Criteria to consider when joining a club?

[barrybridges]

I've never been a member of a golf club before, but where I live (Tandridge) is slap bang in the middle of about 20 different courses.

I've read on here lots of concerns/issues that members have with their club and wondered if anyone had some pointers - with the benefit of hindsight - as to what to look for when joining a new club? Anything you think a relative beginner should consider?

 

[GB72]

The course is the main consideration but after that I would certainly look at roll ups and drawn competitions. take my club for example, no roll ups and comps are in your own groups so not easy to integrate yourself into the membership as most people meet at the same time and have there own little groups. Luckily I knew a few people but it has taken time to get to know others. If I was starting again and joing a club where I knew nobody then this would be right at the top of my list.

 

[barrybridges]

The course is the main consideration but after that I would certainly look at roll ups and drawn competitions. take my club for example, no roll ups and comps are in your own groups so not easy to integrate yourself into the membership as most people meet at the same time and have there own little groups. Luckily I knew a few people but it has taken time to get to know others. If I was starting again and joing a club where I knew nobody then this would be right at the top of my list.

Sorry for sounding like an idiot but what's a roll up or drawn competition? I've never actually played golf competitively since I was 12.

 

[GB72]

I roll up is a semi organised friendly round where everyone meets at an agreed time, people are paired up and go out for a round, often for a couple of quid. Comptetitions are either drawn, you put your name down and are draw randomly to find out who you will play with, or if in your own group you arrange your own 2/3 ball to play in the comp with.

 

[barrybridges]

Got it - thanks

Near to where I am there are plenty of clubs but many of them are quite pricey or difficult to get memberships at. Within a 15 minute drive you have:

Godstone
Tandridge
Lingfield Park
Chartham Park
Woldingham
North Downs
and many more

I normally play at Godstone as I'm still fairly rubbish (but improving!) and it's quite an open and forgiving course. It's also the cheapest (which is good) but it's only a 9 hole (played twice) and not looked after as well as some of the others in the area.

I'm a gym member at Chartham Park so upgrading to membership there wouldn't be too expensive, but the thing about Godstone is that it's open quite late in the summer (and it's 5 mins away) so would probably get out after work more than if I joined others.

 

[bobmac]

it's open quite late in the summer (and it's 5 mins away) so would probably get out after work more than if I joined others.

Are you saying that other courses close earlier in the summer?

 

[barrybridges]

To the best of my knowledge, yes. Godstone's open until 9pm and offers 9 holes, so I can whip it round there quickly at twilight. Most of the others close at 8.

 

[funkyfred]

Got it - thanks

Near to where I am there are plenty of clubs but many of them are quite pricey or difficult to get memberships at. Within a 15 minute drive you have:

Godstone
Tandridge
Lingfield Park
Chartham Park
Woldingham
North Downs
and many more

I normally play at Godstone as I'm still fairly rubbish (but improving!) and it's quite an open and forgiving course. It's also the cheapest (which is good) but it's only a 9 hole (played twice) and not looked after as well as some of the others in the area.

I'm a gym member at Chartham Park so upgrading to membership there wouldn't be too expensive, but the thing about Godstone is that it's open quite late in the summer (and it's 5 mins away) so would probably get out after work more than if I joined others.

Barry

Just reading your posts, and see that you have missed out my club the Kent & Surrey at Edenbridge which is just down the road to you.
They have a fantastic deal on at the moment where two people can join for the price of one. Full membership is £850 so if you have a friend who wants to join with you, you could get it for just £425 each.

I joined on my own and i find it to be a very friendly club, where the comps are drawn and they have roll ups every week. The course is difficult with many hazards but the fairways are generally in good condition and the greens are superb. OK the tee boxes are not the best but they are in use all thoughout the winter and we dont have temp greens.

 

[barrybridges]

Got it - thanks

Near to where I am there are plenty of clubs but many of them are quite pricey or difficult to get memberships at. Within a 15 minute drive you have:

Godstone
Tandridge
Lingfield Park
Chartham Park
Woldingham
North Downs
and many more

I normally play at Godstone as I'm still fairly rubbish (but improving!) and it's quite an open and forgiving course. It's also the cheapest (which is good) but it's only a 9 hole (played twice) and not looked after as well as some of the others in the area.

I'm a gym member at Chartham Park so upgrading to membership there wouldn't be too expensive, but the thing about Godstone is that it's open quite late in the summer (and it's 5 mins away) so would probably get out after work more than if I joined others.

Barry

Just reading your posts, and see that you have missed out my club the Kent & Surrey at Edenbridge which is just down the road to you.
They have a fantastic deal on at the moment where two people can join for the price of one. Full membership is £850 so if you have a friend who wants to join with you, you could get it for just £425 each.

