First time on course(s)

[Magcargo]

Hi,

After "hitting balls" on and off for years but never playing a proper course (putting greens, driving ranges, practices areas, and pitch ad putts excluded), later this month I will be doing three rounds in as many days.

I have been having lessons most weeks for the last 6 months or so, and everyone says "you should be pretty good". I have other options, ha ha.

All friends I'm playing with are iPlay registered as I'm keen for a handicap to see where I am at. Have read the other posts about this being open to some abuse, but I have no interest in faking a lower score. Interesting to know where I come at...will be happy with 40 something I think!

One question I have, is I am an iGolf subscriber at the moment but have just put in for a membership at a club. If and when that is processed and I become a member, will my ability to register scores via iPlay members remain, or will it become club-sanctioned only? Reason I ask is I'm vary wary of playing with anyone I don't know until I get a few rounds under my belt and a baseline handicap.

 

[Orikoru]

In the England Golf app (MyEG) you can put a scorecard in for handicap from pretty much any course. Becoming a club member instead of iGolf won't change that.

 

[Magcargo]

Thanks a lot for that. How do clubs generally feel about that out of interest? Imagine there has been a lot of controversy over handicap integrity.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Thanks a lot for that. How do clubs generally feel about that out of interest? Imagine there has been a lot of controversy over handicap integrity.

I imagine whilst they may take it into consideration, they will still require you to submit 3 cards, as with all new members without a handicap, to be able to work out your handicap.
I may be wrong.

 

[Orikoru]

Thanks a lot for that. How do clubs generally feel about that out of interest? Imagine there has been a lot of controversy over handicap integrity.

I can only speak for myself but I regularly put cards in at all sorts of different courses. My club has never said a word about it. We have a club rule that to win a board comp you need to have played in 8 competitions in the last 12 months, so I guess that is their way of ensuring handicaps are legit.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I can only speak for myself but I regularly put cards in at all sorts of different courses. My club has never said a word about it. We have a club rule that to win a board comp you need to have played in 8 competitions in the last 12 months, so I guess that is their way of ensuring handicaps are legit.

We have now gone to that minimum number, but GP cards dont count.

 

[timd77]

To enter an official score, whether as an igolf member or as a member of a golf club, you’ll need someone else who is a member of one of those to attest your score, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who is a member at your club. I assume that once you join a club your igolf membership is transferred to the club, but I’m not 100% sure of that.

From what I can tell, iplay is just a way of tracking scores and giving you an indication of your handicap, aimed at people who don’t want to join a club or go down the official route just yet. Again, not sure if becoming a member of igolf or a club would prevent you from using it. If it does and you really want to continue putting scores on iplay for some reason (eg, your pals continue using it), then I guess you’d need to sets up a second account on there. However, I personally think using your official membership and entering scores on there and getting a proper handicap is the best way forward.

I can understand some nervousness about playing with club members you don’t know, but this can be the best way to learn and integrate. Most are really nice, will help you along, give you advice on rules and you’ll also pick up some course management tips from them.

Sounds as though you’re excited to start your golf life, main thing to remember is to have fun!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I imagine whilst they may take it into consideration, they will still require you to submit 3 cards, as with all new members without a handicap, to be able to work out your handicap.
I may be wrong.

Would all depend as to whether he’s a member before he completes his 3 rounds on iGolf.

If you play and score 3 rounds within the myEG app whilst being registered with iGolf your handicap is calculated and allocated to you against your lifetime membership number. Clubs can then when you join transfer membership number from iGolf to the club and your handicap carries over with it. Id then imagine each club has its own rule on x number of cards at their course to then qualify for any sort of comp.

 

[LincolnShep]

You don't say where you're playing but, if it's England then, as far as the England Golf app is concerned, iGolf is just another golf club. You can be a member of as many golf clubs as you like, including iGolf. IGolf members can record their general play scores on the EG app and have them attested by 'normal' club members, and vice versa. Being a club member won't stop you recording your scores on the app when playing with your iGolf mates, it will work in exactly the same way as it does at the moment.

Welcome to the GM Forum BTW.

 

[Magcargo]

Thanks all. Yeah I’m in England. Reality is I’ll probably get 54 holes in within the next week and a bit and get an iGolf handicap before putting a card in at my new/first club.

 

[doublebogey7]

Thanks all. Yeah I’m in England. Reality is I’ll probably get 54 holes in within the next week and a bit and get an iGolf handicap before putting a card in at my new/first club.

There is a difference between iGolf and iPlay. The first gives you an official EG WHS handicap the latter is a tool for monitoring progress but is in no way an official handicap. You seem though to be mixing up the two in the posts above. So for clarity if you have an iGolf handicap before you join a club you will not need to submit any more cards your handicap will simply transfer over to your club. They may though require a minimum number of rounds and/or competitions before you are able to win prizes, as part of their Terms of Competition. If on the other hand you have an iPlay handicap you will need to submit three cards at your new club before you get an official handicap. Hope that is clear, if not ask away.

Thanks a lot for that. How do clubs generally feel about that out of interest? Imagine there has been a lot of controversy over handicap integrity.

There has, but clubs are duty bound to accept your iGolf handicap when becoming a member. Most though don't allow iGolf members to take part in their Open Competitions.

