First, this isn't meant to be a brag post - I sincerely want to know what people's thoughts are.

I currently play golf 1-2 times a week at a Top 50 national public course. This course has hosted PGA Tour events and NCAA National Championships. There are two championship 18-hole courses and an 18-hole short course. I can usually get a tee time for 7AM and be finished with 18 holes around 10AM. This course is 15 minutes away from my house and costs about $60/round with a cart if you have a discount card. I also go to the driving range 1-2 times per week, and a large bucket of balls is $16. I generally like this course, but sometimes it is hard to get a tee time, and sometimes if I'm by myself they'll pair me with a random person. It gets played a lot, but it's in very good shape for a public course.

I am strongly considering signing up at a local country club. This club is home to a high level DI golf program and it has hosted several NCAA regionals. It is very nice in its own right. There is only one course, but there is also a nice driving range and practice facility that would be included in the membership. This course is usually pretty wide open on the days when I play, it's open during the afternoons, and is generally much more flexible than the one I play now. Initiation would cost $7K, and monthly fees would be $385/month with no restaurant minimums required. This course is 5 minutes from my house.

I have a 10-year old son who has a good swing and is interested in playing more golf with me. This would be the most possible during the afternoon after school. I also have an 8-year old daughter and a 4-year old son. It's not solely an economic decision, but it is always a consideration and if my kids started playing a lot the club option would save us money. I work from home and have a flexible schedule.

The appeal of the country club is the access to play at times when my kids can play, proximity to home, and access to the driving range. It just seems like I'll have much easier access to the country club. There is also a gym there that is literally the closest gym to my house - my wife would probably start going there instead of to her current gym. There is also a pool, but my HOA and house also have pools.

The appeal of the public course is mostly the variety, and it has been cheaper in the past when my son wasn't playing with me.

Is there anything I'm missing? Any country club horror stories (I tried to search but didn't find much)?