I joined on my own and i find it to be a very friendly club, where the comps are drawn and they have roll ups every week. The course is difficult with many hazards but the fairways are generally in good condition and the greens are superb. OK the tee boxes are not the best but they are in use all thoughout the winter and we dont have temp greens.

Thanks for this - I'll have a look and maybe arrange a round there in the coming weeks.

Not that I'm a tight wad or anything, but I'm getting married next year so money is a bit tight at the moment so this sounds pretty reasonable price-wise. As you say, it's also quite close to where I am (was at the Edenbridge fireworks last week).

One of the things about where I am though is that there are loads of great courses, but not many floodlit driving ranges. I work up in London and can't get back until around 6pm and at this time of the year it limits my golf to weekends or days off sadly. Sometimes I drive down to Tonbridge and go to Hilden but that's a bit of a trek - Redhill is also some distance in the opposite direction.

Am I missing a great course somewhere? And does anyone know where the nearest floodlit range is (or is it one of the two I've mentioned?)

 

[funkyfred]

Got it - thanks

Near to where I am there are plenty of clubs but many of them are quite pricey or difficult to get memberships at. Within a 15 minute drive you have:

Godstone
Tandridge
Lingfield Park
Chartham Park
Woldingham
North Downs
and many more

I normally play at Godstone as I'm still fairly rubbish (but improving!) and it's quite an open and forgiving course. It's also the cheapest (which is good) but it's only a 9 hole (played twice) and not looked after as well as some of the others in the area.

I'm a gym member at Chartham Park so upgrading to membership there wouldn't be too expensive, but the thing about Godstone is that it's open quite late in the summer (and it's 5 mins away) so would probably get out after work more than if I joined others.

Barry

Just reading your posts, and see that you have missed out my club the Kent & Surrey at Edenbridge which is just down the road to you.
They have a fantastic deal on at the moment where two people can join for the price of one. Full membership is £850 so if you have a friend who wants to join with you, you could get it for just £425 each.

I joined on my own and i find it to be a very friendly club, where the comps are drawn and they have roll ups every week. The course is difficult with many hazards but the fairways are generally in good condition and the greens are superb. OK the tee boxes are not the best but they are in use all thoughout the winter and we dont have temp greens.

Thanks for this - I'll have a look and maybe arrange a round there in the coming weeks.

Not that I'm a tight wad or anything, but I'm getting married next year so money is a bit tight at the moment so this sounds pretty reasonable price-wise. As you say, it's also quite close to where I am (was at the Edenbridge fireworks last week).

One of the things about where I am though is that there are loads of great courses, but not many floodlit driving ranges. I work up in London and can't get back until around 6pm and at this time of the year it limits my golf to weekends or days off sadly. Sometimes I drive down to Tonbridge and go to Hilden but that's a bit of a trek - Redhill is also some distance in the opposite direction.

Am I missing a great course somewhere? And does anyone know where the nearest floodlit range is (or is it one of the two I've mentioned?)

Me again Barry

Edenbridge has a floodlight driving range.


I work up in town and can not get to the course until about 6.15 during the week, but can remember walking down our 18th fairway at about 9.30 one evening after going out for a twilight at 6.30.
Yes it was dark, and the owner even opened up the bar for us to have a drink.

The good thing about being a member is that you can just turn up at any time and apart from the busy times at the weekend you can get a round. I often went to the course during the summer and played 12, 15 or even 18 holes after work, and I live at Purley, so i have a 25 minute drive once I get home.

 

[Oddsocks]

jesus, didnt realise how close you two were to me.

 

[Bratty]

Hi Barry,

Happy to invite you along for a round at Westerham any time you like. We're on some mats (and they're sh*t) but if you like the course in spite of that, you'll love it in the summer.

I'd suggest looking at courses now, and then waiting til next year and very early summer to see them "at their best" before joining. That way, you know what you're getting.

I would seriously consider joining Chartham Park if it was closer to me than Westerham. That said, I love Westerham and the members there are superb. We have weekend swindles (like rollups) and monthly medal and stableford comps (£5 each), plus loads of captain's days, men's team events, etc.

Hope that helps?

p.s. do you work in Canary Wharf?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Back to criteria for joining a club.

