Advice on joining a club

[evita4]

I have just returned from an informal chat with the secretary of a local golf club. I haven't played the course as yet but have been offered complimentary rounds. The course was open today whereas others in the area are shut. Some £50K has been spent on course improvements in the past 5 years to bring greens up to USGA standards and improve the fairway drainage. They are informal club where shirt and tie are only required in the lounge area after 8PM at weekends. There also seems to be a relaxed atmosphere in the clubhouse and a thriving social scene. As I don't know anyone else at the club I have been told some of the "senior" members will look after me as far as getting my face known. How did you get over that potentially awkward few weeks/months at a new club?

Current members are:
420 Full male
135 Full Ladies
100 Junior
10 Country members
15 Life members
250 social members

Costs are £250 joining fee and £770 per year subs. Are there any other questions that you would ask that I may have overlooked?

Thanks for any advice

FYI
http://www.penworthamgc.co.uk/

 

[Midnight]

Hi,

I know what you mean. I got over this period with the help of the manager of the club and the pro, they arranged for me to meet various people and also when I was looking for a game , they put me as part of another group which got me known more.

Good luck with the club ,once that period is over you will wonder what you were worried about.

Cheers

Midnight...

 

[Doh]

If you have got a club with a good social scene and is spending money on the course and seems to have good membership figures then you should have no problem getting to know people.But you need to ask.

How do they help new members to get their handicap eg are there people willing to mark cards for you?

How easy is it to enter the comps once you have your handicap.

Is it far from home

Is it easy to book tee times

what are the practice facilities like.

Are there any sections you can join, most clubs have a weds section.

Do they allow visitors at weekends

Im sure there are lots of other questions people will suggest

 

[balaclava]

I joined my local club six months back. I came from overseas, I know nobody and no official or anybody else has made any attempt to help me get my feet under the table. I'm a competent golfer and I put my name down on the list where there's a space with anybody and I've left my phone number everywhere and I'm struggling. I know the club is on a recruitment drive for new members (they need money) but I wonder how many of those new members whose game is a little shakey stay for the second year?

 

[Herbie]

thats a great point balaclava, Ive experienced this at several clubs over the years, but I have also experienced the oposite. The most social and helpful people I have met at clubs so far are at the one I intend to join now and one that I was a member of in Scotland, Ive been a member at other clubs where both aspects have appeared so cant really condem them, but I would love to put a bomb under one or two club memberships Ive known over the yrs or initiate forced enemas, but you cant have everything lol.

 

[Tommo21]

I just joined a second club this year and things were a little awkward at first. First of all you’ve got to get in there, don’t be shy. I got through it by playing in most of the medals, that helps you find out what “casual turn up and play sweeps” are on the go. The chances are they’ll probably give you some invite to play.
I got a couple of lessons from pro and I also bought a couple of things from him as well....I went when it was not so busy, you need to suss this out for yourself and it does help getting to know him. I’ve even had a casual game with him and he put me onto a couple of guys who organise a regular sweep.
Talk again with the sec or the comp sec, the chances are they’ll put you onto one or two people if you’re trying to get a game. If you like your own company try and find out the quiet times so you can go for a few holes on your own. If your club has a practice ground, use it, you’ll get to know people there as well.
Ask, talk and put yourself forward.

 

[forefortheday]

Looks like a nice club Andy.

Go for the free rounds but have a drink in the bar afterwards and get a feel for the the place,If you get a good vibe then make your decision.

Sounds like they want you to get involved and they have some members who want to promote the club and get you involved and that can only be a good thing.

 

[ColinR]

It can be an awkward situation, but I believe that 99% of people in a club are happy to welcome other people, they just dont go out of their way to do it. Therefore you have to take the initiative, find out when the roll ups are, join the medals, chat to people in the bar. It worked for me and now after 9 months, I feel like a proper member of a great club.

 

[USER1999]

Find out when the swindles are (not supposed to be called this anymore, roll ups is the current word I believe), these mean you turn up, tees are block booked, and you get to meet loads of people in a short time period. Lots of fun too, and new friends = new people to play with at other times. Most of the time they draw cards for partners, so you don't need to know anyone to get a game.

 

[greensman]

I would defiantly go for it.

You become part of the club, as a member you are a share holder and as a member the progress of the club is down to you. The more you put in the more you can get out of a members run club!

I have never played the course, however the Course Manager is a top bloke and very well respected. I am sure with the right backing the course will continue to improve.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I was lucky that my mates dad was captain when I first joined Ascot so that made the getting in part easier and the three of us played together to get my handicap cards in. From there I just made sure I played as many competitions (drawn) as I could and got known by the pro and assistants so that if anybody wanted a game I was put forward.

When I rejoined a couple of years ago the same mate got me back in and I was fortunate enought to be remembered by the captain from my previous membership. As we had moved courses and premises (literally) a lot of the old faces had gone but there were still loads who knew me and so getting a game was easier.

If your course doesn't have pre-booked times and you can just roll up and play I'd find out when the greedy, swindle or whatever it is called at your club is. We have several on a Saturday so get in one of those and you will have a ready made group of anything from 6-30 (if your club is like ours) to play with every week. Have a chat with people like the pro and ideally the steward. He is like your pub landlord and knows all the regulars and will be able to point out those that are a bit reticent about playing with newbies and those who are accommodating. Other than that just get in as many comps as possible and next season if there any matches going put your name down.

 

[evita4]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I think I will take plunge. The course manager has since told me if I pay my joining fee now it will guarantee my membership for next year and he would give me vouchers to play the course once a week until 31 Dec.