First handicap

[Brosh]

Hi all,

Been visiting here since I started playing 2 months ago, first time I've posted. Sorry if this is in the wrong place, if it is feel free to shout at me, I don't frighten easily!

I'm contemplating trying to get a handicap, and not sure if it's worth my time / effort. I play a minimum of two games per week (sometimes on a par 3, depending on time, but usually doing 9 holes at the full sized course and 120 balls at the range).

Here's a couple of scorecards, with 2 scores per hole (first score is from first time playing the course, second score is from about 10th time playing it) - I've now played this course probably 20 times, and I feel my skill level is much more slowly increasing, and as such my score will take considerable time to decrease.

Hole	Yards	Score	Par
1	160	5 | 5	3
2	281	6 | 6	4
3	90	6 | 5	3
4	476	7 | 7	5
5	181	6 | 6	3
6	563	7 | 6	5
7	336	8 | 5	4
8	158	4 | 4	3
9	336	6 | 5	4

Totals 55 from first game, 49 from tenth game. Par for these 9 holes is 34, and total length is 2581. I know roughly where my weaknesses are, and most of my high scoring holes are from losing balls to water hazards, and generally missing the fairway and landing in the woodland. I understand that's a problem, but I'm working on it, and I'm confident that today I could happily put in a score of around 40, for those 9 holes. That is of course if I'm having a good day.

So, is it worth forking out the £20 or whatever for a handicap? Will I actually make any use of it? Or should I just carry on playing and wait it out for a few months (probably next summer), until I'm consistently hitting sub 35? Also, am I going to get laughed at if I go out on a bad day and end up hitting >45? Should I just save the money and spend it on lessons?

Brosh

 

[Siren]

You dont have to pay to get a handicap mate, you just have to put in 3 card which have been signed by a playing partner.

Its always worth getting a handicap, but dont fixate on it, just enjoy your golf, you will get better. Your scores show you already are so good luck on the rest of your journey.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Brosh]

You dont have to pay to get a handicap mate, you just have to put in 3 card which have been signed by a playing partner.

Its always worth getting a handicap, but dont fixate on it, just enjoy your golf, you will get better. Your scores show you already are so good luck on the rest of your journey.

Welcome to the forum.

My club website suggests there is some administration fee for getting a handicap, £16.75...? I would like to use golf as another way to socialise if I can, so I think entering competitions could be a good way to do that, but the club tends to explicitly request high handicappers or low handicappers depending on the competition, and doesn't seem to offer much for the less competition oriented players.

Do you know if most clubs require another member to sign the scorecards? I only really play with 2 people at the minute (father and better half - never at the same time!) Neither of them are members nor avid enthusiasts, but they both enjoy the game as I drag them through my love of it Wondering if they might be suitable to sign the cards for me?

Thanks

 

[pbrown7582]

welcome abroad get stuck in and enjoy :0

it is a fundamental essential of the handicap system that another member marks and signs your cards for handicap, I don't think your club would allow your current playing partners to mark your cards for you.
Getting a handicap would allow you to enter comps and meet others, also does your club have a friendly turn up and play gathering (swindle, roll up, hat,)sat am when no comp another good way to meet folk.

 

[Doh]

Very unusual for a club to ask for a fee for a handicap it is usually done as part of your membership. My club requires you to have your card marked by another member who has a handicap. Most clubs will help new members by giving you names of people who would be willing to mark a card for you. To answer your OP yes it is worth getting a handicap as it gives you a starting point where you can begine to measure your progress. Entering comps is a great way of meeting people. The other thing that clubs do is organise role ups for new members to meet each other. Good luck.

 

[la_lucha]

I get a feeling the OP is not a member anywhere if he is then maybe one of these credit memberships or discounted pay and play?

 

[pbrown7582]

That Sounds like it to me too, a pay and play 9 holer with club attached the fee it's for golf union membership I reckon.

 

[woody69]

If you want to play in comps, then pay the administration fee, submit the 3 cards and get your handicap. If you're not bothered about playing in comps and only want an unofficial handicap to see how you are progressing, then use one of the free online trackers (such as todays golfer website)

 

[Brosh]

welcome abroad get stuck in and enjoy :0

it is a fundamental essential of the handicap system that another member marks and signs your cards for handicap, I don't think your club would allow your current playing partners to mark your cards for you.
Getting a handicap would allow you to enter comps and meet others, also does your club have a friendly turn up and play gathering (swindle, roll up, hat,)sat am when no comp another good way to meet folk.

