Dozens Of Die-Hards Line Up In Cold For A Chance At Coveted Bangor Muni Membership

You have to really love something to camp outside for 7 hours in 40 degree temperatures for your chance to grab one.

That's what dozens of die-hard golfers did this week; braved the cold for a chance at one of 40 coveted memberships Bangor Municipal Golf course made available for 2026.

According the Bangor Muni's Assistant Golf Professional, Shawn Sutherland, it's become quite the tradition over the last few years, for people to show up early and wait, in anticipation, for an opportunity. He says he's been part of the morning registration process for the last two years, and this year was the earliest he's seen people arrive to secure their spot.

"The last few years we've had about 40 memberships available. We won't know, until close of business the night before, how many we'll actually have available. Last year, the first person got in line at about 5 o'clock in the morning. This year we weren't sure how many we were gonna have available or how many would renew, so we've been telling people that it would be best to be early than late!"

One gentleman showed up at midnight this year, and several others between 3 and 4 AM! Sutherland says that folks come from all over the greater Bangor area to play at Bangor Muni.

"Price of membership, conditions of the golf course, faculty, the course professionals and the overall atmosphere."

He says it's the course and the people that bring people back year after year, and make these membership lots such a hot commodity.

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"We have 400 memberships available each year, and the current members get to renew, through the 14th of October. And then whatever is remaining goes out the public on a first come, first serve basis."

Registration officially opened at 7 AM, and from the look of the video the folks at Bangor Muni took of the line of people waiting, there's a good chance some folks who were hoping for a membership for next year, didn't make the cut.

"I got here about 6:30, and it looked like there were already about 40 people in line already."

Sutherland says the people who did make it through, and paid their $200 deposit will have until the middle of May to pay in full so they can enjoy the 2026 golfing season when it starts up in the Spring.

Those who have memberships this year will have until about Veterans Day (depending on weather) to fit in their last strokes of the season before they close for the winter.