 

[rulefan]

Thanks all. Yeah I’m in England. Reality is I’ll probably get 54 holes in within the next week and a bit and get an iGolf handicap before putting a card in at my new/first club.

There is no such thing as an "iGolf handicap". It is just a WHS handicap (registered with England Golf). There is no distinction between a score returned from Wentworth and one returned from iGolf played at Hoylake..

 

[D-S]

There is no such thing as an "iGolf handicap". It is just a WHS handicap (registered with England Golf). There is no distinction between a score returned from Wentworth and one returned from iGolf played at Hoylake..

Exactly right, however many clubs do restrict entries to their Open competitions from golfers with a WHS handicap administered by iGolf.

 

[Magcargo]

Thanks all. Do understand the differences. I have been signed up to iGolf for a while but had no rounds verified yet. iPlay friends will verify my scores.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Exactly right, however many clubs do restrict entries to their Open competitions from golfers with a WHS handicap administered by iGolf.

Big bug bear of mine that. I wanted to play in one near work at end of August, contacted to club and was flat out told I can’t play by the club Pro as “iGolf handicaps tend to be artificial and people don’t put rounds in to make them accurate so isn’t fair to allow people with inflated handicaps to play in their club open”. Even when I informed him at his club under WHS my playing handicap would be 4! He smirked and said “yeah right! No you can’t enter” at that point I hung up! My biggest bug bear is it wasn’t even an official club open it was an Open charity day that wasn’t fully subscribed!

There's definite snobbery between many clubs(not all but many) that look down on iGolf or the nomadic player.

 

[Magcargo]

Big bug bear of mine that. I wanted to play in one near work at end of August, contacted to club and was flat out told I can’t play by the club Pro as “iGolf handicaps tend to be artificial and people don’t put rounds in to make them accurate so isn’t fair to allow people with inflated handicaps to play in their club open”. Even when I informed him at his club under WHS my playing handicap would be 4! He smirked and said “yeah right! No you can’t enter” at that point I hung up! My biggest bug bear is it wasn’t even an official club open it was an Open charity day that wasn’t fully subscribed!

There's definite snobbery between many clubs(not all but many) that look down on iGolf or the nomadic player.

Indeed, and ironically many clubs have died with membership progressively dwindling due to such attitudes. Almost as if some clubs would prefer to die rather than embrace fresh blood.

Personally my priority is skill improvement and regular playing. I might not actually enter competitions, definitely not for a while anyway. Not sure how this will sit with the club I’ve joined!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Indeed, and ironically many clubs have died with membership progressively dwindling due to such attitudes. Almost as if some clubs would prefer to die rather than embrace fresh blood.

Personally my priority is skill improvement and regular playing. I might not actually enter competitions, definitely not for a while anyway. Not sure how this will sit with the club I’ve joined!

I’ve not been able to commit to a membership since taking up playing again due to work/life balance. Am hoping for a more settled year next year and been looking locally but I’m always put off by exorbitant joining fees that don’t give any detail of what it’s actually contributing towards other than being part of the club! That’s what the annuals fees are for!

I’ve got probably 3 options in mind and just weighing up the best in my mind over the winter months.

 

[D-S]

Indeed, and ironically many clubs have died with membership progressively dwindling due to such attitudes. Almost as if some clubs would prefer to die rather than embrace fresh blood.

Personally my priority is skill improvement and regular playing. I might not actually enter competitions, definitely not for a while anyway. Not sure how this will sit with the club I’ve joined!

I’m not aware of many clubs with outdated views dying. It tends to be the newer clubs, more often than not proprietary ones, that have closed. Older established member clubs, despite their attitudes, tend to be very much in the minority of closures due to lack of members.

 

[timd77]

Indeed, and ironically many clubs have died with membership progressively dwindling due to such attitudes. Almost as if some clubs would prefer to die rather than embrace fresh blood.

Personally my priority is skill improvement and regular playing. I might not actually enter competitions, definitely not for a while anyway. Not sure how this will sit with the club I’ve joined!

There won’t be a problem with you not entering comps, plenty of people don’t, they just turn up and play once or twice a week, sometimes on their own, and then just go home.

Everyone’s different, but I joined specifically to meet people, get a handicap (igolf wasn’t a thing then) and play in comps. First handicap was 30 ish I think. It wasn’t about winning comps, just about competing. I would definitely say playing in them has made me a better player, and it’s also meant I’ve met knew people and found people to play with regularly.

 

[Springveldt]

Big bug bear of mine that. I wanted to play in one near work at end of August, contacted to club and was flat out told I can’t play by the club Pro as “iGolf handicaps tend to be artificial and people don’t put rounds in to make them accurate so isn’t fair to allow people with inflated handicaps to play in their club open”. Even when I informed him at his club under WHS my playing handicap would be 4! He smirked and said “yeah right! No you can’t enter” at that point I hung up! My biggest bug bear is it wasn’t even an official club open it was an Open charity day that wasn’t fully subscribed!

There's definite snobbery between many clubs(not all but many) that look down on iGolf or the nomadic player.

And the guys who have a WHS index and play in Opens aren't inflated?