A case for something other than Medal & SFs

[vkurup]

Every month we have the regular staple of Medal & S/Fs where the hotshots from the club battle it out for the honors (or lack of it). However, there is a section of the club that is not keen or confident or prepared or want to get involved in such a monthly mating ritual...

when I started playing golf about 6 years ago, I knew I could not go near the Medals or S/Fs as I would not know what to do in it. It was however, my goal that I would eventually play in them. At my old club there were comps for kids and grown ups, but there was nothing that would address the need for adult beginners or adults who were not ready or confident to go into battle. So one of our Pros started a monthly comp called the 'Adult Improver Competition', it is played over 9 holes on our par-33 course. It has all the usual NTP, longest drive. It also has its own handicap system and instant prizes given at the end of the morning. It is advertised as 'play in a friendly setting, meet like minded people etc.' and you dont have to be a member of the club to play in it. So I signed up and quickly saw my handicap drop. I was shoot 50+ when I joined and when i regularly shooting in the 30s, I 'graduated' over the regular Medals & S/Fs. I have often gone back and played the comp when I feel I am getting scrappy or just for the craic as some of my PPs still play it.

I haven't played in it for over a year. I turned up this weekend to play in the competition and lo and behold there are now about 40 odd people regularly playing the event. That is almost more than what we could get for Medals. He sometimes has to turn away people as it is over subscribed. I am assuming that every club has a section of members which can helped onto the golfing ladder.. and that Medals & S/Fs are not the only way forward. Thoughts..

 

[pbrown7582]

my previous club did this all through summer on a weds evening

 

[Deleted member 15344]

We do a 9 hole social comp on a Thursday evening throughout the summer

 

[Grieve14]

I am where you originally were. I am 29 and been playing since June and got my HC down to 19. I would love to play in some sort of comp but like you back then, I am not too confident of entering the Monthly medal yet. My club doesn't offer anything similar to your 'Adult Improver Competition' (that I know of) but I wish it did! That would be a perfect foot into competitions for me and show me whats what!

 

[pbrown7582]

I am where you originally were. I am 29 and been playing since June and got my HC down to 19. I would love to play in some sort of comp but like you back then, I am not too confident of entering the Monthly medal yet. My club doesn't offer anything similar to your 'Adult Improver Competition' (that I know of) but I wish it did! That would be a perfect foot into competitions for me and show me whats what!

don't you worry off 19 your not going to embarrass yourself get enter you'll be fine. Just tell fellow playing partners its your 1st comp and they'll help you on your way.

 

[Grieve14]

don't you worry off 19 your not going to embarrass yourself get enter you'll be fine. Just tell fellow playing partners its your 1st comp and they'll help you on your way.

There is the winter medal coming up in a few weeks and I'm trying to convince a mate who is fairly new to the game to play too so Its not quite as daunting the first time, failing that I will wait for next year!

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I don't really know if its the same thing or not....but my place has a "swindle" every weekend, normally on other day that the comp isn't on. I really don't know how popular it is but I know it is offered and does appear from the outside to be a little less formal but still offer the chance for handicap cuts etc

Still from my point of view I have zero interest in playing in any kind of competition. Golf with my mates is all I'm interested in.

 

[rosecott]

Can't say I've ever heard of a swindle producing official handicap adjustments.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Can't say I've ever heard of a swindle producing official handicap adjustments.

Maybe I'm a million miles off the mark....was explained to me that all cards were filled out as normal and handed in, 4 balls drawn etc etc

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Our Saturday roll-ups are very much part of the way we like to bring new members and high handicappers into the body of the club; get them knowing members and playing golf in an environment that is friendly but still competitive - and even then only really in the sense that there has to be a winner on the day. And each day is a new day - except for the winner of the previous week who will have had his 'roll-up' h/cap cut by 0.1 for every £ of his winnings (usually about £12-£18) - just to try and stop the same players winning week after week get's new members and new players into the feel of playing in a competition so that they can build confidence to play in an 'official' club comp.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I am where you originally were. I am 29 and been playing since June and got my HC down to 19. I would love to play in some sort of comp but like you back then, I am not too confident of entering the Monthly medal yet. My club doesn't offer anything similar to your 'Adult Improver Competition' (that I know of) but I wish it did! That would be a perfect foot into competitions for me and show me whats what!

