considering membership - do you get bored???

[FairwayDodger]

This is the problem. I'm trying to tick as many boxes as possible at any course/club I look at.

The one I mention has (AFAIK) all of these except the atmosphere/friendliness.

One of the others has very little in the way of practice area but a really nice atmosphere.

Another has good atmosphere, some practice but little in the way of a competitive diary (from what I can see on the sites).

If I am being totally honest, the club atmosphere won't matter as much. Time restrictions with HID will reduce the amount of post-round enjoyment I will get.

Having joined one club at random and only subsequently come to realise exactly what I'd like from a club, I am always looking for the "perfect" option near me. It doesn't exist. You've really got to take a view on what's important to you and which club best meets that.

This year, I'm a member at two clubs to try and tick all the boxes but there's downsides with that too (not least the expense) so I'm probably looking at other options next year again!

 

[drew83]

I liked cranham when I played a few times last year. I went there a couple of months ago to play a round with a guy from work. I was gutted to see the fairways sliced up the way they were. I did enjoy the round, but the facilities were a little sparse.


I have a few more courses to look at & try. I think the 3 month trials are going to prove useful.

 

[drew83]

Having joined one club at random and only subsequently come to realise exactly what I'd like from a club, I am always looking for the "perfect" option near me. It doesn't exist. You've really got to take a view on what's important to you and which club best meets that.

This year, I'm a member at two clubs to try and tick all the boxes but there's downsides with that too (not least the expense) so I'm probably looking at other options next year again!

I think this is part of Hackerkhan earlier posts. If a couple of courses were to link up, you could get the best of both at less expense. The practice ground at one course, more options to play comps (ladies comp at course a gents at course b, then vice versa the following week etc).

The hunt for perfection will always be there I reckon. There will always be something.

The other option is to win the lottery, buy a course that's almost there & add the missing bits.....

 

[louise_a]

i would echo the positive comments about having club membership the benefits of having a CONGU handicap and county membership are great.

I too play in team matches and go to opens, This year I have played 7 courses for free in team matches, I played 2 rounds at Southport and Ainsdale for just £15 by playing in a county competition plus probably between 20 and 30 other courses in opens for generally no more than £20 and quite often for as little as a tenner.

 

[RollinThunder]

I'm nearly in the same boat as you, not quite sure yet if I want to commit to one club or carry on being a traveller and trying different course's plus I have a season ticket at Bradford which I'm not sure I want to give up yet.

I always wondered if you'd get bored playing the same course's but unless you try it you'll never know. Few places close by are doing decent deals, may wait until my 40th in a couple of years when I have a bit more money and the kids are a bit older too.

I was in the same boat as you, and when I started I loved playing at as many courses as I could. Then the social side of playing with my nomad friends fizzled out, people stopped playing, and most lost interest. I wanted a bit more, and to play competitively, so I joined a club. It wasn't my first choice of club, as I admit that I joined this club because of price, and subsequently suffered, rather than following my heart, and paying a bit more to join a club that I would have a spring in my step to play. So my advice is to follow your heart, rather than you're wallet.

 

[drew83]

I was in the same boat as you, and when I started I loved playing at as many courses as I could. Then the social side of playing with my nomad friends fizzled out, people stopped playing, and most lost interest. I wanted a bit more, and to play competitively, so I joined a club. It wasn't my first choice of club, as I admit that I joined this club because of price, and subsequently suffered, rather than following my heart, and paying a bit more to join a club that I would have a spring in my step to play. So my advice is to follow your heart, rather than you're wallet.

This seem to be happening at the moment. A lot of family/friends that I play with are starting to wind down their golf. Mostly as they are "fair weather golfers". But life is also getting in the way. Kids, wives/girlfriends, holidays, injuries etc.

This is why I am now considering the membership option more.

 

[Craggles89]

I liked cranham when I played a few times last year. I went there a couple of months ago to play a round with a guy from work. I was gutted to see the fairways sliced up the way they were. I did enjoy the round, but the facilities were a little sparse.


I have a few more courses to look at & try. I think the 3 month trials are going to prove useful.

Yeah the fairways are dreadful at the moment.

Which courses are on your shortlist with the 3 month trials?

 

[nickjdavis]

This is the problem. I'm trying to tick as many boxes as possible at any course/club I look at.

