Deal breakers for joining courses

[Mel Smooth]

I'm in a situation now where I could look at joining an alternative course - it's the best in the local area and recently held a DPWT Qualifying event - Jamie has joined there for a few different reasons which include the quality of the course, it's play-ability through winter, free range balls, and most importantly - we feel he'll get some great support there for developing his game over his remaining years as a junior. He remains an away member at Dewsbury and also has access to the courses at Willow Valley where I play - one of the benefits of junior golf is massively reduced membership rates and his (my) total annual subs bill is well under £200.

Each time I drop him off there I look at the course, and how much better it looks than where I play, which will be a constant factor now the ground is wet.
Cost wise - there's a joining fee 1.5x the annual rate which can be spread over 3 years - and the annual subs are about £500 more than I currently pay - however, as membership is restricted I would only be able to join as a 5 day member which would prohibit me from playing on Fridays and Saturdays - which provides a discounted membership rate that negates the extra annual cost. I hardly ever play on a Saturday and Friday would be even rarer, maybe 3 times this year, so that isn't really an issue.
I know I'd play more golf in the winter as the course is open and in much better condition, I'd have access to free range balls (120 per day I think), and I'd be a member at one of the best courses in the area - it's probably offering me much better value than my current club when I break it all down.
On the flip side, the club I'm at now has a very down to earth feeling to it, very welcoming, great people in the bar post round - and in the summer when it's dry the course and layout is very addictive.
So factoring in all that, what is the deal breaker - at the moment it's coming down to whether I could settle at a new club, and find people I'd be comfortable playing with. I've got a feeling it's an itch I'm going to need to scratch at some point in the future.

 

[WorldHandicapSystem]

Another one to add to the list.

Courses who put no effort into their winter setup. Crap matts wobbly matts for tees and temporary greens would be a big no for me.

We play off the proper tees and greens all year round. I would actually like it to invest in some AstroTurf tees for winter to help the course stay in good condition. But the places who just drop a couple o paving stones or a blob of concrete with a mat on top would not be getting my money.

 

[Steve Wilkes]

How many members play at a weekend?

Probably, no more than 40 to 50 , and maybe 75 on the big comp days, It's in the middle of south east London and is only allowed 350 members

 

[PJ87]

Probably, no more than 40 to 50 , and maybe 75 on the big comp days, It's in the middle of south east London and is only allowed 350 members

Is it wanstead? I remember it having a tiny car park and having to park in a side road

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Probably, no more than 40 to 50 , and maybe 75 on the big comp days, It's in the middle of south east London and is only allowed 350 members

How does the road and traffic cope with that many cars parking? Just interested as I could imagine the carnage at my course trying to par outside alongside Joe public parking to walk the dogs and kids inside the race course

 

[Steve Wilkes]

How does the road and traffic cope with that many cars parking? Just interested as I could imagine the carnage at my course trying to par outside alongside Joe public parking to walk the dogs and kids inside the race course

Glad I've got you confused, Joe public can't get into the course, it's a key coded gate, It's it the middle of town and the roads are quiet and residential, Dog walkers have got Peckham Rye 500 yards away for dogging duties

 

[HPIMG]

Played the new course this morning set off just before 9. Course was quite busy and play was quite slow for me and I took my 10 year old with me. Kept him off school to test the course he doesn’t ever get days off so he was delighted.
New course was surprisingly boggy played it once before but that was in the summer. It does have some really nice holes but i prefer my place. Even my son says current place is better.
So no need for a change.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

Tee time availability and practice facilities for me.

 

[Mandofred]

Tee time availability and practice facilities for me.

Thinking about going back to my original club....just because there is a nice field to practice on.

 

[Hxck]

Too many to list for me, but the less spoken about one is the attitude of the staff during the joining process (I had some truly shocking responses to enquiries when changing clubs recently).

 

[Voyager EMH]

Deal breakers for joining courses​

Don't like the course
Too expensive
Too far away
Not enough competitive comps run by the club

I'm at an average price one in my area, 20 minutes away, that has many club comps.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Glad I've got you confused, Joe public can't get into the course, it's a key coded gate, It's it the middle of town and the roads are quiet and residential, Dog walkers have got Peckham Rye 500 yards away for dogging duties

Aquarius?
Seen in many times, never played though.

 

[NearHull]

Too many to list for me, but the less spoken about one is the attitude of the staff during the joining process (I had some truly shocking responses to enquiries when changing clubs recently).

When I moved to this area , I wrote to a handful of clubs with an initial enquiry with a view to my wife and I joining. A spread of responses, ranging from no response, through, have a look at our website, to please come and visit us and have a complimentary round followed by a tour of the club ( 2 clubs did that). I joined one these two .

 

[ADB]

Works for me, I hate car parks!

What a bizarre thing to hate!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When I moved to this area , I wrote to a handful of clubs with an initial enquiry with a view to my wife and I joining. A spread of responses, ranging from no response, through, have a look at our website, to please come and visit us and have a complimentary round followed by a tour of the club ( 2 clubs did that). I joined one these two .

Sadly I think your experience is still too common. I wouldn't consider a course that directed me to their website over one that invited me to play and have a look round. Seems to show a lack of care towards new members which would make me nervous about how they are treated once they join

 

[KenL]

What a bizarre thing to hate!

Thanks.

I hate how people who:
a) Can’t park and have zero consideration for others and park right next to you.
2) Drivers of enormous cars that don’t fit in parking spaces and leave zero room for others.
3) Fat folk (sorry fat folk) who swing their door open onto the car next to them resulting in a door ding, that means nothing to some people but makes me .
4) People who let their kids open their door by themselves on their own. See above.

Hope that’s ok?

 

[Hxck]

When I moved to this area , I wrote to a handful of clubs with an initial enquiry with a view to my wife and I joining. A spread of responses, ranging from no response, through, have a look at our website, to please come and visit us and have a complimentary round followed by a tour of the club ( 2 clubs did that). I joined one these two .

Likewise, my current club invited me in for a coffee and a tour, applied to join the following day
Most just said you can't join if you don't know a member These are all courses in the Top 100, utterly confusing how dismissive they were

 

[ADB]

Thanks.

I hate how people who:
a) Can’t park and have zero consideration for others and park right next to you.
2) Drivers of enormous cars that don’t fit in parking spaces and leave zero room for others.
3) Fat folk (sorry fat folk) who swing their door open onto the car next to them resulting in a door ding, that means nothing to some people but makes me .
4) People who let their kids open their door by themselves on their own. See above.

Hope that’s ok?

Ok so you don’t like other drivers rather than car parks - makes sense

 

[Orikoru]

Thanks.

I hate how people who:
a) Can’t park and have zero consideration for others and park right next to you.
2) Drivers of enormous cars that don’t fit in parking spaces and leave zero room for others.
3) Fat folk (sorry fat folk) who swing their door open onto the car next to them resulting in a door ding, that means nothing to some people but makes me .
4) People who let their kids open their door by themselves on their own. See above.

Hope that’s ok?

I hate people who aren't consistent about how they label their bullet points.

 

[KenL]

I hate people who aren't consistent about how they label their bullet points.

I’m so sorry about that.