Club Competitions

[Crazyface]

Not sure how this has happened at my place, but the club competitions are now held all day. So? Well it means that out on the course, some players are playing in the comp and some aren't. So? Well it means there is not the cameraderie that there use to be when playing in comps. We have a joint fairway on 16 and 17, yes it sounds weird, but we know how it works, and it's a place where we could ask each other how things were going etc etc, a big meet up point. No it didn't slow down play. Also other places, where we could chat and find out who was going well etc etc. This, now, does not exist. I've brought it to the attention to some people and the club pro, who has been dumped with sorting the comps, is now, finally, trying to find out how to actually use BRS to put the comps on it. I'm hoping he can do this as I think players should all be out together in comps. The club pro has told me that the new groups that have joined tend to play at their preferred times, and not want to play in the comps. Some have even had their own comps together during club comps. Can you believe that? I think that this is why the club does not have that closeness feel about it. I'm once again wondering if to re-join. Am I being stupid over this?

 

[nickjdavis]

I have some sympathy for your viewpoint.

Historically, at our club, competitions were always held in a block of tee times....you would stick your name down on a paper entry sheet on the noticeboard. A few days before the comp was due to be played a committee member would do a draw. Although you could specify whether you wanted and early/middle/late tee time (comp block was typically 7.30am through to 11am) you could not specify any players who you wanted to play with....so the draw was varied enough that you would always find yourself playing with different folk each week. This was a great benefit in getting new members introduced into the club.

COVID came along and changed all of that....more formal tee booking arrangements had to be found, you couldnt just play with anyone and everyone. Migration to online tee booking systems further exacerbated the problem, people just booked when they wanted and played with their mates.

Nowadays, the club runs a hybrid booking system....there are still a reserved block of tee times which you can state your desire to enter the draw for...but most folks book online in the "free for all" for tee times and play with their mates. There is definitely a reduced sense of "community" within the club. You can look around the clubhouse and 50% of the faces you just dont know, pre-covid you would know 90% of the folks in the bar.

Once folks are used to booking with their mates I think you will find it very difficult to get back to a stage where comps are played in a specific block of tee times....I reckon the best you will do is a hybrid system similar to what we run.

 

[3 jabber]

I'm not actually sure what the problem is. At my club on comp days the official times are first thing through to about 1.30pm in summer but you can still enter after that time. Makes it more inclusive for people that can't play in the morning or who are maybe just not quick enough when the booking system goes live.

 

[Crazyface]

I have some sympathy for your viewpoint.

Historically, at our club, competitions were always held in a block of tee times....you would stick your name down on a paper entry sheet on the noticeboard. A few days before the comp was due to be played a committee member would do a draw. Although you could specify whether you wanted and early/middle/late tee time (comp block was typically 7.30am through to 11am) you could not specify any players who you wanted to play with....so the draw was varied enough that you would always find yourself playing with different folk each week. This was a great benefit in getting new members introduced into the club.

COVID came along and changed all of that....more formal tee booking arrangements had to be found, you couldnt just play with anyone and everyone. Migration to online tee booking systems further exacerbated the problem, people just booked when they wanted and played with their mates.

Nowadays, the club runs a hybrid booking system....there are still a reserved block of tee times which you can state your desire to enter the draw for...but most folks book online in the "free for all" for tee times and play with their mates. There is definitely a reduced sense of "community" within the club. You can look around the clubhouse and 50% of the faces you just dont know, pre-covid you would know 90% of the folks in the bar.

Once folks are used to booking with their mates I think you will find it very difficult to get back to a stage where comps are played in a specific block of tee times....I reckon the best you will do is a hybrid system similar to what we run.

You've just described my place exactly.

 

[Crazyface]

I'm not actually sure what the problem is. At my club on comp days the official times are first thing through to about 1.30pm in summer but you can still enter after that time. Makes it more inclusive for people that can't play in the morning or who are maybe just not quick enough when the booking system goes live.

First thing through till 1.30pm !!!!? Our would be, 8am to 10am on a good day. Then one hour for the lads in the afternoon (usually the better players).

 

[NearHull]

If we have a Club Comp on a Saturday, then it is mandatory entry from dawn to 1200. Not universally liked, but it’s perhaps the best compromise that we have come to. It does help with pace of play by ensuring all groups are playing the same format. Members can also play in the comp after 1200 if they wish.

 

[Crazyface]

If we have a Club Comp on a Saturday, then it is mandatory entry from dawn to 1200. Not universally liked, but it’s perhaps the best compromise that we have come to. It does help with pace of play by ensuring all groups are playing the same format. Members can also play in the comp after 1200 if they wish.

I'm pushing for something like that. To try and get new members involved with the club.

 

[jim8flog]

Apart from Sat monthly medals, seniors and ladies fortnightly competitions the comps where I play are optional so you have mixed groups.

This was instituted by the comps committee as fairest way to get players in to comps who could not get to the club at the restricted tee times that most comps used to have. e.g. Senior fixed comps finish at 11.45 tee time whereas the optional comps go on all day.

No pleasing everybody - some like it some do not.

Prior to having a computer system Saturday comps went on all day with a simple requirement that times before midday were reserved for those playing in the medal and tee times were booked in the proshop.

 

[Starter]

From April to October Saturday comps have a full start sheet from 7.00 am to 2.30 with around 150 to 160 competing.

