Easier to get a handicap as a club member?

[dufferman]

Very interesting read on the non-golfer to scratch in a year thread - this adds to a conversation I had on Tuesday with some friends.

We played Hoebridge in Old Woking, and it was the first time I'd played a full round there - I normally got 9 holes in of an evening. One of us had played 2 or 3 times before, the other hadn't ever played.

I'd shot 87 (+17) at another course on Saturday, which I've played a lot since starting golf.

I finished at Hoebridge with 103. The guy who had played there before 98, the guy who had never played 101. I'm a 21 handicap so wasn't pleased with my score, but the wind was howling and I did have a 10 on the rather simple par 4 8th...

Anyway, we got discussing in the bar afterwards about lowering handicaps. I said that it must be easier to play Hoebridge as a member, as you'd learn the course and know the shots. That's a given.

But to be a member of a club for 10 years, and get down to a 10 or 12 handicap say, must be easier than playing different courses each week, never really "mastering" a course, and getting to 10? Not being a member of a course I don't know how often people play away from the course to gain other experience.

So is it better to be a 'nomadic' golfer?

 

[pbrown7582]

Even nomadic gilders will have a 'regular' course I would imagine?

With regard to handicap if your not a member is the pressure of a medal card and white tees missing, knowing its your only chance this month to play well and get a cut?
Benefits both ways and everyone has there own best fit to there own individual circumstance.
But for me you can't beat being a member

 

[jp5]

I had these same thoughts. Essentially it comes down to course management. Playing the same course often you will start to know where not to miss it, all the breaks etc. I wonder how many shots that will save the longer you are a member somewhere..

 

[patricks148]

The first year i started playing i played more away opens than home comps and went from 24 to 12 in that first year. You should be goiing against The CSS as thats what comps would be ( but as you are not in comps it should be SSS)

there will also be a visitor CSS in most opens which would usually be one or even 2 over the member CSS.

 

[HotDogAssassin]

One of the things that is currently preventing me from joining a club is the thought of playing the same course week in week out, rather than moving around my local courses as I currently do. I think this gives a more varied experience of your own playing abilities and I'd like there to be a way to have an official handicap without having to be tied to one club.

 

[duncan mackie]

I'm with Patrick (I play about 30% away), and would even go further!

The more different situations you face the more you learn - so simply playing a single course isn't necessarily the best way to learn, or even get the best score at that course because you will tend to stick to what works on a particular hole (say) rather than experimenting and finding even better solutions.

There's also the case of getting used to the greens - they can change with conditions and you suffer relative to the player with the experience to read the wider conditions.

You will get lower overall playing different courses in different conditions.

 

[duncan mackie]

I'd like there to be a way to have an official handicap without having to be tied to one club.

join a club based on a municipal or other 'pay and play' deal/flexi membership etc

did it for 27 years

 

[Hacker Khan]

I have a mate who gets at least 5 shots a round on me to start with at his course as he knows the speed and borrows of the green at his club like the back of his hand. Which he then struggles to get at other clubs, so I'd say playing the same course a lot will make it easier to reduce your handicap. On that course.

 

[Allanxyz]

I hardly play any different courses other than the one I'm a member at (there isn't too much choice where I live in Germany, and fees are high enough that I don't wan to spend too much money besides my membership)... I definitely find it easier at my home course and think my handicap is lower because of that.

I know what club to use on each hole and have developed a strategy for each hole based on trial and error, I feel comfortable on many holes (ok there are some where I still get a sweat on!).. I'm not saying I know all the borrows etc. as I just can't remember things in that details... but it's comfy.

I'd like to be able to play at lots of different clubs and be more confident that I could score well anywhere.

 

[Neddy]

I'm a "nomad" but there are still courses I'll play 3 or 4 times a year, so i know them reasonably well.

I always "do my research" on a course before i play it.

