Where There's a Will There's a Way for Civilians to Play

ilitary golf courses are primarily open only to active duty or retired personnel and their guests. But remember, the course is a business and civilians are potential paying customers. If space is available, they may have a chance to play. They may be eligible without knowing it. Many courses extend privileges to National Guard and Reserve members, some allow play by civilian federal employees working on a base-some other bases may extend reciprocal benefits to them as well-and a few are open to anyone with clearance to get on the base.

While policies vary from place to place, the general pecking order for tee times is: active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve, civilian Defense Department, everyone else. Non-military people wishing to play a course should call to ask about availability. Even if the stated policy is "military only," there are ways around playing restrictions. The easiest is to accompany someone with playing privileges. If you don't know any active or retired military personnel, check base bulletin boards-both physical and computerized-or local golf associations. Retirees, especially, often post listings looking for playing partners.

Another way is to watch for special events, or organize one. As a public relations gesture, and to fill in slack periods, bases often make their courses available for charity and other special tournaments. All it may take is one member of the group with playing privileges to act as sponsor for the rest.

Once there, schmooze. Buy a few shirts at the golf shop-pros have been known to bend eligibility rules for people they like-and spring for a few drinks at the 19th hole to get to know more potential sponsors.

Or, make friends with a politician. Many bases grant memberships to local officials. At Andrews Air Force Base, Md., near Washington, on a nice afternoon enough members of Congress often are present that a quorum seemingly could be mustered. Presidents often play at military courses, too, but many regulars say they'd just as soon not have the honor of the commander-in-chief's company-security restrictions hold up play, and the sight of Secret Service agents toting golf bags bristling with heavy weapons is disturbing. If you're really desperate, get an assignment to an overseas facility with a course. Golf privileges often come with the benefits for civilians under orders overseas.

However you try to get on a military course, there's one consistent piece of advice from those who play them regularly: Don't expect to play on a weekend.