Golf Glossary
Clubhouse
In short
The clubhouse is the central building of a golf facility. Golfers register there, shop in the pro shop, change, eat and meet after the round. Depending on the facility it includes a secretary's office, changing rooms, catering and event rooms. The catering in the clubhouse is jokingly also called the 19th hole.
What is a clubhouse in golf?
The clubhouse is the heart of a golf facility. It is usually the building you enter first and leave last. The name dates from the time when golf was mainly played in clubs. The house belonged to the club and served its members as a meeting place. Today clubhouses also exist at facilities with an operator, and they are often open to guests.
How big and elaborate a clubhouse is depends strongly on the facility. Some are historic villas, others modern functional buildings. At small facilities a room with a counter is sometimes enough. At large facilities a restaurant, terrace, changing rooms and event rooms are included.
For beginners the clubhouse is the first point of contact. This is where you sort out the tee time, proof of Platzreife and green fee, and where you get information on local rules and dress code. Anyone who finds their way around the clubhouse feels at home on the facility more quickly.
What belongs to a clubhouse?
A clubhouse bundles several functions. Typical ones are:
- Reception or secretary's office: Here you register, sort out the tee time and pay the green fee. Reception is also the point of contact for questions and for the proof that some courses ask of guests, such as the DGV card.
- Pro shop: Here you find balls, gloves, tees, clothing and clubs. The staff often also advise on equipment.
- Changing rooms and showers: Here you put on golf shoes and can freshen up after the round. There are often lockers.
- Catering: Restaurant, cafe or bistro, often with a terrace overlooking the course.
- Bag room or bag drop: A place where you leave your bag. A bag drop is the drop-off point right at the entrance.
- Offices and event rooms: The administration sits here, and tournament briefings, parties and seminars take place.
Not every facility has all of these areas. At small courses one person often takes on several tasks.
The 19th hole: why the catering is called that
A round of golf has 18 holes, but in golf people often speak of the 19th hole. It means the catering in the clubhouse, the place where you sit together after the round. The word is a joke: after playing 18 holes you go to one more hole, namely the bar or restaurant.
The term is old. Early records come from British publications of the 1890s. It became well known through the 1901 book The Nineteenth Hole by William Gilbert Van Tassel Sutphen.
The link to the English phrase watering hole, a place for a drink and a chat, is also obvious. At the 19th hole golfers swap impressions, discuss scores, celebrate a good game or console themselves after a difficult round. In clubs a visit after the tournament is often a tradition.
At facilities with a public restaurant the 19th hole is not reserved for golfers. Visitors who have not played at all also drop in. Whether this is possible at a facility is best checked on the website or by asking briefly at reception.
Practical example: a guest visit step by step
Imagine you have booked a tee time online for 10 o'clock. You arrive at the facility at 9.15.
You enter the clubhouse and go to reception. There you give your name, show your Platzreife or your card if required, and pay the green fee. You receive a scorecard and perhaps a course map.
In the pro shop you buy some more balls and tees. In the changing room you swap your shoes. Then you leave your bag at the bag drop or load the trolley and go to the range or putting green to warm up. Ten minutes before the tee time you are at the first tee.
After the round you hand in the scorecard if necessary and sit down in the restaurant. Over a meal you go through your holes. Now you know the whole routine of a visit.
Behaviour in the clubhouse: etiquette and dress code
The clubhouse often has its own rules that differ from those on the course. They vary from facility to facility, so it is worth looking at the website or making a quick call. Common points are:
- Shoes: Golf shoes with spikes are not welcome in some clubhouses. Change shoes in the changing room or outside the door.
- Headwear: In many restaurants caps and hats are taken off indoors.
- Clothing: Many clubs have a dress code that usually asks for neat, sporty clothing. Some facilities are deliberately relaxed.
- Phone: In some areas phone calls are unwelcome.
- Bags and clubs: Leave your bag in the bag room or at the bag drop, not in the dining room.
For guests the same applies as on the course: politeness, consideration and friendly treatment of the staff. Anyone who follows this is welcome in any clubhouse.
Clubhouse, halfway house and pro shop: the differences
Similar terms are easily confused:
- Clubhouse: the main building of the facility with reception, catering, changing rooms and more.
- Halfway house: a refreshment point halfway round, usually after nine holes. It serves drinks and small meals for a break during the round.
- Pro shop: the shop for golf equipment, often located in the clubhouse. It is sometimes run by a PGA professional.
- Secretary's office: the office for administration, registrations and membership matters. It is usually in the clubhouse.
- Starter's hut: the spot at the first tee where the starter manages the start of rounds.
- Driving range: the practice area for warming up, often within sight of the clubhouse.
At facilities with several courses or large practice areas there may be several buildings with similar functions. In that case follow the signs to reception.
Try it at Golf Lounge
Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg in Moorfleet is a public facility whose offers can be booked without a membership. To book, you need an account on golflounge.de. The 9-hole Black course can be played with the Platzreife (DGV), and the dress code on the courses is relaxed. Tee times can be booked online for one to four players. For warming up there is, among other things, the putting green by the Elb-Lodge. If you book a course, you first check in at the counter on the day and then go to the meeting-point table, where your coach collects you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a clubhouse in golf?
The clubhouse is the central building of a golf facility. Players register there, shop in the pro shop, change, eat and meet after the round. Depending on the facility it includes a secretary's office, changing rooms, catering and event rooms. Many clubhouses are also open to guests.
What does the 19th hole mean in golf?
The 19th hole is a jokey term for the catering in the clubhouse. A round has 18 holes, followed by a social get-together over food and drink. The term is old and became well known through a book of 1901. It describes the place where golfers let the round wind down.
May I enter the clubhouse as a guest?
At many facilities yes, especially if you are playing or want to eat there. Some clubs restrict certain areas to members, such as changing rooms or club rooms. Ask briefly before your visit which areas are open to guests and whether a dress code applies. The secretary's office can tell you the conditions.
What do I wear in the clubhouse?
It depends on the facility. Many clubs ask for neat, sporty clothing and do not want spikes or caps in the dining room. Other facilities are deliberately relaxed. The website usually states the dress code. If in doubt choose smart clothing and change your golf shoes before you enter.
What is the difference between a clubhouse and a halfway house?
The clubhouse is the main building with reception, pro shop, changing rooms and catering. The halfway house is halfway round the course, usually after nine holes. There you get drinks and small meals for a break. Not every facility has a halfway house.
As of: October 2026