Who says "We The People" can't do things better and cheaper? A public golf course, maintained by citizens' tax revenue for the enjoyment of everyone offers the same level of enjoyment and challenging play as the most exclusive and upscale private country clubs. If you aren't particularly concerned about prestige and status and don't need special amenities like four-star restaurants and swimming pools – and above all, see the value in thrift (a nearly-forgotten American virtue since 1981), public golf courses will serve you well and make you proud to be part of a community.

Finding Local Golf Courses

There's at least one public golf course in most American cities and many have more than one. If you are fortunate enough to live in Southern California, you'll more likely than not find dozens of municipal golf course facilities within a relatively short driving distance of where you live.

Thanks to Internet technology, it's easier than ever to find public golf courses that meet your needs. In addition, there is a wealth of information about each individual public golf course that you can find on any computer with a reliable Internet connection. A simple online search will reveal public golf course information such as the number of holes, the topography and what hazards are in play and of course, tee times. Like their private and exclusive counterparts, public golf courses have scheduled start times, or golf tee times, that permit numerous people to use golf courses at the same time without getting in each others' way. (It's also important to keep up the pace so that those behind you don't interfere with your game.)

When To Tee Off

You have some real flexibility here. And while public golf courses are always less expensive to play at than private facilities, they're even cheaper when you can book some off-peak times, such as weekday mornings. A tee time scheduled at any golf course on the weekend is naturally going to cost more than one scheduled during the week – that's a simple function of supply and demand – so in order to get the best deal on playing at a public golf course, be sure and look for a tee time that is not during a period of peak demand.