golf membership 'intermediate' member

[Ellbell5]

Read many threads similar to this but looking for some advice as ive decided I'm going to join a golf club but need to work out which one is best for me.

Live in Worcester Park so looking at Surbiton, Coombe Wood, Malden as potentials. My main reason of joining is to find people to play with at the weekends (and maybe quick 9 holes in weekday evenings)

I'm 28 so i seem to qualify for 'intermediate' membership. Ideally would like to join somewhere where there are a few people similar age to me.

Anything down the A3 is also a potential although having grown up in Walton I am familiar with places like Silvermere, Hoebridge etc. Would prefer a place that it's quicker to get round the course. (think i am priced out of Burhill).

Any insight or suggestions would be most helpful!

 

[Hosel Fade]

Mate of mine is a member at Banstead and has good intermediate rates all the way through 35. Otherwise I reckon those you mentioned are good options, Epsom is short and has no bunkers if thats an issue for you (i quite like it), the others in the area are either steep or rubbish imo.

 

[anotherdouble]

A fellow forumer Blue in Munich lives in your neck of the woods. He is a nice young sprightly fellow and should be your font of all knowledge.

 

[TheJezster]

Have you looked at Wimbledon common? It's the cheapest membership around the London Surrey area and has a very busy schedule. You will never be short of a game at weekends. Or during the week too I believe. Great atmosphere in the clubhouse too

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have you looked at Wimbledon common? It's the cheapest membership around the London Surrey area and has a very busy schedule. You will never be short of a game at weekends. Or during the week too I believe. Great atmosphere in the clubhouse too

A big thumbs up for Wimbledon Common for me too. However if your budget allows, Cuddington where Blue in Munich plays is a lovely course

 

[TomTom]

Have you looked at Wimbledon common? It's the cheapest membership around the London Surrey area and has a very busy schedule. You will never be short of a game at weekends. Or during the week too I believe. Great atmosphere in the clubhouse too

Awful place - dog turd alley!

 

[chrisd]

I played Cuddington and would highly recommend it

 

[TomTom]

I played Cuddington and would highly recommend it

Not on his budget!

 

[chrisd]

Not on his budget!

Where does he say what his budget is, how much is membership for his age group at Cuddington?

 

[TomTom]

Where does he say what his budget is, how much is membership for his age group at Cuddington?

1st year I would say £2/£2500 ish.....look where he is mentioning!

 

[Hosel Fade]

1st year I would say £2/£2500 ish.....look where he is mentioning!

Not quite as bad as that but definitely more than others mentioned, they have a joining fee there as well

 

[TheJezster]

Awful place - dog turd alley!

Absolute nonsense! OP, if you do one thing, ignore the reply from TomTom, its a fantastic place to play, very tight and probably the best greens you'll play

 

[TomTom]

Absolute nonsense! OP, if you do one thing, ignore the reply from TomTom, its a fantastic place to play, very tight and probably the best greens you'll play

Wow - you certainly should play more golf courses!

 

[Blue in Munich]

Where does he say what his budget is, how much is membership for his age group at Cuddington?

If you get in at 28, cost of joining fee & 1st year's membership is the same as my annual subs. 29 - 35 the joining fee is half what older members pay, although the annual subs are the same.

A fellow forumer Blue in Munich lives in your neck of the woods. He is a nice young sprightly fellow and should be your font of all knowledge.

And you need a better optician (before chrisd jumps all over that comment!)…………

 

[Blue in Munich]

Read many threads similar to this but looking for some advice as ive decided I'm going to join a golf club but need to work out which one is best for me.

Live in Worcester Park so looking at Surbiton, Coombe Wood, Malden as potentials. My main reason of joining is to find people to play with at the weekends (and maybe quick 9 holes in weekday evenings)

I'm 28 so i seem to qualify for 'intermediate' membership. Ideally would like to join somewhere where there are a few people similar age to me.

Anything down the A3 is also a potential although having grown up in Walton I am familiar with places like Silvermere, Hoebridge etc. Would prefer a place that it's quicker to get round the course. (think i am priced out of Burhill).

Any insight or suggestions would be most helpful!

Of those you list, I've not played Malden but both it and Surbiton, by reputation, suffer a bit in wet weather.

Coombe Wood is not unpleasant as a course but is a little tight & fiddly and is very short by modern standards at under 5,300 off the backs. They do have some very good offers to attract members and are currently doing a 3 month Spring membership for £350 which as a taster is not a bad idea.

