Handicap Certificate - other clubs requesting to see it?

[Sats]

Just found out that I can get a concessionary rate for sunningdale £85 old, £65 new. One snag, one of my mates doesn't have an official handicap (He plays off 16 in our work society) - when I rang up Sunningdale they simply said it would be fine as long as my friend wasn't a beginner. I'm in no way complaining, but I've read a few of the big clubs asking for it on the website but never asking for it on the day. Does anyone have experience of having to show their handicap certificate to any club they were visiting?

 

[PJ87]

Just found out that I can get a concessionary rate for sunningdale £85 old, £65 new. One snag, one of my mates doesn't have an official handicap (He plays off 16 in our work society) - when I rang up Sunningdale they simply said it would be fine as long as my friend wasn't a beginner. I'm in no way complaining, but I've read a few of the big clubs asking for it on the website but never asking for it on the day. Does anyone have experience of having to show their handicap certificate to any club they were visiting?

My mates a pro and he said don’t worry about it, normally your fine. I got him to do me a fake certificate to say I play off 18 just incase lol not spending all that cash to be kicked off

 

[Sats]

My mates a pro and he said don’t worry about it, normally your fine. I got him to do me a fake certificate to say I play off 18 just incase lol not spending all that cash to be kicked off

Just seems weird to write that its mandatory and then ignore it. Mind you I've been to courses that don't even enforce the dress code.

 

[PJ87]

Just seems weird to write that its mandatory and then ignore it. Mind you I've been to courses that don't even enforce the dress code.

I believe it’s just to put off people

Money talks though. Clubs can’t be as fussy these days if they struggling

 

[Imurg]

It's an irritation of mine.
I suspect it's a throwback to the days when being a member of a golf club actually meant something with regard to your social standing.
If you have a handicap you must be a member of a club so you must be the right sort of person that we would want to welcome to our course.
To be fair it also puts off the once a year player who is more likely to perform landscape gardening than playing golf.

If your website/rules state that a handicap certificate is required then do the decent thing and check them.
If you're not going to bother then don't advertise that you will.

 

[fundy]

Over 30 years playing been asked in 2 places that I can remember, the Belfry and Valderrama, expect in this day and age you will only be asked if not looking and/or acting the part

 

[Imurg]

Over 30 years playing been asked in 2 places that I can remember, the Belfry and Valderrama, expect in this day and age you will only be asked if not looking and/or acting the part

You're right.
But doesn't that bring us back to the "judging people by how they look" thing..?

 

[PJ87]

Over 30 years playing been asked in 2 places that I can remember, the Belfry and Valderrama, expect in this day and age you will only be asked if not looking and/or acting the part

Never forget first hole at the belfry brabzon.. wasn’t asked certificate.. starter watching and I topped my 3 wood 40 yards left

He said nothing.. luckily I smashed my 7 iron straight down the middle with the second

My heart was pounding I thought we were going to be invited to play the lesser course

 

[Backache]

Every year I go away on a boys trip and we usually play some 'prestige courses' as well as other courses and every year some of the courses state handicap required but I have never been asked though I get one printed just in case.

 

[patricks148]

TBH i have never been asked for one and played all the open venues in Scotland and a few other top courses you would expect them to ask

 

[fundy]

You're right.
But doesn't that bring us back to the "judging people by how they look" thing..?

as we both know, its not correct but its happening all the time

 

[chrisd]

When 4 if us played Sunningdale New a few years back we were asked for ours in the pro shop

 

[Deleted member 1147]

No wonder those courses are painfully slow, if people who aren’t good enough for them are struggling round 😡

 

[jusme]

I doubt there is anything to worry about. Been asked once in 10 years, despite playing dozens of courses that specify certs required. I would be shocked to see any course ask these days.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Think I've only been asked twice in 35+ years of playing. Can't remember where. I think as others have said its an archaic throwback but these days if you're not a beginner then they'll happily take the money. Definitely played places like the Belfry where fundy was asked and never had a problem. I wonder how random it is at clubs where it is supposedly in effect

 

[DCB]

Only ever been asked twice, once at Carnoustie when playing the Championship course, and the other was way back in the 1980s when three of us tried to get a round at a soggy field on the outskirts of Milton Keynes ... We were lost for words at that one ☺

 

[fundy]

Only ever been asked twice, once at Carnoustie when playing the Championship course, and the other was way back in the 1980s when three of us tried to get a round at a soggy field on the outskirts of Milton Keynes ... We were lost for words at that one ☺

well that doesnt narrow down the MK courses lol

 

[Sports_Fanatic]

Old course is the only one that checked for me.

I thought it was put in place so that if anyone was massively struggling on the course and creating a log jam for example, then the pro could ask to check and if nothing state they need to leave the course as it’s a requirement. Guess it’s that just in case point if someone really dug their heels in.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Old course is the only one that checked for me.

I thought it was put in place so that if anyone was massively struggling on the course and creating a log jam for example, then the pro could ask to check and if nothing state they need to leave the course as it’s a requirement. Guess it’s that just in case point if someone really dug their heels in.

Also checked at the Old Course. Bloke in front in the queue turned up without one and was sent away.

 

[Jamesbrown]

Golf clubs would be a better place if every golfer could prove they could actually play.