Beginner (40+) first membership advice, please

[hodd]

Hello all

I'm a beginner, in my forties. Since starting in January, I've had quite a few lessons at various clubs and play at a public 9-hole course, usually alone as I don't know anyone locally who plays golf. I'm not going to pretend I'm good, but I am making progress, and I now need to join a club.

What I'm after is:

- a game once or twice a week with another golfer or golfers
- a handicap
- a few competitions, if possible

Bearing in mind I'm new to golf, I'm worried about paying for membership and finding it difficult to get any games. I don't expect a welcoming committee, etc, but I don't want cliques who'd rather not play with the new guy, if that sort of thing goes on.

There are probably a dozen clubs within a ten-mile radius, and within reason it’s not a question of money. What I need advice on, please, is what to look for and what questions I should be asking?

Thanks a lot, and I look forward to reading and writing a lot more on here.

 

[Farneyman]

Where are you based?

Try and get a game at the local courses or some recommendations from folk on here and see how you get on. (Some may even sign you on for a game) Most clubs will be welcoming to potential new members.

Most importantly enjoy your golf!

I'm sure there was a thread on here listing what people liked in a club but I can't find it. It was a good thread and listed lots of pros and cons with different clubs.

Make a list of what you want from a club and see how you get on.

 

[Doh]

Any club you join has to suit your needs, you have already identified some. Other things I would be looking at as a beginner are practice facilities, good teaching pro, how easy is it to integrate into the club. Most clubs are aware that new people without a handicap need help so would run some type of role up for them. Also look at how their booking system works, can you get a game without to much trouble. If your looking to play in comps, which you should how do you enter these. How good is the social side of the club, how easy is it to meet new people.

 

[backwoodsman]

First of all, you have to like the course and the facilities - so try them. Even if the members and the general club structure are great, it's not much good if you come to dislike the course.

Don't rush into things - if everything works out, it's going to become your second home (if this forum is anything to go by, possibly your first). So you need to be sure.

On the golf side, does it have regular roll-up, swindle, fiddle or whatever else it may be called - where you can get a regular game. How does it work? At ours, if you rock up at the given time, you will get a game - some other places are a bit more structured and get played in regular groupings and might be more difficult to break into.

As regards competions, you'll find threads and threads on here about personal preferences but for a newbie, drawn comps are likely best - ie you sign up, then the club draws the groupings. Find out how entry into comps is made (online or sign up at club) - the method needs to meet your needs so you have best chance of playing when it suits you. A system that means it's awkward for you to get to play at your preferred time of day causes angst. There is no right or wrong way.

Handicap - if you join, you'll get one. If they don't already have a club handicap, a newbie will often have a "playing in" round where you get allocated a nominal handicap which you use in casual games. To get the proper handicap you need to submit 3 cards from competitions (or three supplementary cards played under competition conditions)

Ps - welcome to the forum.

 

[full_throttle]

Hello all

I'm a beginner, in my forties. Since starting in January, I've had quite a few lessons at various clubs and play at a public 9-hole course, usually alone as I don't know anyone locally who plays golf. I'm not going to pretend I'm good, but I am making progress, and I now need to join a club.

What I'm after is:

- a game once or twice a week with another golfer or golfers
- a handicap
- a few competitions, if possible

Bearing in mind I'm new to golf, I'm worried about paying for membership and finding it difficult to get any games. I don't expect a welcoming committee, etc, but I don't want cliques who'd rather not play with the new guy, if that sort of thing goes on.

There are probably a dozen clubs within a ten-mile radius, and within reason it’s not a question of money. What I need advice on, please, is what to look for and what questions I should be asking?

Thanks a lot, and I look forward to reading and writing a lot more on here.

I can help with all the above, membership at my course available on a pro-rata basis, competitions every Saturday and roll-ups on Sundays.

 

[pbrown7582]

Welcome to the madhouse, enjoy

Offer already to

 

[Tashyboy]

Hod first and foremost, ring up a few course and just go and play. You will get a gut feeling about the place. I travel about 10 miles to my course and could get to four or five others others that were closer, But chose the one I am at coz it ticked most of the boxes.
would deffo say a course with a driving range and good practice facilities ticked a lot of them.
things that did not tick boxes and turned me away.
1, Sherwood, A1 course but too expensive.
2, Rufford, nice easy course but nearly fighting on first Tee, and committee not investigating incident properly meant it was deffo a no no.
3, other courses which are quite bland.

enjoy and welcome to the cuckoos nest.