Banstead Downs and Cuddington (at which I have a total of 13 years membership between them) both drain very well as they are chalk based, Banstead possibly a little better than Cuddington, but the downside of this at Banstead is the phenomenon known as the "Banstead bounce" where it gets that hard in the summer that there are some truly ridiculous bounces. Where Banstead and Cuddington will suffer is if there is snow or an exceptionally harsh winter then their relative elevation means they suffer more than some others. Banstead like Wimbledon Common/London Scottish (the two clubs share the one course from different starting points) suffers from being on public land so you get your fair share of dog walkers/cyclists/horse riders and as in all walks of life, some are considerate of others' recreational habits and others aren't. And you'll need to like red if you play Wimbledon Common/London Scottish as it is the only colour top you will wear. Banstead has a reputation as a friendlier club than Cuddington, which suffers from a perception of being stuffy. Mrs BiM will tell you which one is the friendlier and she doesn't agree with the reputation; neither do I. I'm not sure how many members around your age there are but as a general rule, the membership at both Banstead & Cuddington tends to be older, although a lot at Cuddington are young at heart and the social side is good and varied. Dress code is on the conservative side but personally I'm fine with that.

Epsom is again short by modern standards at just under 5,800 and you will share it with walkers and lose it to a car park when the racecourse has has events. The greens are its best defence, being fast and tricky. Personally it's not my cup of tea, but they do have a very attractive intermediate rate.

The only others that spring to mind locally are Royal Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park, or Walton Heath. I like all 3 as courses, but from what I've seen of Walton Heath I cannot imagine that there would be much of a social aspect to it. I'm not sure how long Wimbledon Park will survive as the AELTC own their land and seem keen on removing them.

Hope that helps & good luck with the search.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Of those you list, I've not played Malden but both it and Surbiton, by reputation, suffer a bit in wet weather.

Coombe Wood is not unpleasant as a course but is a little tight & fiddly and is very short by modern standards at under 5,300 off the backs. They do have some very good offers to attract members and are currently doing a 3 month Spring membership for £350 which as a taster is not a bad idea.

Banstead Downs and Cuddington (at which I have a total of 13 years membership between them) both drain very well as they are chalk based, Banstead possibly a little better than Cuddington, but the downside of this at Banstead is the phenomenon known as the "Banstead bounce" where it gets that hard in the summer that there are some truly ridiculous bounces. Where Banstead and Cuddington will suffer is if there is snow or an exceptionally harsh winter then their relative elevation means they suffer more than some others. Banstead like Wimbledon Common/London Scottish (the two clubs share the one course from different starting points) suffers from being on public land so you get your fair share of dog walkers/cyclists/horse riders and as in all walks of life, some are considerate of others' recreational habits and others aren't. And you'll need to like red if you play Wimbledon Common/London Scottish as it is the only colour top you will wear. Banstead has a reputation as a friendlier club than Cuddington, which suffers from a perception of being stuffy. Mrs BiM will tell you which one is the friendlier and she doesn't agree with the reputation; neither do I. I'm not sure how many members around your age there are but as a general rule, the membership at both Banstead & Cuddington tends to be older, although a lot at Cuddington are young at heart and the social side is good and varied. Dress code is on the conservative side but personally I'm fine with that.

Epsom is again short by modern standards at just under 5,800 and you will share it with walkers and lose it to a car park when the racecourse has has events. The greens are its best defence, being fast and tricky. Personally it's not my cup of tea, but they do have a very attractive intermediate rate.

The only others that spring to mind locally are Royal Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park, or Walton Heath. I like all 3 as courses, but from what I've seen of Walton Heath I cannot imagine that there would be much of a social aspect to it. I'm not sure how long Wimbledon Park will survive as the AELTC own their land and seem keen on removing them.

Hope that helps & good luck with the search.

Very fair assessment of all of those courses. Lots of courses around the OP's neighbourhood (and some further afield to consider). Perhaps worth checking the websites for membership costs or calling. Might be worth seeing if you can visit and play a few too

 

[Canmore]

Awful place - dog turd alley!

Not quite that bad - but just too many walkers and dog walkers these days. 10 years ago it was fine for playing golf, at weekends, as there were less people wandered my around the common.

Great greens, probably better than most other courses in the area. Downsides are the disruption from walkers, relatively short course (you won't play woods much long irons), and inability to play after 2pm on Sunday's / Public holidays

Best courses in the area are Royal Wimbledon and Coombe Hill - they may have deals for intermediates if you can get in

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not quite that bad - but just too many walkers and dog walkers these days. 10 years ago it was fine for playing golf, at weekends, as there were less people wandered my around the common.

Great greens, probably better than most other courses in the area. Downsides are the disruption from walkers, relatively short course (you won't play woods much long irons), and inability to play after 2pm on Sunday's / Public holidays

Best courses in the area are Royal Wimbledon and Coombe Hill - they may have deals for intermediates if you can get in

Think both will be prohibitive in terms of cost and pretty sure Royal Wimbledon still have old fashioned joining values where you need to be proposed and seconded. I can't argue that Wimbledon Common had far more members of the public around when I went back compared to my last membership in the late 90's although I do think there are adequate holes to play woods off the tee, especially the whites