Meadow Springs Country Club- My Home Course

I was 32 years old, just moved in to live with my parents, and had not even worked a shift of my first real job. Kelsey was pregnant with our second child. Our 15 year old car had 200k miles on it and was bruised and battered from the harsh Midwest winters. With this solid financial foundation I only had one thought in my mind…I need to join Meadow Springs Country Club.

I made it through many long days and nights of med school and residency with one thought in mind…I’m joining a country club when I’m done. Before signing my first contract I asked a mentor physician how to negotiate a country club membership into my deal. He laughed. I was serious. I signed my first contract. No country club membership.

My first day after moving to town I drove my dented and rusty car to Meadow Springs Country Club and parked in between a Porsche and a Lexus. Immediately I brought down the value of the club. I handed Meadow Springs a check. I didn’t know if the check would bounce or not, but I was a country club member. Nothing else mattered.

When Reality Sets In

When I got back home (actually to my parents home) I was still on cloud 9. Kelsey was supportive. She knew I was going to join and was happy for me. After a few hours reality set in. I had never earned a significant paycheck…My car barely ran…My wife is pregnant…Again…We didn’t have a house…We were living with my parents…

I rarely make sensable decisions when it comes to golf. In a moment of weakness but wisdom I called the course (too embarrased to drive my car back there). I asked them to shred my check. They were gracious and understanding. They told me to call back when the time was right.

Two years later we had a home. I had upgraded my car to only a slightly less rusted pickup. Before child #3 came I knew I had to join or I may never do it. I called back Meadow Springs. The time was right. This time they gladly cashed my check.

The People

Joining Meadow Springs Country Club was a great decision. The staff and facilities are fantastic. Chris Peterson, our club Pro, Drew and JT the assistant pros, and Jeremy Simmons our general manager do a fantastic job of running the club. The course feels welcoming and inviting, even to young families.

Jason Aichele is our PGA Director of Instruction at Meadow Springs. He has been voted Pacific Northwest PGA teacher of the year for 5 of the last 6 years and is consistently named as one of the top Teachers in the state of Washington by Golf Digest. My kids love taking lessons from him.

The Course

While not Augusta National, Meadow Spring is challenging, well maintained, and has the best greens of any course I’ve ever played on. They are firm, fast, break when they are supposed to. After any golf vacation I always want to come back and play on Meadow Springs’ greens.

Judd Fitzgerald, another top 100 physician golfer, deserves all of the photo credit for this post.

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Meadow Springs Practice Green

About the Author

I am a husband, father, ER doctor, and an avid golfer.  With a handicap of 2.8 I have a fairly legitimate claim to be among the Top 100 Physician Golfers in the United States.  You can read more about my story on my about page. Feel free to contact me or follow my sites on social media.