The one I mention has (AFAIK) all of these except the atmosphere/friendliness.

One of the others has very little in the way of practice area but a really nice atmosphere.

Another has good atmosphere, some practice but little in the way of a competitive diary (from what I can see on the sites).

If I am being totally honest, the club atmosphere won't matter as much. Time restrictions with HID will reduce the amount of post-round enjoyment I will get.

Please do not undervalue the atmosphere/friendliness of a club.... unless you are a bit of a "loner" (and I don't mean that in a nasty way), no matter how good the course/practice facilities etc are, if you don't feel like you "belong", and the club is full of little cliques that you can't easily integrate into.... you eventually WILL NOT enjoy it as much.

...and you know what.... one day, just maybe, her indoors will say to you..." so what's this golf club of yours all about then... don't they do any social functions like a dinner dance or summer BBQ's?". Better to be a member at a friendly club that perhaps doesn't have every facility you want than a sterile club with the best range and chipping green for 30 miles.

Another thing... no matter how good the proactive facilities, if you have limited time, then when you get to the club and think..." play nine holes or hit a bucket of balls on the range?"...I know what you will choose four times out of five.

I'd post more on the pros/cons of the various facilities but wife tells me we are ready to go out now!!

 

[Marshy77]

I was in the same boat as you, and when I started I loved playing at as many courses as I could. Then the social side of playing with my nomad friends fizzled out, people stopped playing, and most lost interest. I wanted a bit more, and to play competitively, so I joined a club. It wasn't my first choice of club, as I admit that I joined this club because of price, and subsequently suffered, rather than following my heart, and paying a bit more to join a club that I would have a spring in my step to play. So my advice is to follow your heart, rather than you're wallet.

That's kind of the opposite with me, more of my mates are playing and can normally get a four or more ball together most times. This is also why I haven't joined a club as my 2 closet mates haven't either - yet. Some of the lads have a we get to play at there course's. Might see how this and next season goes football wise and then decide.

 

[RollinThunder]

This seem to be happening at the moment. A lot of family/friends that I play with are starting to wind down their golf. Mostly as they are "fair weather golfers". But life is also getting in the way. Kids, wives/girlfriends, holidays, injuries etc.

This is why I am now considering the membership option more.

It's true, most of my friends over the last few years have got married and had kids, so golf is well and truly off the radar for them. Well, at the end of the day, golf is a sport and a hobby, so it goes without saying that there are other priorities. The bonus of a club is that most members are of the same mindset, like to play competitively, and will play regularly, so generally speaking, you will get a decent, competitive game. The downside is that the social side and the banter of playing with friends is always unbeatable.

I got the idea that my nomad friends were only there because they had nothing else to do on a Saturday morning, whereas the members I played with actually wanted to be there.

 

[drew83]

Yeah the fairways are dreadful at the moment.

Which courses are on your shortlist with the 3 month trials?

Garons is doing the 3 months trial, I have been told Thorpe hall & Ballards gore are doing the trial membership too. Though can't see this on their sites. I need to put a few calls in to them. Ballards are offering the flexi at the moment.

To be honest, even playing nomad you can get a sense of the places. Three Rivers for example is a nice course but seems a little "snooty" to me. Friendly enough but just get the feel that it's a bit old boy stuffy.

 

[drew83]

Please do not undervalue the atmosphere/friendliness of a club.... unless you are a bit of a "loner" (and I don't mean that in a nasty way), no matter how good the course/practice facilities etc are, if you don't feel like you "belong", and the club is full of little cliques that you can't easily integrate into.... you eventually WILL NOT enjoy it as much.

...and you know what.... one day, just maybe, her indoors will say to you..." so what's this golf club of yours all about then... don't they do any social functions like a dinner dance or summer BBQ's?". Better to be a member at a friendly club that perhaps doesn't have every facility you want than a sterile club with the best range and chipping green for 30 miles.

Another thing... no matter how good the proactive facilities, if you have limited time, then when you get to the club and think..." play nine holes or hit a bucket of balls on the range?"...I know what you will choose four times out of five.

I'd post more on the pros/cons of the various facilities but wife tells me we are ready to go out now!!