For me though playing somewhere new and struggling a bit just gives me the motivation to go back and improve

 

[lyden]

I play a lot of opens because i dont want to be tied to one course, im yet to get a cut on the road though.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

On the other side of the coin, playing different courses is actually good for focusing on your game and taking each shot on its full value. Playing the same course week in week out breeds laziness and contempt and you are reaching for the club sometimes almost before you get to the ball.

Of course management should be a priority every time but I know in my heart of hearts that I do get lazy on my own course and definitely do feel I concentrate better away from home

 

[palindromicbob]

Playing the same course all the time you'll get to know your misses.

Playing different courses all the time and you have to learn not to miss.

I do think the handicap of a nomadic golfer give a better reflects of ability though.

I'm a bit of a nomad (playing 4 different course this week and none of them are my home course). So my playing off 20 shows I'm not that great lol. Did manage 37 point today though despite rather poor conditions. SSS was -1 so matched the course vs handicap. Hoping CSS rises a bit to reset out the last few 0.1's.

 

[patricks148]

It also depends what type of course your home track is.

For instance up here guys that have there handicaps at Royal Dornoch, Tain, Fortrose, Nairn/ Nairn Dunbar and Moray all travel well.
Where as some of the easier parkland course that the CSS is below par not so well.

And its not lenghth dependant, Fortrose for instance is fairly short, buts its always windy and you have to be able to hit it straight and putt.

 

[ger147]

Very interesting read on the non-golfer to scratch in a year thread - this adds to a conversation I had on Tuesday with some friends.

We played Hoebridge in Old Woking, and it was the first time I'd played a full round there - I normally got 9 holes in of an evening. One of us had played 2 or 3 times before, the other hadn't ever played.

I'd shot 87 (+17) at another course on Saturday, which I've played a lot since starting golf.

I finished at Hoebridge with 103. The guy who had played there before 98, the guy who had never played 101. I'm a 21 handicap so wasn't pleased with my score, but the wind was howling and I did have a 10 on the rather simple par 4 8th...

Anyway, we got discussing in the bar afterwards about lowering handicaps. I said that it must be easier to play Hoebridge as a member, as you'd learn the course and know the shots. That's a given.

But to be a member of a club for 10 years, and get down to a 10 or 12 handicap say, must be easier than playing different courses each week, never really "mastering" a course, and getting to 10? Not being a member of a course I don't know how often people play away from the course to gain other experience.

So is it better to be a 'nomadic' golfer?

Forgive me if I'm missing the point, but you can't get an official handicap without being a member of an affiliated golf club?

So it's not easier to get a handicap by being a member, it's impossible to get one without being a member?

 

[Birchy]

Im a member at a club but do play all over the place as well which has made me a much better all round golfer. For instance when I first played a proper links I was trying to hit the ball like I usually do (very high) but then after watching other people firing the ball in low it made me realise im gonna have to do things differently and thus learned a few different shots.

I am currently looking into moving to a harder or cheaper course for next year maybe even both at same time

 

[Joff]

Country membership to keep a handicap. Play lots of opens, is an example.

 

[Birchy]

Country membership to keep a handicap. Play lots of opens, is an example.

That's an option im looking at too.

I think you've just got to look at your situation and theres something for everyone. Theres a course local to me where you can pay 100 quid to maintain handicap and to play comps there you pay a green fee etc.

 

[pbrown7582]

Forgive me if I'm missing the point, but you can't get an official handicap without being a member of an affiliated golf club?

So it's not easier to get a handicap by being a member, it's impossible to get one without being a member?

this is correct for official congu handicaps but these days there are several online trackers and software so non club members can get an 'unofficial' handicap.

 

[dufferman]

Forgive me if I'm missing the point, but you can't get an official handicap without being a member of an affiliated golf club?

So it's not easier to get a handicap by being a member, it's impossible to get one without being a member?

As pbrown said - I'm not particularly interested in it being 'official' in the sense it has to come from a club - my iPhone app calculates it for me, which is good enough for me. It was more about getting lower on the same course week in week out being easier.