Golden Gun Club

[Ripper]

Does anyone have any info about the Golden Gun Club in watkins?

[usa]

[pickenup]

http://www.goldengunclub.com/

[Ripper]

Thanks for the link. I guess what I should have said is there anyone with any experience with the range? What kind of folks are they, what is the "feel" of the range. How is their safety program?

I went out there on a sight-in day and looked around. Seems OK but it's a lot of $ to spend to be disappointed. I’d hate to join up and find out that
it was a mistake.

[usa]

[Driftwood]

Months ago I was considering them and emailed them with some questions. I'm not sure if this helps you but one question I asked them (the only one I can remember at the moment) was if one was allowed to draw from a holster at their range. Big NO on that one. But I think most ranges have that as a standard rule. However, it seems that I recall reading somewhere that either The Shootist or the Firing Line allow drawing from a holster??? Hmmm. Did I read that on this forum? Anyone???

[PsychoI3oy]

It ain't TFL that allows holster draw. Hell, they barely allow doubletaps.

[pickenup]

I’ll admit right off, that I don’t have any “recent” experience with the Golden Gun Club, SINCE they moved out to Watkins. But I’ll throw some of my thoughts out anyway.

I was a member of GGC when they were in Golden. It took me a few years to become a member, because you needed a CURRENT member to “recommend” you, for becoming a member. (Do you start to get the feeling already, that it was a “good ole boys club”?)

I went to every meeting they had. At first I tried talking to different people. After a while, I gave up. “For the most part” they made it painfully obvious that I was NOT one of the “good ole boys” and was NEVER going to be.

While on the trap league one year, there were a few friendly folks that would give you pointers, or answer questions. But I’ve found this to be the case wherever you shoot trap/skeet. So I don’t put much account into that.

When Coors told us that they were kicking us out, we had to look for a new place. MANY members didn’t like the distance required to get to the Watkins range, as well as the expense that was going to be involved. (They said the dues would go up 10 X what they were, and NO guarantee that it would stop there) So I quit.

Being close to Golden, Watkins just wasn’t viable for me. Not when Clear Creek Sportsman’s Club (just above Idaho Springs) still had open enrollment at the time. Then Boulder was a lot closer, but still has a 7-10 year waiting list. (I’m on it, should be getting close) Shoot matches there all the time.

My next point, is about the members that man the GGC, “gun show” booth. I’ve stopped by on occasion to generally BS with them. It may be just MY impression, but they STILL make it very clear that I will NEVER be one of the “good ole boys.” NOT that I want to be. Just letting you know my impressions.

My last point, is........why don’t they have IPSC, IDPA, 3-gun, etc. type matches out there? Too good for us???

There you go Ripper, this is my 2 cents worth.
And it’s worth just what you paid for it. :twisted:

[Ripper]

Thanks for the info, this is just the kind of information I was looking for.

The plus side for me is I drive past it every day on the way to work and there is no waiting period.

Down side - cost and the kind of things I "heard" from your experences.

thanks again :P

[usa]

[pickenup]

Meant to add this, but forgot.

MOST all clubs are “good ole boy” clubs. Some seem friendlier than others, but there always seems to be a core group that have been running things for a while. The president that just stepped down at Clear Creek, had been doing that job for something like 25 years. Not sure where the club is headed right now.

From what I have heard, everyone in the Boulder club is “more or less” afraid to run against the pres. He has been there a BUNCH of years too.

If GGC is an open club, where you can go anytime you want, don’t have rules that are too restrictive, and you don’t mind paying their fee, join up. At least it’s a place to shoot.

You might look into the Aurora Gun Club. Just off I-70 at Gun Club road. Last I heard, their waiting list was only one year. If you put in an application this time of year, you might be a member early in 2007. At least that is what happened to me. I put in an application, I would have been able to get in the first of the year . I declined because I’m already in CCCSC, and the drive. I don’t care for city driving, even if it’s on I-70.

Of course Aurora had some turmoil in the upper ranks a few years ago. Don’t know how it turned out, but then, I was only there to shoot matches. :twisted:

Good luck.

[GearHead]

Ripper, forget about joining a club just go out to the club shoots. (you wuss). Hey, where are the pics of your new m4a3?

[JasonFRC]

Jeez.

As a member of the Golden Gun Club (two years now) I've never felt like I didn't belong. It was a bit overwhelming the first meeting I went to, but I got over that in about fifteen minutes after I introduced myself.

I'm younger than most people I see out there, (34) and I don't fit the demographic either.

I started shooting an AR in the Service Rifle match once a month when I joined and now I consider most of the guys my friends. Oh, by the way the President and his son shoot Service Rifle too, and is a great guy too.

Grab a rifle, come out for a match sometime. You WILL feel welcome, because I think we go out of of way to make it so. You don't need to be a member. If you do attend a Service Rifle match (third Saturday of the month, $12) ask for Jason. I'll introduce you to everyone I know.

The club itself has a few rules of course, but they're usually self-evident. Make nice, clean up your mess, don't speed on the roads...

I've worked from the leather there, the range was pretty quiet (as most weekdays) so it'd probably be a bad idea on crowded days I'd gather. It CAN get very busy on match days.

GCC moved from Golden in 1996. The dues are $160 per year with a work party slip (volunteer a day of work, sight in-like I do, etc..) Or $260 without, and you must be an NRA member.

As far as too "good" for you to hold IDPA, 3-gun.. Lack of suitable facilities? Why don't you ask them? Someone would have to run it, you'd make a great candidate!

No good old boy network here. Sorry, maybe it used to be, but I think the club has realized our hobby is under attack from all sides, and we should be inclusive rather than the latter.