Your club should be able to point you to the friendly 'roll-ups'/'swindles' members organise amongst themselves during the week and that are open to all members and members guests (they tend to not be organised for when full green fee paying visitors can play)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have regular roll ups (off club handicap) on weekends we don't have comps which is a good way for new members to get involved and meet members. While I understand the "fear" in the OP's post, most members are pretty accommodating in competitions and after all if you get a handicap surely the idea is to beat it?

 

[vkurup]

Good to see clubs having roll ups...however as Grieve14 touched up, I think there are 3 issues here ..

1) it has less to do with the club per se, in my view it is a slightly inferior view of self that stops new adult golfer from joining a competition (and golf in general).. What will people say/think. Nobody wants to play against a single handicapper and not every single capper wants to play with a high HC either .
2) my new club has a roll up and since I don't know many folks in the club, I end up playing with the same 3 people. Now with Dufferman leaving the club, it is even less.
3) not everyone wants an official handicap. Our improvers handicap is based on how we play in the comp. I currently have an HC of 7 in the improver comp, which having started in the mid 20s is great progress ..the general age group in our comp would be about 50+ (I think) of both gender and is very social setting...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Good to see clubs having roll ups...however as Grieve14 touched up, I think there are 3 issues here ..

1) it has less to do with the club per se, in my view it is a slightly inferior view of self that stops new adult golfer from joining a competition (and golf in general).. What will people say/think. Nobody wants to play against a single handicapper and not every single capper wants to play with a high HC either .

I think you would find that your fears are unfounded. In a roll-up you will not find yourself playing 'against' a SF handicapper and everyone who plays in a roll-up knows that they will be playing with high handicappers - and will do so without any complaint.

2) my new club has a roll up and since I don't know many folks in the club, I end up playing with the same 3 people. Now with Dufferman leaving the club, it is even less.

In my place - and I imagine most clubs - the groups for the roll-ups are drawn on the day by lots or similar. I never play with the same players week on week.

3) not everyone wants an official handicap. Our improvers handicap is based on how we play in the comp. I currently have an HC of 7 in the improver comp, which having started in the mid 20s is great progress ..the general age group in our comp would be about 50+ (I think) of both gender and is very social setting...

Someone will be able to tell you an approximate equivalent full handicap to your improvers handicap. That is fine for roll-ups as if you do well - your handicap will normally be adjusted by the roll-up organiser.


If your club doesn't have such a roll-up perhaps ask the secretary to seek like-minded souls to you and set up your own roll-up. That's how they start - a group off like-minds who want toi play at around the same day and time getting together and organising themselves, there will be nothing stopping you.

 

[vkurup]

I think you would find that your fears are unfounded. In a roll-up you will not find yourself playing 'against' a SF handicapper and everyone who plays in a roll-up knows that they will be playing with high handicappers - and will do so without any complaint.

I agree.. you get wiser as you go, but for someone starting up,m the PERCEPTION is that they wont be well received in a comp if they are are 'hack'. And as you know it is perceptions like these that make the game more open to newbies.

In my place - and I imagine most clubs - the groups for the roll-ups are drawn on the day by lots or similar. I never play with the same players week on week.

At my old place, you put your name down on a sheet for the Medal & S/F, and the starter would draw your name out.. It was great as you would play against/with all sorts of people - some good, some not so.. In my new place, you gotta put your name alongside someones else who is playing at a certain time. Invariably everone has their own little 3 balls, so chances are you need to build your 3 ball or play alongside another lonely heart. Chances of breaking into a set 3-ball is difficult.. Again some of this is perception, and the reality might be tad different.

Someone will be able to tell you an approximate equivalent full handicap to your improvers handicap. That is fine for roll-ups as if you do well - your handicap will normally be adjusted by the roll-up organiser.

I now play regular comps and play off 19, so I will equally rock up at Wentworth and happily look foolish. My observation was around people that find the monthly ritual of Medal & S/F a bit too much and could benefit from another not-so-serious format alongside.

 

[Ethan]

It is fun to mix in other formats.

I like bogey golf, aka versus par. Works like matchplay against the course. So on a par 4 where you get a shot, a 5 is a half, and so on. Great for the streaky player, not too much damage from bad holes.

I also like a flag competition. Basically you get a number of shots equal to par plus your handicap and you play them out and see how far you get, past 18 if you can. It adds in the extra element that you could have someone who completes 18 holes with 3 left over and birdies the par 4 first, and someone else who finishes 18 with 5 shots left over and double bogies the first to lose.