 

[hodd]

Wow, many thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.

Without naming names, my experience so far has been:

1. Lessons at my local club. I was an absolute beginner, but the pro insisted on teaching me stack and tilt. It put me off.
2. Lessons at another club. Excellent pro, but he was a bit disorganised with scheduling. That hasn't put me off the club, though.
3. Lessons at Direct Golf. I think these are very good as are the facilities but obviously no course or club to join.
4. Playing at a nine-hole course which has membership and is very welcoming, but I want to eventually play on the big boy's course.

I didn't mention my location. It's not a secret, but I wanted more general advice, which is what I've got so far, so thanks again.

 

[Karl102]

Wow, many thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.

Without naming names, my experience so far has been:

1. Lessons at my local club. I was an absolute beginner, but the pro insisted on teaching me stack and tilt. It put me off.
2. Lessons at another club. Excellent pro, but he was a bit disorganised with scheduling. That hasn't put me off the club, though.
3. Lessons at Direct Golf. I think these are very good as are the facilities but obviously no course or club to join.
4. Playing at a nine-hole course which has membership and is very welcoming, but I want to eventually play on the big boy's course.

I didn't mention my location. It's not a secret, but I wanted more general advice, which is what I've got so far, so thanks again.

Best thing about this forum is I bet there are members at a course near you who would be more than pleased to offer you a game. I would take their offers up and see which course you like the best, whilst sounding them out about memberships...

 

[sawtooth]

Best thing about this forum is I bet there are members at a course near you who would be more than pleased to offer you a game. I would take their offers up and see which course you like the best, whilst sounding them out about memberships...

Agreed.

I'm doing this myself at the moment as I am also looking for a new club to join. Take your time its a fairly big decision especially if you need to stump up a joining fee.

 

[chellie]

Another thing to consider is what the course is like in winter. Does it close often? One around here does due to water logging. Ours was closed twice this winter and that was due to severe winds. I know not everyone plays in bad weather but we do so it was a huge factor to us

 

[Backache]

I don't have wide experience as I have not been a member of loads of clubs. But the three that I have been a member of I have found that they have all been pretty welcoming , so I expect the majority are. I have joined mine all on the grounds of geographical location.
I could walk to mine in 10-15 minutes though usually drive as there is limited locker space. The benefit of being able to pop out for a few holes in the evening or early morning is huge.

PS they have not all had pros allthough not an insurmountable problem having a pro , proshop and a reasonable practice area is something that I would look for all other factrors being equal.

 

[pacebos]

I'm in a very similar position to Hodd, I'm early 40's and took up golf last July. I'm also no good normally shooting around in 100-115 shots but I love the game and enjoy the feeling of an early morning knock around the course.

I played a handful of local clubs to me and had a drink in each club house. I looked at the club shop to see how well stocked it is and then looked at the other facilities such as a driving range, practice area, availability of lessons, methods of tee booking etc

The social side can be hard because it's like being the new kid at school and hoping people will say hello. I've yet to crack that bit but my club provide an online list of members contact details so I sent an email to somebody who I've noticed plays solo quite a bit and guess what?.....they replied and we're going to meet up in the next few weeks.

I have absolutely no confidence to play in a competition.

Enjoy your game wherever you play and good luck!

 

[robert.redmile]

Very similar for me this time last year -44 yrs old, never played, didn't know what to expect.
my advice.
1. Take lessons with a pro you like and get on with
2. Practice
3. Just turn up at the club whenever you want to play, even on your own, and either go round on your own, or ask to join another group. (You'll never be made to feel unwelcome in my experience.)
4. Play in comps. The best way to meet new people.
5. Find out when the roll ups are and join in. We have one every day bar Sunday, just turn up and you'll get drawn in a group and have a right laugh.
6. Expect progress in your game to be slow. This game is hard.
rob

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome along to the OP. I'd contact the clubs I was interested in and try and get a courtesy round or a look around. Speak to the captain. Ask about roll up groups (sometimes known as greedies or swindles). Ask about competitions. Are they drawn or do members play in their own cliques. As long as you have a basic understanding of the rules and etiquette, you should be warmly welcomed and find it easy to mingle and join in