First time joining a club - What questions do I need to ask

[Jasonr]

Hi all,

New poster

I played a lot of golf socially previously but times changed I got married, moved away from my home town and the golf stopped for (believe it or not 10+ years).

I have been looking to get back into the game again and as I have lost touch with my old playing partners have decided to join a club. I have always wanted to do this but my old playing partners just never wanted to get that involved or play in competitions so I never joined a club which with hindsight was a real shame.

Anyway I'm rambling I have narrowed my choices down to two clubs from a shortlist of four and I am meeting with both of them tomorrow morning.

Bearing in mind that I am joining as a complete singleton who does not know anyone in the club what questions could I ask them to ensure that they are a club that integrate new members well and I am not just joining a club full of impenetrable cliques.

My gut feel for one of them is that this won't be the case but even though I am quite personable and able to strike up conversations fairly easily this is a bit of a worry for me.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[anotherdouble]

What as a club can you do for me. Not just golf but also the social side.

 

[Fish]

Where's the defibrillator....

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Ask about roll-ups and how they work

 

[Fish]

Ask about roll-ups and how they work

Most come with instructions..

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Most come with instructions..

View attachment 24831

smoakin'!!!

 

[SteveJay]

Endorse the question about roll ups and ask if competitions are drawn. Like you I was on my own when I joined my club and didn't know any members.

Roll ups are a great way to meet people, as are comps if they are drawn and so you get to play with different members each time.

Other than that I would ask a lot about the course, drainage, closures, how busy it gets, can you rock up and play or is it a strict booking system etc.

 

[casuk]

I will be going thought the same process on wed with exact same circumstances, I don't really know what I should ask, please update with your experience I'd be keen to know how you get on

 

[Jasonr]

Thanks all so roll ups, drawn comps, general course info bookings etc and do they have any defib and roll up machines - sorted

Casuk will let you know how i get on.

Cheers

 

[Shooter McPowick]

Just voice your concerns and see what they come back with. The course itself and the practice facilities are a key decider for me, most people are receptive unless it’s one of those clickey clubs

 

[casuk]

Thanks mate and good luck

 

[Jasonr]

Thanks mate and good luck

thanks all went well today. I think I already had a front runner and I saw that one first.

I just asked how do you integrate a new member into the club and they have a buddy system eg you get allocated a long standing member who you can lean on and ask questions about entering comps etc. They draw most comps have two roll ups at the weekend and one on a wednesday all drawn. They said if you come along to these it wont take much time to meet loads of members. Seem really friendly. What sold it for me is that my son is keen but only 9 and they a run a junior academy thing (£95) for 2 hours of group lessons each week from now till the end of summer this then acts a feeder to cadet membership once they get to the required standard.

I have to go for a formal interview next which apparantly is with the same guys I saw today and maybe one other comittee member then my name goes up on a board for two weeks to see if anyone black balls me I have a 2 week cooling off period where I have full access as a member and then I get my invoice.

All good and thanks all for your help.

Let us know how it goes for you Casuk

 

[casuk]

Thats good and the package for you son seems a good thing, I'm not to sure if its a formal interview I have or just a meeting with the club captain before a formal interview I also didn't know about a black ball thing either

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Two way street. They want your money and it's what can they offer you. Ask about the roll ups as that's usually the easiest way of meeting a lot of members and get a regular game. Ask how you enter competitions and then dive in and get involved. Enjoy it

 

[User2021]

Two way street. They want your money and it's what can they offer you. Ask about the roll ups as that's usually the easiest way of meeting a lot of members and get a regular game. Ask how you enter competitions and then dive in and get involved. Enjoy it

you been on the glue Hommie?

He posted it went well today, your advice is a bit late

 

[User2021]

thanks all went well today. I think I already had a front runner and I saw that one first.

I just asked how do you integrate a new member into the club and they have a buddy system eg you get allocated a long standing member who you can lean on and ask questions about entering comps etc. They draw most comps have two roll ups at the weekend and one on a wednesday all drawn. They said if you come along to these it wont take much time to meet loads of members. Seem really friendly. What sold it for me is that my son is keen but only 9 and they a run a junior academy thing (£95) for 2 hours of group lessons each week from now till the end of summer this then acts a feeder to cadet membership once they get to the required standard.

I have to go for a formal interview next which apparantly is with the same guys I saw today and maybe one other comittee member then my name goes up on a board for two weeks to see if anyone black balls me I have a 2 week cooling off period where I have full access as a member and then I get my invoice.