For me it has to be

1 A course I won't get bored with and is a fair test of golf.
2 Roll up and not pre booked tee times
3 Not going to bankrupt me every year
4 Able to get regular games and not cliquey especially at weekends
5 Drawn competitions
6 Good practice facitilies
7 Good atmosphere in the 19th
8 Competitive pro shop in terms of price matching

 

[Birdman]

I can only reitterate what Homer has said. In 2002 I left my current club 'Dudsbury Golf Club' a privately owned club for one of the prestige members courses in my area. After 3 years it was still difficult to arrange a game unless you were in the groups. The 19th was a sombre place to be with laughter being frowned upon . I have returned to the Dudsbury where the whole atmosphere is so much more pleasant and getting a game is no problem.
Go where you will be happy and relaxed.

 

[shagster]

hever castle is close to you as well, plus some north of m25.
like several have said, try several and see what ticks your criteria list.
my biggest requirment would be the greens, and what are they like all year round. the rest would around my particular needs/likes and dislikes.
good luck with your choice, as you said there are plenty.
shagster

 

[HughJars]

Homer has all the main points, though maybe not in the order I would agree with. So here's my ten to follow.

1 Drawn competitions - if you're joining a club where you know no-one, this is especially important, but it's very important anyway, in getting to know the rest of the members, for fairness, and for creating a better atmosphere.

2. Plenty of competitions - I play very little social golf, there has to be at leats one weekly medal, perhaps some organised sweep or two during the week, matches, and the chance to play in the club team.

3 Roll up and not pre booked tee times - Nothing worse than having to ring up to book every time you want to play

4 Not cliquey especially at weekends
5 Good atmosphere in the 19th

These two for me are the same thing, and they are greatly helped by drawn comps that enables members to mix and get to know each other. I've always put golf at the top of my list, but for the last two years I've been a member at a new club, and without doubt it is the frioendliest and most welcoming club I've ever been a member of. And becasue of that, despite being the poorest of the courses I've joined, it is by far the most enjoyable my golf has ever been.

6 Condition of course - If the course is a disaster, are you going to enjoy playing squelchy bobbly greens, unkempt fairways, tees and paths?

7 Good practice facitilies - no pratice facilities, then you're going to be paying a lot of money over and above your fees at a range.

8 A course I won't get bored with and is a fair test of golf - Would have always been my number one priority, but I'm afraid golf is not enjoyable if you're playing with a bunch of stuck up toffs, so 4&5 come way ahead of this for me now.


9 Competitive pro shop in terms of price matching - It's great to have a very good pro, and we have one of the best, but it's not important. If he is an arse, or his prices are way out of line, there's plenty of places that will offer competitive prices and good service.

10 Not going to bankrupt me every year - I doubt anyone will join a club they can;t afford, so it may be the first consideration, but once you've eliminated the ones that would bankrupt you, it isn't really a factor thereafter.

 

[barrybridges]

Thanks for your responses.

Out of interest - one of the things I've noticed from numerous threads on here is that people approach their chosen club with a bit of a 'job for life' mentality - that is, there doesn't seem to be much switching from one club to another freely and people tend to prefer sticking to one club until something pushes them away (like moving). Is this pretty much the norm or do people switch clubs every few years to vary the playing experience?

Your suggestions have been really useful and I'm going to try and arrange a round on each of them once a fortnight to see how we get on. For me, given I'm relatively young my preference is for a friendly club that's welcome and not too full of old duffers (no offence if you're an old duffer) but at the same time a course that's going to test me as I improve - like I said in an earlier post I'm playing a lot at Godstone at the moment but it's basically one big open heath so you can hit a bad shot and normally you can still recover from it even if it's gone really wayward.

 

[sawtooth]

Also make sure its not too busy, nothing worse than 5 hour rounds every time you play.

I'm lucky to have corporate membership at a course with 2 18 holes. Provides 2 different tests and keeps it more interesting but above all you can always get a game. Rock up and play when you want within reason and possible to get around in nearer 3 hrs. On the route to the office so close-ish to work and home. Useful for rounds before and after work.

There are better courses in the area, however some of them are so over-played, allow too many societies, queues, etc.

Do your homework, ask around, go online, etc.

 

[barrybridges]

Will do. Just FYI, here's the list of courses that I'd say are within reasonable distance of me (by that, I mean I know that if they were any further away I'd probably not go as often because of motivation in getting there!):

Tandridge
Godstone
Edenbridge (Kent and Surrey)
Hever castle
Westerham
Park Wood
Woldingham
Chartham Park
Bletchingley
Lingfield Park

If anyone has any comments on them (in addition to the really useful comments other have posted) it would be great to hear.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When I said bankrupting me every year, I was being semi-serious. My club is very expensive compared to most on here and is always a slight struggle but it is either that, pay and plays or clubs I really couldn't afford every year like Bearwood. I'd happily play there for the rest of my golfing career but simply couldn't afford the annual fees (same with The Berkshire, Windlesham etc)