For crazy team comps, you can set up a team where each player has one club, from a selection of driver, 5 iron, 9 iron, sand wedge and putter. They play in strict rotation, from longest club down, and the rotation continues through the holes, so if someone holes out with a sand wedge on one hole, the putter tees off on the next. Can leave you with greenside bunker shots with a driver and tee shots over water with a sand iron, so some strategy is needed. Works well if everyone is drinking while they play.

 

[GB72]

I think this is one of the things that the clubs I have been a member of lack, some regular chance to play with different members in different settings. I think that doing that helps avoid cliques forming and creates a feeling of membership of a club rather than being someone who plays a course. It is a great way to attract an integrate new members as they all know where to be at what time to get a game.

The last 2 clubs that I have been a member of lacked this. Stoke Rochford just advertised a comp was on and you turned up in your group at any time and played. There were no roll ups. What you then got were small groups who always played together, no chance to get to know others and plenty of cliques. Nothing ever changed as the long term members already knew everyone they wanted to know and the run the club.

At Belton there is tee booking for comps but, again, everyone books in their 3 balls and no comps are drawn to no chance to get to know others. Everyone plays in their own groups and cliques form. There are 2 big roll ups, one on Wednesdays (no use for those who work) and one on Sundays arranged by the great and the good at the club that you need to be invited to join. Again, the club is run by the more established members who this suits and so no interest in change.

At both clubs, the comps were pretty much always medals or staplefords. Stoke had one or 2 bogey comps every year, Belton has one Texas Scramble and that is pretty much it.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I agree.. you get wiser as you go, but for someone starting up,m the PERCEPTION is that they wont be well received in a comp if they are are 'hack'. And as you know it is perceptions like these that make the game more open to newbies.



At my old place, you put your name down on a sheet for the Medal & S/F, and the starter would draw your name out.. It was great as you would play against/with all sorts of people - some good, some not so.. In my new place, you gotta put your name alongside someones else who is playing at a certain time. Invariably everone has their own little 3 balls, so chances are you need to build your 3 ball or play alongside another lonely heart. Chances of breaking into a set 3-ball is difficult.. Again some of this is perception, and the reality might be tad different.



I now play regular comps and play off 19, so I will equally rock up at Wentworth and happily look foolish. My observation was around people that find the monthly ritual of Medal & S/F a bit too much and could benefit from another not-so-serious format alongside.

@vkrup - your replies imply that there are no 'roll-up' groups at your club - who get together at regular times during the week to play friendly 'comps' i.e. comps that are not Medals or club S/F qualifiers - but friendly member-organised get-togethers with a few quid at stake. You can compete for the 'winners pot' if you are so inclined - or just not bother about it as you prefer just to have a knock round with the others you are drawn with (who might be more competitive than you - it doesn't matter a jot).

I find it a bit hard to believe you have no roll-ups; but maybe it is the case - but that would be a bot weird for a golf club

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think this is one of the things that the clubs I have been a member of lack, some regular chance to play with different members in different settings. I think that doing that helps avoid cliques forming and creates a feeling of membership of a club rather than being someone who plays a course. It is a great way to attract an integrate new members as they all know where to be at what time to get a game.

The last 2 clubs that I have been a member of lacked this. Stoke Rochford just advertised a comp was on and you turned up in your group at any time and played. There were no roll ups. What you then got were small groups who always played together, no chance to get to know others and plenty of cliques. Nothing ever changed as the long term members already knew everyone they wanted to know and the run the club.

At Belton there is tee booking for comps but, again, everyone books in their 3 balls and no comps are drawn to no chance to get to know others. Everyone plays in their own groups and cliques form. There are 2 big roll ups, one on Wednesdays (no use for those who work) and one on Sundays arranged by the great and the good at the club that you need to be invited to join. Again, the club is run by the more established members who this suits and so no interest in change.

At both clubs, the comps were pretty much always medals or staplefords. Stoke had one or 2 bogey comps every year, Belton has one Texas Scramble and that is pretty much it.

All I can say is Gosh! I never realised that that was the case with many clubs - so apologies to @vkrup for doubting you sir!

've clearly been lucky with my clubs.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a supper club each Wednesday - nine holes and a choice of several menu choices. Perfect way of newbies to get involved several different formats, both nines used over the season. Marvellous. And a few quid up for grabs each week. Start off the club handicap and it gets adjusted on performance