All good and thanks all for your help.

Let us know how it goes for you Casuk

Glad and it went well, where is it you are hoping to join?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

you been on the glue Hommie?

He posted it went well today, your advice is a bit late

Teach me to post and shout abuse at lacklustre Fulham performance on the box. They are almost as poor as my golf was today

 

[big_matt]

OP - ive found that you should be really clear on how you will get integrated into the club when you dont know anyone. When i was looking for a club there were a few where to play in the comps you needed to sign up with other members etc - impossible if you dont know anyone.

Thats the critical thing to resolve - if they wont put you into comps etc matching you with other members you are stuck playing on your own potentially (or with mates you bring to your club).

 

[Jasonr]

Thanks all for the further advice and to answer some of the questions and for others who may find themselves in a similar position:

I'm hoping to join Rochford Hundred (near Southend on Sea)

I just straight up asked what does the club do to integrate new members and (to summarise) they hold rolls ups in the week and on Sat and Sun these are all drawn you just throw your ball into a hat and off you go, comps are drawn also so in a very short space of time you can get to know a lot of members very quickly. In addition they have buddies for new members who you can call on to answer questions etc. They also have loads of social functions during the year.

I guess I will get out it what I am prepared to put in but my gut feel is that this is not a cliquey club so the only thing stopping me getting involved will be me. I have no qualms now about joining up and being included as I was made to feel welcome at every step when I informally went for a look around a couple of the members who overheard me checking in at the pro shop to ask if it was OK came over and introduced themselves and spent about 10 mins chatting to me. I also hung around in the spike bar after my meeting on Saturday having a coffee and again a couple of members struck up conversation with me. I got introduced to the admin guys and in the afternoon the guy who runs the junior academy got in touch to talk through the details of that and my wife is now going along to an open day for the ladies section.

Caseuk In the club I'm joining my name goes onto a board for two weeks for members to view and if for example you are known locally for all the wrong reasons then the existing members can have a chat with the committee and you don't get to join (black balled). I don't know if every club does this.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Thanks all for the further advice and to answer some of the questions and for others who may find themselves in a similar position:

I'm hoping to join Rochford Hundred (near Southend on Sea)

I just straight up asked what does the club do to integrate new members and (to summarise) they hold rolls ups in the week and on Sat and Sun these are all drawn you just throw your ball into a hat and off you go, comps are drawn also so in a very short space of time you can get to know a lot of members very quickly. In addition they have buddies for new members who you can call on to answer questions etc. They also have loads of social functions during the year.

I guess I will get out it what I am prepared to put in but my gut feel is that this is not a cliquey club so the only thing stopping me getting involved will be me. I have no qualms now about joining up and being included as I was made to feel welcome at every step when I informally went for a look around a couple of the members who overheard me checking in at the pro shop to ask if it was OK came over and introduced themselves and spent about 10 mins chatting to me. I also hung around in the spike bar after my meeting on Saturday having a coffee and again a couple of members struck up conversation with me. I got introduced to the admin guys and in the afternoon the guy who runs the junior academy got in touch to talk through the details of that and my wife is now going along to an open day for the ladies section.

Caseuk In the club I'm joining my name goes onto a board for two weeks for members to view and if for example you are known locally for all the wrong reasons then the existing members can have a chat with the committee and you don't get to join (black balled). I don't know if every club does this.

Used to live just round the corner to the club, brings back memories and still travel down there regularly.

Hope the club welcomes you and your wife/children, not had any dealings with the club for quite a number of years and don't wish to go into reasons but I would suggest you pop down there a few more times, play a couple of rounds of golf there and ensure the feeling you got/get are the same on each occasion.

Also used to be quite a busy course at certain times, so you may wish to check (if you haven't) what its like getting to play around the times you would normally like to play.

I also know from recent experience(nothing to do with RHGC), that you will wish to check what the competition play is like at the weekends ?(for instance I had one club I approached that for the mens comp takes all the tee times on one day at the weekend, so no 18 holes social golf, mixed golf, playing with a junior, so effectively a 6 day membership setup. So stopped me joining one club as a result). Don't know if that is the case for you wishing to play with wife/children or even if it is a problem at RHGC, but something to consider.

EDIT Yes for private members courses, it is common that your name is put up on the board and a formal meeting.