Therefore early starters will have finished, had a drink and gone home before the late ones have even teed off.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Unless its a start sheet comp like the club champs, all comps at mine are on all day and as we dont have tee booking or times normally you can play who you want to having entered the comp via the club terminals or app.
Our monthly medals are the last weekend of every month, so both Saturday and Sunday

 

[Golfnut1957]

I wouldn't worry about it. Just do what you have been threatening forever and find a new club.

I can't remember when, if ever, you said something positive about your club, and there must be something in Cheshire that would be better suited to you. Life is too short to be unhappy about golf.

 

[PJ87]

I wouldn't worry about it. Just do what you have been threatening forever and find a new club.

I can't remember when, if ever, you said something positive about your club, and there must be something in Cheshire that would be better suited to you. Life is too short to be unhappy about golf.

To be fair he's pretty negative about most things

 

[rulie]

To be fair he's pretty negative about most things

Tough to see who that message is meant for?

 

[Old Colner]

You can win the competition, just not collect any prizes.

 

[clubchamp98]

If we have a Club Comp on a Saturday, then it is mandatory entry from dawn to 1200. Not universally liked, but it’s perhaps the best compromise that we have come to. It does help with pace of play by ensuring all groups are playing the same format. Members can also play in the comp after 1200 if they wish.

Ours is from dawn until 4pm.
It’s always full.

 

[Petercool]

First thing through till 1.30pm !!!!? Our would be, 8am to 10am on a good day. Then one hour for the lads in the afternoon (usually the better players).

My club on Saturday all day you MUST PLAY COMP AND 18 holes.

On sundays you MUST PLAY COMP IF PLAYING before 11:30. You can play after if you want but don’t have too.

Awe also play comp everyday of the week.
We usually have 180-200 of a Sunday.
Tuesdays and thursdays we get about Qyp playing.
Saturday ps we get 220-240 playing.

 

[Mandofred]

Not sure how this has happened at my place, but the club competitions are now held all day. So? Well it means that out on the course, some players are playing in the comp and some aren't. So? Well it means there is not the cameraderie that there use to be when playing in comps. We have a joint fairway on 16 and 17, yes it sounds weird, but we know how it works, and it's a place where we could ask each other how things were going etc etc, a big meet up point. No it didn't slow down play. Also other places, where we could chat and find out who was going well etc etc. This, now, does not exist. I've brought it to the attention to some people and the club pro, who has been dumped with sorting the comps, is now, finally, trying to find out how to actually use BRS to put the comps on it. I'm hoping he can do this as I think players should all be out together in comps. The club pro has told me that the new groups that have joined tend to play at their preferred times, and not want to play in the comps. Some have even had their own comps together during club comps. Can you believe that? I think that this is why the club does not have that closeness feel about it. I'm once again wondering if to re-join. Am I being stupid over this?

My own opinion.....I think most clubs are slowly losing the camaraderie that used to be there....partially because of the push to get rid of rollups. Large groups of people are harder to get together and the push has been to just go with fastest finger wins and you get 4 balls of people who just want to play with their mates and not mingle with others. The only reason I am still at one of my clubs is because they have booked times for the rollups on Wed+Thurs mornings. You get a major core of the club getting together every week instead of individual private groups.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Our weekend board comps in the summer have around 120 entrants. First tee-time 7:30am. No general play usually until after about 1:30 or 2pm.

Camaraderie = clique

This has to be true to some extent, is bound to happen and not necessarily a bad thing or a good thing.
Club-wide camaraderie is unlikely, as there are sure to be some who want little or nothing to do with some others.

Catering for all types of social and competitive golfer is what a golf club needs to pay attention to. None should feel excluded.
I see some at our club who play just about every weekend comp, but always in the same three-ball. I'm sure they are happy and have camaraderie.
I would never want to do that. I like to use the comps to play with as many chaps as I can over the year. I've known many for many years.
I really enjoy playing with people that I have known for a long time - and meeting new members. Some sort of camaraderie in that, I suppose.

 

[Mandofred]

Our weekend board comps in the summer have around 120 entrants. First tee-time 7:30am. No general play usually until after about 1:30 or 2pm.

Camaraderie = clique

This has to be true to some extent, is bound to happen and not necessarily a bad thing or a good thing.
Club-wide camaraderie is unlikely, as there are sure to be some who want little or nothing to do with some others.

Catering for all types of social and competitive golfer is what a golf club needs to pay attention to. None should feel excluded.
I see some at our club who play just about every weekend comp, but always in the same three-ball. I'm sure they are happy and have camaraderie.
I would never want to do that. I like to use the comps to play with as many chaps as I can over the year. I've known many for many years.
I really enjoy playing with people that I have known for a long time - and meeting new members. Some sort of camaraderie in that, I suppose.

I don't get the camaraderie=clique conclusion. I guess you can have camaraderie in just a small group with your buddies....it's easier I guess. But that isn't going to make a difference in the club as a whole. Making it more of a club camaraderie there would need to be a lot more people involved. My large group rollup at Ripon probably has 40+ people who play regularly, but rarely much over 30-35. These same people play in the rollups on Wed+Thur and almost all of the comps. There is constant banter being tossed around from group to group even while playing. Most go into the club afterwards. These same people play regularly with a fair number of other people as well. That is one way of getting more of a friendly feeling in the club.....a lot of people who play regularly with a LOT of other people. This is being forced out of a lot of clubs who have gone down the route of favoring small groups over rollup groups.

I've always been against comps allowing the same people to always play with each other.....which is what both my clubs do. My first club you signed up for a comp and then they would draw groups in 5 tee time sections, you knew about when you were going to play ahead of time but not who with.

 

[GreiginFife]

Just more old man yells at clouds from the usual suspect.