Alright cool, I'll see if I can't track someone down. I believe there are a few turn up and play situations "gatherings", they do some special deals at certain times - cheap green fees and cheap beer shortly after, so I can probably find some people there!

Very unusual for a club to ask for a fee for a handicap it is usually done as part of your membership. My club requires you to have your card marked by another member who has a handicap. Most clubs will help new members by giving you names of people who would be willing to mark a card for you. To answer your OP yes it is worth getting a handicap as it gives you a starting point where you can begine to measure your progress. Entering comps is a great way of meeting people. The other thing that clubs do is organise role ups for new members to meet each other. Good luck.

Strange - I'm not sure then, might have a chat with the bloke in the pro shop, keep forgetting his name but he seems friendly enough! The membership details are all on this PDF http://www.lakeside-lodge.co.uk/userfiles/file/2014-15 Membership application form.pdf. I'll see what occurs.

I get a feeling the OP is not a member anywhere if he is then maybe one of these credit memberships or discounted pay and play?

That Sounds like it to me too, a pay and play 9 holer with club attached the fee it's for golf union membership I reckon.

I'm an associate member, didn't want to shell out the "standard member" fee, it's a bit excessive for my game at the minute, although at renewal I think I will... They sent me a card, rulebook, fixtures book, and some shiny tag to attach to my bag still!

If you want to play in comps, then pay the administration fee, submit the 3 cards and get your handicap. If you're not bothered about playing in comps and only want an unofficial handicap to see how you are progressing, then use one of the free online trackers (such as todays golfer website)

I might check out the free online trackers regardless, have been using some scorecard apps occasionally, I think one of them may be linked to a tracking facility...

Thanks to all, so many responses here!

 

[la_lucha]

I don't see much point in becoming a standard member if you still have to pay £13.00 to play on a weekend. I appreciate the membership fee is cheap but I'd still hate to pay each time.

I'm guessing this is a get into golf kind of place. Plenty of john letters, Dunlop, hippo etc to be seen. I love going to this type of place to see people enjoying golf for what it really is. My balls in a divot I'm not playing that, kicking it out is ok aint it?

 

[G1BB0]

the fee is for registration, all clubs charge extra or its highlighted in the fee's info.

A lot use Scoresaver2 which was free I believe if its still available. A great little program (its actually as complex as you want it to be). I print scorecards from it and fill them in as I play each hole and add into pc afterwards, well thats my plan this year at least.

I would say do whatever suits you and your budget. Have a look around at other clubs aswell, if under 25 (some do under 30) theres good deals to be had, if not then unlucky

 

[Brosh]

I don't see much point in becoming a standard member if you still have to pay £13.00 to play on a weekend. I appreciate the membership fee is cheap but I'd still hate to pay each time.

I'm guessing this is a get into golf kind of place. Plenty of john letters, Dunlop, hippo etc to be seen. I love going to this type of place to see people enjoying golf for what it really is. My balls in a divot I'm not playing that, kicking it out is ok aint it?

Not too sure really, from what I've seen most people are high handicappers, although I've not been to any of the competition events or anything as yet. Suspect there are a lot of newer players, and a handful of seasoned pros. The courses are a bit of a mess at times though, with a lot of people not bothering to repair their pitch marks and what not. I guess that suggests a lot of newer players who either don't know the etiquette or simply don't really care.

the fee is for registration, all clubs charge extra or its highlighted in the fee's info.

A lot use Scoresaver2 which was free I believe if its still available. A great little program (its actually as complex as you want it to be). I print scorecards from it and fill them in as I play each hole and add into pc afterwards, well thats my plan this year at least.

I would say do whatever suits you and your budget. Have a look around at other clubs aswell, if under 25 (some do under 30) theres good deals to be had, if not then unlucky

Looks like Scoresaver 2 is a PC only program, I'm looking for something I can scribble into my iPhone with... Currently have an app called Golf SC - scores are pretty easy to put in, but no statistics available. Contemplating writing one myself which draws graphs and stuff, need to get myself a mac first though.

Other clubs are a bit out of the question, this one is about 5 miles from my front door, the next nearest is about 15 miles and I'm not a huge fan of long drives (excuse the pun). Plus the local one has everything, driving range, practice greens, 4 courses if you include the 6, 9 hole full sized, par 3, and the 18 hole lodge course... Even has its own bowling alley (more of a drawback than a benefit IMO, but meh)