HID keeps threatening to give golf a go. Got her some clubs cheap, never wanted to come out. Our daughter just turned 13 so is developing a social life of her own that renders us redundant most weekends. So I am trying to convince her to come along. A friend of hers & her husband are members at a local course & keep offering for us to go out with them.

And you are right, the only time the range/practice grounds will come in are the deepest weeks of winter when the course is off limits. Again this is why I lean towards Garons.

They have the 3 9 holes I mentioned, good range, putting area & a 9 hole par 3 course. Good facilities but just not overly friendly. They have a good pro shop, good pros. It does have a lot of pay & players which doesn't help the atmosphere feel.

Maybe I am answering my own questions here.....give the 3 month a go, find out what the "real atmosphere" is like there. Probably the wrong time of year to be looking into trying a club out....so may wait until march when the weather turns again....

 

[Big_G]

I was very much of a similar mindset to the OP, but eventually took the plunge and joined a club

To be honest I didn't really like the course that much before I joined, but the location and general friendly relaxed atmosphere at the place made it more appealing

Was one of the best decisions I've ever made, in the 3 years since I joined I've made more new friends than I could belive possible and get to play in so many comps. I'm even starting to enjoy the course :thup:

 

[GB72]

I am going to break ranks a bit here and say that I could take or leave club membership at the moment.
On the plus side, I love the competitions, having an official handicap and the challenge of trying to perform better each week over the same track. It also works out pretty cheap in relation to cost per round, I can pop up for a few holes whenever I want and I can normally find a playing partner if I need one.
On the down side, I do not really fit in that well. The membership on the whole is that bit older than me and that bit more stayed in their approach to life. I have tried social functions and have been made very welcome but they are all a bit quiet and a bit placid for what I look for in an evening out. That is not me bashing the club or the membership, just a fact of life that my tastes differ from what a large chunk of the membership are looking for.
I would also look for a good weekend roll up and drawn comps but the clubs near me do not offer that. People like playing in their own groups too much and the big roll ups are in the week as a large percentage of our membership is retired.
My favourite golf format is a good better ball matchplay with mates and so, if I had a group of likeminded golfing mates who wanted to go nomad for a knock every week then I would seriously consider it and then pay a nominal fee at the local 9 hole course to maintain a handicap. I would then enter opens for the competition side of things.
What I have to face is that there is not the sort of club that I am looking for in the area. That is not a derogatory comment, just that I am looking for something different to what the majority of the current membership are looking for. If there was a club with a livelier bar with a bit of interaction and banter, good weekend rollups and maybe even a bit of sport on the TV in the bar I would be happy as a pig in plop but that does not exist near me and so I never truly take advantage of my membership status.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I used to be a member of a 9 hole links course. That became very dull and repetitive. I now play at a bigger 18 hole parkland course. I may get bored in the end but so far there are far more variables in the course to keep things fresh and the scenery is much more attractive so I suspect it will take longer.

 

[Fish]

On the down side, I do not really fit in that well. The membership on the whole is that bit older than me and that bit more stayed in their approach to life. I have tried social functions and have been made very welcome but they are all a bit quiet and a bit placid for what I look for in an evening out. That is not me bashing the club or the membership, just a fact of life that my tastes differ from what a large chunk of the membership are looking for.

I would also look for a good weekend roll up and drawn comps but the clubs near me do not offer that. People like playing in their own groups too much and the big roll ups are in the week as a large percentage of our membership is retired.

What I have to face is that there is not the sort of club that I am looking for in the area. That is not a derogatory comment, just that I am looking for something different to what the majority of the current membership are looking for. If there was a club with a livelier bar with a bit of interaction and banter, good weekend rollups and maybe even a bit of sport on the TV in the bar I would be happy as a pig in plop but that does not exist near me and so I never truly take advantage of my membership status.

This is why I left my last club after only 12 months, I liked the course even though it was a 9-holer with 18 variable tee's, but as you state above, it had a very consistent older age membership, no TV unless you take a big old wooden Bush with terrestrial only showing in a small corner of a room, I threw myself at teams and entered all comps but the paper system had it issues with names being scribbled out and tee times changed without notification!

Have to say I'm very happy now but you don't learn about some of the infrastructure of clubs until you commit and move to them, the course maybe excellent but like you Greg, if your looking for a bit of social and roll-ups etc also, some are just not to be.

