Competitions

[WWG]

Just wondered what you lot think. I recently retired and took up golf for the exercise and a good time killer. I knew full well before I took it up it was addictive, and whilst I have no aspirations to be the greatest player on earth, I would like ideally to get to about an 18 handicap before I die. To some of you that may well be pretty crap, to me it is huge mountain to climb.

Last week I was invited to play a league competition game, and by default I won it. I didn't play well at all, but fortunately the other players were even worse. To be honest it was very informal, and the two guys I played with were friends anyway. However, there are loads of competitions planned for the summer, and I am really not sure if I am interested. There is a fair amount of pressure put on members to join in. I can only imagine being docked a shot, or even disqualified for making a mistake or breach of the rules I am not aware of. I am sure this would be enough for me to stick two fingers up and walk off of the course.

What I wan't to know is what you lot think of comps, and what you get out of them, and is there a possibility that someone like me may be put off of the game as a result of participating.

 

[Crow]

They're great fun for a start.

I play in our B Team and the matches are friendly affairs and you get to play new courses at little cost, at higher handicap level nobody is likely to get too serious and what's wrong on being pulled up on a rule?
As long as it's done in a reasonable way then you're learning something for the future, all part of the game.

If you're keen on golf, which you say you are, and enjoy matchplay (which I'm guessing these league competitions are) then I can only see you enjoying it.
Did you enjoy the match you played?????

 

[JohnnyDee]

Yes, would agree with what Crow says really.

I started at ours with 26 handicap and immediately got stuck in playing for our 20 Section against neighbouring clubs. I loved it and also met so many people which helped me get established at the club.

I was by no means a rules expert either, and if I was ever in doubt about any given situation, I'd tell the group that I was playing with that I was new to the game and simply ask what are my options regarding X Y Z.

People were more than happy to point out the rule and you soon learn anyway. Most are common sense.

I'd say get stuck in there and enjoy - and good luck getting to 18 too.

 

[williamalex1]

Just wondered what you lot think. I recently retired and took up golf for the exercise and a good time killer. I knew full well before I took it up it was addictive, and whilst I have no aspirations to be the greatest player on earth, I would like ideally to get to about an 18 handicap before I die. To some of you that may well be pretty crap, to me it is huge mountain to climb.

Last week I was invited to play a league competition game, and by default I won it. I didn't play well at all, but fortunately the other players were even worse. To be honest it was very informal, and the two guys I played with were friends anyway. However, there are loads of competitions planned for the summer, and I am really not sure if I am interested. There is a fair amount of pressure put on members to join in. I can only imagine being docked a shot, or even disqualified for making a mistake or breach of the rules I am not aware of. I am sure this would be enough for me to stick two fingers up and walk off of the course.

What I wan't to know is what you lot think of comps, and what you get out of them, and is there a possibility that someone like me may be put off of the game as a result of participating.

Don't be put of playing in comps, every sport has rules, you're not expected to know them all as a newbie.

Don't take it personal when someone points out you've broken a rule you didn't even know existed.


Just ask your FCs to keep you right you'll find most are helpful, after all we were all newbies at one time.ne:

 

[patricks148]

play as many as you can, what's the worse that can happen??

 

[williamalex1]

play as many as you can, what's the worse that can happen??

:rofl:

 

[Smiffy]

I won it. I didn't play well at all, but fortunately the other players were even worse.

Have you any vacancies?

 

[Blue in Munich]

I didn't play well at all, but fortunately the other players were even worse.

Have you any vacancies?

We assumed he'd already played you Smiffy…………

 

[Smiffy]

We assumed he'd already played you Smiffy…………

You only "just" won that match mush.
Re-match in the Summer.

 

[chrisd]

We assumed he'd already played you Smiffy…………

"Candy off a baby"

 

[delc]

Just wondered what you lot think. I recently retired and took up golf for the exercise and a good time killer. I knew full well before I took it up it was addictive, and whilst I have no aspirations to be the greatest player on earth, I would like ideally to get to about an 18 handicap before I die. To some of you that may well be pretty crap, to me it is huge mountain to climb.

Last week I was invited to play a league competition game, and by default I won it. I didn't play well at all, but fortunately the other players were even worse. To be honest it was very informal, and the two guys I played with were friends anyway. However, there are loads of competitions planned for the summer, and I am really not sure if I am interested. There is a fair amount of pressure put on members to join in. I can only imagine being docked a shot, or even disqualified for making a mistake or breach of the rules I am not aware of. I am sure this would be enough for me to stick two fingers up and walk off of the course.

What I wan't to know is what you lot think of comps, and what you get out of them, and is there a possibility that someone like me may be put off of the game as a result of participating.

Competitions are fun, allow you to meet new people, and you may even win something!

Most golf clubs will give you a copy of the small rules book for free. You can also get the rules online from the R&A website. Next time you get a rainy day, spend a couple of hours reading them. You should then know them better than 90% of club golfers!

 

[louise_a]

I started playing when I retired, I love competition golf, I play in everything I can, club comps, team comps, opens.

I also made a point of learning as much as I could about the rules, learn the basics and know how to find things in the rule book when on the course.

 

[dan2844]

i would 100% go for the competitions, its one of the main reasons i started playing again, they were so much fun to me as a Junior and im sure it will be the same now i'm older, and there's no better feeling than winning too. i also feel i take the game alot more serious and play alot better when there is something to play for. if i'm doing 9 holes on my own then im never likely to take my time or take the time to properly line up a put etc.

 

[WWG]

Many thanks for all your advice. I very much hope you are right, and I am hoping that the additional pressure will force me to take more time, and thus play better shots. As a new player, I am a little worried about embarrassing myself in front of other players I suppose, but that must be the same for everyone.

 

[rosecott]

Many thanks for all your advice. I very much hope you are right, and I am hoping that the additional pressure will force me to take more time, and thus play better shots. As a new player, I am a little worried about embarrassing myself in front of other players I suppose, but that must be the same for everyone.

Remember - nobody ever really died of embarrassment.

The first time I ever played with any forum members was in a 4-ball at Newark. My tee shot on the first went all of 30 yards duck-hooked left into a huge bush - never to be seen again. Having survived that, I'd like to say that everything was fine after that but, even if you've got your game going pretty well, there's always something nasty lurking round the corner waiting.

 

[Bazz]

I took a 10 on a par 3 in my first ever medal, nobody else cared.

Just get stuck in, you'll love it.

 

[WWG]

I took a 10 on a par 3 in my first ever medal, nobody else cared.

Just get stuck in, you'll love it.

and there was me thinking a 10 on a par 3 was OK

 

[full_throttle]

get your name own on the competition start sheet, turn up early have 5 minutes in the nets and on the putting green, then introduce yourself to your fellow competitors and explain your new to competition golf and more importantly have fun,

let us know how you get on

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Competitions are fun, allow you to meet new people, and you may even win something!

Most golf clubs will give you a copy of the small rules book for free. You can also get the rules online from the R&A website. Next time you get a rainy day, spend a couple of hours reading them. You should then know them better than 90% of club golfers!

Those last two sentences are pretty accurate.

 

[davidg2010uk]

First medal you will feel a bit of pressure but you soon realise nobody really cares how you play and can relax and enjoy the game and meeting people. Go for it!