Sounds like you're being gouged. Hey, this isn't a movie theater.
Here's why those signs exist and where they don't.
Basically you can't take alcohol onto a licensed premises (the
entire area of the course is considered a licenses premises).
Indiana Code 7.1-5-8-5 Sec. 5. (b) It is a Class C
misdemeanor for a person, for his own use, to knowingly carry on,
convey to, or consume, on or about the licensed premises of a
permittee, an alcoholic beverage that was not then and there
purchased from that permittee.
Additionally, the course can be fined or lose it's license if
they allow you to bring on your own alcohol.
Indiana Code 7.1-3-23-2 Sec. 2. Fine, Suspension, and
Revocation: General. The commission may fine, suspend, or revoke
the permit, or fine and suspend or revoke, the permit of a
permittee for the violation of a provision of this title or of a
rule or regulation of the commission. The commission may fine a
permittee for each day the violation continues if the violation is
of a continuing nature.
So that's why the No Coolers. If they let people bring their own
coolers, they may have beer in them. (Don't scoff, you know it would
happen - wink, wink, nudge, nudge). If that happens repeatedly the
course is gonna get yelled at.
Why "All beverages must be purchased at the
clubhouse" instead of "Alcoholic beverages must be
purchased at the clubhouse"?
Partly misunderstanding, partly tradition, partly greed. So
many courses have this stated policy the others think it's proper
wording. Actually, most courses don't mind customers bringing pop
or water in a can or a plastic bottles (do they make glass bottles
anymore?). The sign normally means alcoholic
beverages. Some employees can be over-enthusiastic and overly
literal but that's rare.
On Sunday in Indiana there are no alcohol sales at the clubhouse
until 11am (10am after July 1, 2004). This means, technically, most
Sunday-morning rounds are dry.
Remember, be discrete. In 1999 a guy in Sandusky, OH was
arrested for DUI after having a golf cart accident on a
municipal course.
Here's a list of area golf courses with Bring your own beer
policies. Note all regulation-length 18-hole courses have liquor
licenses or forbid alcohol entirely.
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Walking
Golf Bags