 

[GB72]

This is why I left my last club after only 12 months, I liked the course even though it was a 9-holer with 18 variable tee's, but as you state above, it had a very consistent older age membership, no TV unless you take a big old wooden Bush with terrestrial only showing in a small corner of a room, I threw myself at teams and entered all comps but the paper system had it issues with names being scribbled out and tee times changed without notification!

Have to say I'm very happy now but you don't learn about some of the infrastructure of clubs until you commit and move to them, the course maybe excellent but like you Greg, if your looking for a bit of social and roll-ups etc also, some are just not to be.

Not even got an old TV on. You would not have known that the Open was on last month as it was not shown at all in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, I have 2 viable options for clubs near me, I have been a member at both and both are pretty much identical in terms of atmosphere and attitude to drawn comps and roll ups.

 

[RollinThunder]

I am going to break ranks a bit here and say that I could take or leave club membership at the moment.
On the plus side, I love the competitions, having an official handicap and the challenge of trying to perform better each week over the same track. It also works out pretty cheap in relation to cost per round, I can pop up for a few holes whenever I want and I can normally find a playing partner if I need one.
On the down side, I do not really fit in that well. The membership on the whole is that bit older than me and that bit more stayed in their approach to life. I have tried social functions and have been made very welcome but they are all a bit quiet and a bit placid for what I look for in an evening out. That is not me bashing the club or the membership, just a fact of life that my tastes differ from what a large chunk of the membership are looking for.
I would also look for a good weekend roll up and drawn comps but the clubs near me do not offer that. People like playing in their own groups too much and the big roll ups are in the week as a large percentage of our membership is retired.
My favourite golf format is a good better ball matchplay with mates and so, if I had a group of likeminded golfing mates who wanted to go nomad for a knock every week then I would seriously consider it and then pay a nominal fee at the local 9 hole course to maintain a handicap. I would then enter opens for the competition side of things.
What I have to face is that there is not the sort of club that I am looking for in the area. That is not a derogatory comment, just that I am looking for something different to what the majority of the current membership are looking for. If there was a club with a livelier bar with a bit of interaction and banter, good weekend rollups and maybe even a bit of sport on the TV in the bar I would be happy as a pig in plop but that does not exist near me and so I never truly take advantage of my membership status.

I think I must have been at the same club as you! The majority of members were retired, or middle-aged and self-employed, and as someone in their 20s, finding a group was extremely difficult. As a young person, unless you get in with a young group, a traditional club doesn't have much to offer in my opinion. They clearly had problems attracting young people, as memberships were peanuts for under 25s, with lots of perks thrown-in, but nigh-on £1000 with an £800 joining fee for full members. I admit that the club tried to put on social events, but there were a lot of dinner dances, and jacket and tie events, which for someone in their 20s, aren't at all appealing.

Roll-ups were usually in the week, with a medal or big comp at the weekend, but places in the weekend comps were snapped up super-quick on the online booking system. There were a few complaints kicking around about lack of places in comps at the weekend, so the secretary sent out a memo, politely asking members to play in the mid-week comps if they could, in order to save places in the weekend comps for working people who can only play at the weekend, but nothing changed. You can't force retired members to play in the week if they don't want to. In the end, it became impossible to get a place in a weekend comp, so I lost interest.

Personally, I think my new club has the best bar in the village (out of maybe a dozen pubs and working men's clubs), with nice traditional deco, TVs, relatively cheap beer, and a beautiful view over the course. The enjoyment of the club, the course and the competitions is what makes it for me, although I do enjoy a round at another course with my friends.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Not even got an old TV on. You would not have known that the Open was on last month as it was not shown at all in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, I have 2 viable options for clubs near me, I have been a member at both and both are pretty much identical in terms of atmosphere and attitude to drawn comps and roll ups.

I see you are at Belton Park so have you tried Belton Woods? I only ask as I am a mystery shopper for the 59 club and I did a visit there a couple of months ago pretending to be interested in membership. And it looked OK to me, may be a bit more 'modern' with Sky TV showing and all that.

 

[drew83]

Is/was anyone a member at Garon park? Just wondering what the social side is like & how easy it is to get into comps etc. Are they over subscribed or can you get in relatively easily?

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking I can mix it up a lot. With the 3 9 & the 9 hole par 3 there would be enough variation I think.