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What are the rules?It's a private club that's limited to 60 players a day. There really aren't all that many. There are only two that if broken may result in dismissal from the club: disrespect to the staff or reselling your reservation for higher than face value. Otherwise, if you think it might not be okay, just ask. It's probably just fine. Oh, and play fast or allow others to pass. That's probably the cardinal one. Everything else is negotiable. A few common, related questions and answers: Q: Can we play a fivesome/sixsome/etc.? A: Yes, as long as you let faster groups through. A three on three scramble with all six players in the same group is an absolute blast and it won't take long to get around with that format. Q: Hats in clubhouse, shoes in parking lot, jackets at dinner? A: Sure! Sure! No need, because we don't have formal dinner! The point is that we're not that kind of place. You really don't have to ask, but if it makes you more comfortable to do so, go ahead. There are no "unwritten" rules at Old Charlie.
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Can we stay on site?We won't have cabins when we open, though it may be something we consider at another time. That said, we're less than an hour from some of the most beautiful beach towns in the country and there are hotels, condos, and home rentals galore in the area. There are several hotel and home rental options that are a little closer, in towns like Defuniak Springs and Ponce de Leon, if that's something you prefer. As we get closer to opening day, we'll work with local rental companies and resorts to make sure there are plenty of great options for our visitors.
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Any other golf nearby?Yes! We're close to Destin, Panama City, and the 30A corridor and there is a ton of good golf in the area. Watersound has three golf courses, including a recently opened Davis Love III design simply called The Third. There is xxxx, xxx, and xxx. And finally, the newly announced Dream Golf development, Old Shores, will be approximately 45 minutes east. Their first announced course is being built by Tom Doak, and they'll break ground around the same time we do at Old Charlie. So yes, there is some great golf now, but there's even better golf coming!
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When will the course be finished?We plan to begin construction sometime in 2026. Weather, scheduling, and the speed of local and regional governments will all play a role in how quickly we'll get it all done. We'll keep members up to date at every stage of the process, and we have a ton of fun things planned before we officially open our doors, including construction tours and preview play at Old Charlie, plus golf outings, member meet & greets, and live and virtual hangouts elsewhere.
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What will the course look like?Too early to tell. What we know is that our course designers are absolute masters who have both spent more than a decade apiece studying and shaping under the tutelage of Coore/Crenshaw. They've proven what they're capable of on their own as well, most notably at Winter Park Nine. Like the Coore/Crenshaw duo, Rhebb and Johns like to take what the land gives them, and we're thrilled to give them this piece of land to work with. We'll be getting started with routing soon, and will be giving our members inside glimpses into the entire process. We'll update this space as details start to materialize. We're excited to get started!
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What can we expect on our "play day?"In a lot of ways, a play day at Old Charlie will be a lot like a trip to any other golf course. You'll get unloaded, check in, maybe warm up for a bit, and then get going. There are no tee times, so there's no huge rush getting here, and play is unlimited on your play day, so feel free to head back out for another loop if the mood strikes. You can walk if you want, but it's not a requirement. And there'll be enough to eat, drink, and do that you can stay all day if you want. If you'll have less than a foursome, you'll have the chance to (virtually) meet and potentially pair up with fellow members ahead of your play day. If you're able to make something work, great! If not, that's okay too, there is plenty of room for everyone in any configuration. Let faster groups through, behave like a reasonable adult when it comes to cart tracks, divots, and ball marks, and don't be an ass to staff or fellow members. Otherwise, do pretty much whatever the hell else you want.
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Do I get equity?Membership at Old Charlie does not convey nor does it imply an equity stake in Old Charlie or Goat Track Holdings LLC. Sorry!
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How will selecting play days work?Play day selection will occur sometime before each season and will work the same way each year. When it's your turn to choose your play day(s), you'll select any of the available remaining dates within the day/season category that you purchased. Goat Track Society members get first crack at dates, to be followed by other membership categories. Folks will choose play days based on size of purchase first, then by the time the order was originally placed. So, if you bought reservations for a foursome, you'll get to choose before members who bought just a single reservation, but if you bought a single in March, and another person bought one in April, then you'll go first. It's beneficial to sign up earlier, and if you're part of a group it's certainly beneficial to sign up that way. We even allow split payments to make it easier. All GTS members will choose play days before anyone else. So even if you bought just a single First Fiver reservation, you'll always get your pick before all other membership categories.
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What is the guest policy?Guests, in the traditional sense, aren't really a thing at Old Charlie. Every person on the course must have a reservation (you get one with every initiation fee you pay). That said, the reservations themselves can be used by whomever they are granted to, and that individual can change every year. So, as an example, someone could buy four reservations and send four different people every year. Please note that any aftermarket sales of Old Charlie reservations at higher than their face value (currently $150 per reservation) could result in dismissal from the club. Membership at Old Charlie isn't an arbitrage play. Let's keep if affordable for everyone.
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What if I can't make it one year?These things happen. Your first and best option is to send a friend in your place. Your reservation is yours to do what you please, and that includes sending someone in your place for your play day(s) at Old Charlie. There are two additional options: 1. Reschedule - We schedule about 220 play days every year. The other ~140 days are set aside for weather make up days and maintenance events. So in most cases we'll be able to work with you to reschedule or add a day during the following season to make up for the miss. 2. Request a refund - For certain unavoidable circumstances, you can request a refund of annual dues for the year you can't come. Since there is potential for abuse of this policy, refunds are allowed solely at management's discretion.
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What if my day gets rained out?Weather is an unfortunate reality in Florida, so we have planned ample weather make up days into the calendar. In fact only about 220 days a year will be available for reservations; we'll be closed for maintenance (and will never be open during aeration weeks) and for weather make up days the rest of the time. If you're not able to reschedule in the same season/year, we'll work with you to make alternative arrangements for your next visit.
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What if my play day happens to be the day you punch holes in the greens?We have set aside ample time in the calendar for maintenance, and will never be open during aeration or major application weeks. Our aim is to present a consistently excellent experience from a maintenance perspective for each of the 220 days we're operating throughout the year.
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