Cannot get a handicap

[GG26]

I joined a club two months ago and had the same problem, ie I didn't know any of the members and needed to get cards marked to get my handicap.

It's worth checking with the pro or the notice boards, or just asking someone in the clubhouse. I have found everyone to be friendly and helpful to new members like me. I was told that there was a roll up early on Sunday mornings (7.45 start), which is open to all members and it was a bit daunting turning up for the first week. They play stableford, but when I explained that I needed cards marked, they were more than happy to let me play out each hole and over three Sundays I got the cards submitted and a week ago got me handicap through (26 - so pleased it was under 28!).

The great thing about the roll-ups was that I got to meet other members and was also lucky enough to got drawn with the club pro on my first week. I intend to keep going back to the roll-ups when I can to get to know more people and its now good to be able to turn up to the club and see the odd friendly face.

I got to play in my first competition on Saturday (very happy with a net 75 on my first round on the competition tees) and played with a couple of guys who also told me about a roll-up on Saturday mornings on non-competition days.

I also found it confusing about going about getting a competition handicap and rang the chairman of our handicap committee and he was more than happy to answer any queries that I had. Basically the three marked cards were sufficient.

I've still to play with anyone outside of the roll-ups and competitions, but I am sure that as I get to know some of the other members opportunities to join in with them will arise.

I hope that this gives some encouragement and good luck with obtaining a handicap and getting to know other members in your club.

 

[duncan mackie]

I joined a club two months ago and had the same problem, ie I didn't know any of the members and needed to get cards marked to get my handicap.

It's worth checking with the pro or the notice boards, or just asking someone in the clubhouse. I have found everyone to be friendly and helpful to new members like me. I was told that there was a roll up early on Sunday mornings (7.45 start), which is open to all members and it was a bit daunting turning up for the first week. They play stableford, but when I explained that I needed cards marked, they were more than happy to let me play out each hole and over three Sundays I got the cards submitted and a week ago got me handicap through (26 - so pleased it was under 28!).

The great thing about the roll-ups was that I got to meet other members and was also lucky enough to got drawn with the club pro on my first week. I intend to keep going back to the roll-ups when I can to get to know more people and its now good to be able to turn up to the club and see the odd friendly face.

I got to play in my first competition on Saturday (very happy with a net 75 on my first round on the competition tees) and played with a couple of guys who also told me about a roll-up on Saturday mornings on non-competition days.

I also found it confusing about going about getting a competition handicap and rang the chairman of our handicap committee and he was more than happy to answer any queries that I had. Basically the three marked cards were sufficient.

I've still to play with anyone outside of the roll-ups and competitions, but I am sure that as I get to know some of the other members opportunities to join in with them will arise.

I hope that this gives some encouragement and good luck with obtaining a handicap and getting to know other members in your club.

welcome to the forum

good to hear that it all works at some clubs!

 

[fripnchips]

Also joined a club recently without a handicap and just turned up for roll ups and even a monthly competition and explained to the guys i was playing with that i needed cards for my handicap and one of them was always happy to complete one for me.

 

[BoadieBroadus]

had the exact same thing when i joined my club.

except they had a rule at the time that you had to be sub 20 handicap to have a 7 day membership, and I had a mon - fri job. so i was stuck in a terrible catch 22 where i couldn't play comps, couldnt get a handicap, and couldnt actually extend my membership to cover the days i didn't have to work.

i sympathise with the OP in that the club / pro really didn't seem very willing to help at all, i very nearly left.

in the end i conspired with another pro to fake 3 handicap cards from another course and get a society handicap there. needs must...

occasionally i feel like one of those people who gets rumbled after working for 20 years that they never ever got the degree that they claimed they had at interview.

 

[KhalJimbo]

I was in the same position a while back after I joined my club.

Just ask if there is a "roll up" or a "swindle", they will most likely have a weekly one that you can go along too and they will pair you up with members that way who will sign your card for you. Just ask to be introduced to whoever organizes them and tell them you're just playing to gain handicap.

Welcome to the forum, hope you're able to gain a handicap soon.

 

[Whydowedoit]

I've ended up in the same boat. I didn't play for 14 years & my last handicap was 9.1. Joined a new club 2 months ago as I liked the course, but found later that they hold all competitions on a Saturday morning, I work on Saturday mornings! I don't get a lot of free time for golf either, so I'm stuck as a decent standard player with no handicap & the previous club don't have any record of me. Its frustrating, think I might have joined the wrong place.

 

[duncan mackie]

I've ended up in the same boat. I didn't play for 14 years & my last handicap was 9.1. Joined a new club 2 months ago as I liked the course, but found later that they hold all competitions on a Saturday morning, I work on Saturday mornings! I don't get a lot of free time for golf either, so I'm stuck as a decent standard player with no handicap & the previous club don't have any record of me. Its frustrating, think I might have joined the wrong place.

The handicap issue is seperate from the lack of competition opportunities.

Presumably you joined to play some golf ie other than Sat mornings, so you just need to get 3 cards signed and advise the handicap sec of your previous history; no need to prove it as they will simply factor in the fact that you are a returning golfer with a past capability when considering their allocation (it's unlikely they wild do anything but allocate purely on cards submitted but they might subsequently act quicker if you came out of the blocks running - also unlikely if you aren't playing competitions!)

No doubt you are already fed up with people asking why you didn't check when comps were played when joining if they are a factor to you ...

 

[Smiffy]

I've ended up in the same boat. I didn't play for 14 years & my last handicap was 9.1. Joined a new club 2 months ago as I liked the course, but found later that they hold all competitions on a Saturday morning, I work on Saturday mornings! I don't get a lot of free time for golf either, so I'm stuck as a decent standard player with no handicap & the previous club don't have any record of me. Its frustrating, think I might have joined the wrong place.

Just tip up when you CAN play and hang around the first tee...
Sooner or later a 2 or 3 ball will turn up. Explain that you are a new member wishing to "reactivate" your handicap and I am absolutely certain they will let you join them and mark a card for you.
This is what I did when I joined Cooden holding an inactive handicap.
I played with a couple of guys in a friendly "knock" and we got on so well together we met up for the next medal.
I don't like medals and a few clubs went flying. I haven't seen these two guys since