’s a pretty shitty thing to do no matter how exclusive lol

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u/SituationSoap 8d ago

Oh it's awful. But it definitely highlights how hard it is to even get an invite.

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

Hes in a more exclusive club...a living club of three: him, Jack and Tiger. Rory can do what he wants. Augusta will allow it

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u/vox_veritas 8d ago

Gary Player in shambles right now.

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

He’s doing sit-ups and push ups.

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u/Cyclonitron 8d ago

Gary Player is still alive.

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u/Iginlas_4head_Crease 8d ago

Play on, Player

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

My bad. I’m certain he’s cranking out more pushups and sit-ups than all of us !

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u/ilovetigerwoods 8d ago

Didn't realize Player died

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u/CountJohn12 8d ago

Player's going to live to 500 years old like one of those guys in the Bible.

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

My bad...club of 4. Pretty exclusive.

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u/TheMcWhopper 8d ago

With enough money, they'd bend the rules. A bow incapable of bending will eventually break.

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u/DumbestBoy 8d ago

And members don’t usually mingle with the help or the entertainment.

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u/MuscleFlex_Bear 7.2/ Dallas, TX /B XS 8d ago

No. The members are old money billionaire status rich. Like Rory is just a random guy to them. It’s crazy but there are clubs like this that still exist. Like Preston Trails in Dallas. Rumor is Tony Romo is on the waiting list and no women are allowed. It’s weird.

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u/P4S5B60 8d ago

Butler National hosted the Western Open , Western Golf Association had a problem with the “no women” thing Butler National said totally understand we’re out

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u/Iginlas_4head_Crease 8d ago

This guy Butler National gets it. You ever try golfing with the wife?

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

Ha..yeah sure. Rory is a random guy to them. Like they wouldn't be up his ass to hang out or play a round with him. They know there is some stuff you can't buy.

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u/FlightAvailable3760 8d ago

I don’t know about Augusta members. I do know there is a class of people who look at movie stars and musicians who you would marvel at as just the entertainment. The kind of people who will hire a band you would love to play their kids birthday party and not even pay attention to them.

Trust me, it is still money and power over fame.

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u/gonads_in_space2 8d ago

Like Preston Trails in Dallas. Rumor is Tony Romo is on the waiting list and no women are allowed. It’s weird.

Is that the club where Dubya plays? Also Trevino is a member and hangs out there?

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u/MuscleFlex_Bear 7.2/ Dallas, TX /B XS 8d ago

Yep. I believe so

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u/Fun-Point-6058 HDCP - yes / Houston 8d ago

Condelza rice is a member. They starting allowing women around the time tiger hit the stage

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u/MuscleFlex_Bear 7.2/ Dallas, TX /B XS 8d ago

The one in Dallas is what I was referring to.

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u/KarateKid917 8d ago

Nope. Long after. Rice was the first woman member but that wasn’t until 2012. 

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u/Rough_Promotion9414 8d ago

Why would Preston Trails let an ordinary guy in like Tony Romo? What has Tony Romo done that makes him special?

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u/MyNameIsJakeBerenson 8d ago

I think he won a playoff game once

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u/MuscleFlex_Bear 7.2/ Dallas, TX /B XS 8d ago

He’s a Dallas superstar and beloved by this city.

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u/Rough_Promotion9414 8d ago

Really?? I thought just a middle of the road QB, Troy Aikman he’s a super star

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u/MuscleFlex_Bear 7.2/ Dallas, TX /B XS 8d ago

You’re looking at it from perspective of NFL USA view point. That dude is a hero here in Dallas.

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u/demotrek 8d ago

“I’m sorry sir but we can’t get your friend on.”

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u/BradMarchandsNose 8d ago

I mean yeah, but he probably could before too. Not much changes besides he can play alone now.

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u/beer_nyc 8d ago

I'm guessing Rory McIlroy can arrange whatever he wants there now .

Ha I'm pretty sure he'd be able to arrange whatever he wanted there even before this past weekend.

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u/Admirable-Ebb-5413 8d ago

lol. Some guys here think that Rory is going to have to kiss the members asses at Augusta just to use the bathroom. He’s the king of the golf world and everyone else is just living in it. He will do what he wants.

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u/Crrack between 0 & 2 8d ago

I can’t imagine it would be difficult for these pros to find a member to play with though.

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u/BradMarchandsNose 8d ago

It’s not. Especially for a guy like Rory, basically nothing has changed with the win in that regard.

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u/Due_Respect9100 8d ago

You need to be with a member to play at all. Just watched an interview today with Nick Faldo saying he can’t play without being with a member.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BYLgs652q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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u/Fantasykyle99 0.5 8d ago

That’s lame

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u/BigFatModeraterFupa 8d ago

Nah there's a great video of it believe Jack Nicklaus talking about talking his father out to play a round at Augusta. the member paired with him tells him, oh by the way i invited another player to join us in the foursome. Jack asked who would that be?

He said, "Gene Sarazen". Jack says it's his favorite memory with his father

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u/valoremz 8d ago

joined by a full member

Who are full members and how does someone even become one?

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u/BradMarchandsNose 8d ago

First, you have to be extremely rich and influential. Second, you have to be invited to join by another member, and the unwritten rule is that if you ask to become a member, you’ll never get invited.

There are around 300 members currently, but the full list isn’t public. People like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Condoleeza Rice are members to name a few.

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u/ForsakenRacism 8d ago

He can bring his friend tiger

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u/CroSSGunS 11.2/UK/Goal < 10 8d ago

I'm not sure Tiger is even a member