How I Planned My First Trip
So I decided to check out Glen Annie Golf Course last summer. Packed my clubs on a Saturday morning thinking “weekend golf, perfect!” Wrong move. Got there around 10am and wow – parking lot jam-packed, starter guy said 45-minute wait minimum. Green fees? Almost $150 bucks! Ended up playing bumper carts all day with five groups waiting on every hole. Total disaster.
My Experiment to Dodge Crowds
After that mess, I called up the pro shop pretending I was a clueless newbie. Asked things like “when do your regulars usually play?” and “when do twilight rates kick in?” Sneaky but effective. The dude spilled all the beans – weekends packed, Mondays busiest weekday, Thursday afternoons dead as roadkill.
Then I went full scientist mode:
- Tried Tuesday 7:30am slot – chilly but empty fairways
- Came back Thursday 3pm – $45 twilight rate, only saw 4 groups
- Tested rainy Friday morning – got soaked but played 18 holes in 3 hours flat
The Money Saving Tricks That Worked
Figured out the golden rules real quick:
- Never book weekends before 2pm – that’s rich people hour
- Twilight rates start 3pm weekdays – half-price golf!
- Spring/fall afternoons = perfect weather + thin crowds
- Winter weekdays if you don’t mind wind – practically got the place to myself
My favorite discovery? Late Thursday afternoons. Sun still up, nobody around, and paid less than my lunch bill. Even the cart girl remembered my name cause so few players.
Why This Changed My Golf Life
Used to hate slow play and wasting money. Now? I’ve played Glen Annie eight times this year spending less than two weekend rounds. Saw deer chilling on the 9th fairway last month – never happens when it’s crowded. Pro tip: call ahead when weather looks iffy – they’ll give you discount rates hoping to get bodies on course. Works like 80% of the time.
Next I’m testing dawn patrol in November – heard you can see ocean fog rolling over the hills while playing. Will report back y’all!
