Advice on obtaining handicap

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beatle

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I started playing golf in the summer of last year and took a course of lessons with the pro at my nearest club. To cut a long story short, I loved learning under the pro, liked the course/club and as it is within walking distance from my house thought "great I'll join up".

My problem is, as I only know one member at the club (through work) and none of my mates really play golf, I'm struggling to get a game with a member in order to get some cards in for obtaining a handicap, which will allow me to enter the comps. I can't rely on the guy from work as I'll send him a message asking if he wants a game, and more often than not, I won't hear anything back.

I've only managed to submit one card since I joined back in October last year...

Has anyone else been in this situation, and if so what did they do?

Cheers.
 
Put the onus on the club to help you out. Is there a members board where you could post a request for members to mark your card? Ask the pro if he could recommend a few members who he thinks would help or tell him when youre available and see if he can help sort you out a game. ANother option is to see if they will let you sign up for tne next few comps to use them as a vehicle to marking a card.
 
I started playing golf in the summer of last year and took a course of lessons with the pro at my nearest club. To cut a long story short, I loved learning under the pro, liked the course/club and as it is within walking distance from my house thought "great I'll join up".

My problem is, as I only know one member at the club (through work) and none of my mates really play golf, I'm struggling to get a game with a member in order to get some cards in for obtaining a handicap, which will allow me to enter the comps. I can't rely on the guy from work as I'll send him a message asking if he wants a game, and more often than not, I won't hear anything back.

I've only managed to submit one card since I joined back in October last year...

Has anyone else been in this situation, and if so what did they do?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Which club are you a member of?
 
If your comps are drawn then your club may allow you to play for h'cap during the comps. That way you get to meet other members and get your cards signed, that's how my old club did it.

Failing that, speak to someone on the committee, if there a decent bunch they'll help you out.
 
I was in the exact situation last year, when I joined my club.
My best advice would be have a word with your pro as mentioned above, and secondly just get up to the club as much as you can and play. You soon get invited to make up a 2,3 or 4 ball.

I went from knowing 1 member to now having 15 or so regular playing partners in under a year.
 
Cheers guys, I'm planning on going there this afternoon for 9 holes and whilst I'm there I'm planning on booking a lesson with the pro for later in the week. So I will probably do as some of you have suggested and see if he can offer any advice / thoughts on potential playing partners or comps I could play in in order to get my card signed.

Thanks again for the advice.
 
As others have said the pro will/should always help you out
they'll know the amenable ppl/groups who'll be glad to help and be good for you to go out with. you'll then possibly get asked to join them again or even on a regular basis too

when i was at my old club some guy came in and asked the pro about it,even though nobody was about my boss asked me to walk round with the guy marking his card

which i gladly did
got to know him and i introduced him to some ppl
(by telling him theres a 2 ball coming at such & such tee time and when they came to sign in asked if they wouldnt mind him joining up and make a 3

tbh im of the opinion when you join a club they should arrange the games/ppl to go round with you to get your handicap.....it helps you feel part of the club and introduces you to ppl (or different ppl if you do know a group there already)
 
When I joined my club I didn't know anyone so I spoke to the pro who pointed out a few members who may help me out. Other than that I just waited on the first tee and asked singles and two balls if I could join up with them and if they would mind marking a card for me.
Three weeks later and all my cards were in and the guys who marked them are all good occasional partners.
Best of luck.
 
Get there early in the morning, talk to the pro to see if her can fit you in.

To pass the time spend some money in the bar, have a big breakfast and a pot of tea.

OR

Practice Practice Practice! Putting 80%, chipping 10%, full shots 10% of your time

I know which one I do :D
 
I'm in a similar situation to you Beatle, I've just joined my first club and the only guy I know there just plays socially and doesn't actually have an offical handicap so he can't sign my cards for handicap purposes when I play with him.

Spoke to the pro today, he took my mobile number and said he would put me in contact with some members who he thinks would be happy to play with me and help me get to know a few more people. I think the responsibility has to lie with the club to make an effort to integrate its new members, after all if they don't feel welcomed and included then they may well leave.
 
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