Friendly Club

balaclava

balaclava

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We're planning on moving 200 miles south to be nearer our grandchildren. We're looking at a wide area south of the middle of the M4. We would like to live near a 'friendly' club. Of course every club promotes itself as a friendly club including our current club which (IMHO) is NOT. I know some clubs (not mine) that have appointed (mid-week) times and days where anyone can tip up and play with anyone stood on the tee i.e. as four arrive they go and when the next 4 arrive they go (they each put £2 in the pot and they play for that). I believe that sort game is a measure of a friendly club. (They tried that in my current club a few years back and it lasted about 10 minutes before everybody sorted themselves out to play just with their mates).

So where is this club we are looking for?
 
balaclava said:
We're planning on moving 200 miles south to be nearer our grandchildren. We're looking at a wide area south of the middle of the M4. We would like to live near a 'friendly' club. Of course every club promotes itself as a friendly club including our current club which (IMHO) is NOT. I know some clubs (not mine) that have appointed (mid-week) times and days where anyone can tip up and play with anyone stood on the tee i.e. as four arrive they go and when the next 4 arrive they go (they each put £2 in the pot and they play for that). I believe that sort game is a measure of a friendly club. (They tried that in my current club a few years back and it lasted about 10 minutes before everybody sorted themselves out to play just with their mates).

So where is this club we are looking for?
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Not sure where you are looking. We have at least 5 roll ups a week, which is a great way to get to know members. We are known as a friendly club, though personally I am a miserable old git.;)
 
richart said:
We have at least 5 roll ups a week
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5 role ups - impressive.

After many years working and living overseas our 'home' town has become less significant to us, hence the plan to move closer to our children. Picking a spot on the map which has no significance other than it is within striking distance of two sets of grandchildren is arbitrary to the extreme. The golf club has always been a focal point for us so choosing a location(s) near a 'friendly' club seems like a good idea. To give another example of another 'yard stick' by which one might measure 'friendly' - 'friendly' clubs (IMHO) have some 'drawn' competition (Club Championships at the least) our current club has none!
 
We have a number of roll ups in the week and at weekends and there are no booked tee times other than for competitions. Despite the Royal moniker we're a re down to earth friendly club and I'm more than happy to arrange a game in due course. That said, Blackmoor trumps Ascot hands down in terms of the course!!!
 
HomerJSimpson said:
We have a number of roll ups in the week and at weekends and there are no booked tee times other than for competitions. Despite the Royal moniker we're a re down to earth friendly club and I'm more than happy to arrange a game in due course. That said, Blackmoor trumps Ascot hands down in terms of the course!!!
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I don't have experience of this, but my gut would have thought that the lack of booked tee times to be more of a hindrance to meeting people? As new people don't know when to turn up (other than roll ups), and can't look at the tee bookings, see a load of two balls, so turn up then and hope to go out with them!
 
CheltenhamHacker said:
I don't have experience of this, but my gut would have thought that the lack of booked tee times to be more of a hindrance to meeting people? As new people don't know when to turn up (other than roll ups), and can't look at the tee bookings, see a load of two balls, so turn up then and hope to go out with them!
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In my experience your gut is totally wrong. Far easier to get a game when there are no tee times booked at our club than the slots where tee times are booked and groups are already fixed up, far more flexible in the unbooked slots
 
CheltenhamHacker said:
As new people don't know when to turn up (other than roll ups), and can't look at the tee bookings, see a load of two balls, so turn up then and hope to go out with them!
Click to expand...

To clarify . . . I, as an individual, don't have any problems getting a game, I am not shy at putting myself forward, I have been around a long time and moved (countries) many times. The point is, if I have a choice (and I do) I might as well join an inclusive club rather than an exclusive club. Inclusive clubs (members) seek out others wanting them to join in; exclusive clubs are polite and may allow others to join them but really are happier by themselves.
 
Its a pretty wide net you mention, can you narrow down your areas a bit? where do the grandkids live? my club is pretty informal, roll up and wait for someone to play with if you want, a number of organised roll ups, especially for the over 60's. huge amount of groups regularly informally meet up on both weekend days, and midweek there is always a sweep around mid-day.
 
balaclava said:
Bristol and Bracknell, which are about 2 hours apart. The ideal would be something in the middle but we expect that we will have to compromise some things.
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Salisbury is in the middle. Absolutely lovely place.

Some really nices courses around there, no idea about friendliness. High post is a good course!
 
Clubs we've looked at are:
Wells - a pretty course, seemed like nice people.
Kingsdown - a bit out the way but nice people and lots of members (can't find a house we like!) (yet)
North Wilts - a struggle to get to unless we find a house north of Devizes but a friendly welcome and lots of lady members
Marlborough - nice location but the memsahib is frightened that she might be out of her (social) depth!
Ogbourne - near to a nice village and the M4 (bit too near Swindon (sorry)) and a small membership
Winchester - Expensive! (That's the golf club membership not the houses)
 
Could have a look at our place - 36 holes + further 18 actually across the common so many types of golf to choose from.

As for friendly, well there are no reserved parking spaces for captain etc, jnr academy thriving and roll-ups / relaxed winter programme etc etc.

Website link below has exact location but sort of cirencester / stroud so sort of 1/3 2/3 midway i'd guess.

simon
 
Cirencester area would be a good midway point and lovely area to live, the Cotswolds are lovely. Cirencester is a nice golf club and there are a number of others in the region.
 
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