Interview Advice Needed

[GB72]

Like MWJ I have applied for membership of a private club and have been asked to attend on Saturday for an informal meet with the club secretary and the club pro. I have no problems with job interviews but have never had to do anything like this. Is there any advice that anyone can give. I am hoping that it is a case of dress smart, behave myself and hope to fit in but hopefully one of you can fill me in about what to expect.

 

[brendy]

Dont be afraid to smile and let them know you want to use as much of the clubs facilities and teams as possible, when I had mine I went for the enthusiastic prospective new member.

 

[Parmo]

Just roll your trouser leg up and offer to shake hands with your nipple showing

 

[time_vans]

dont do a Spud (ala train spotting) at the interview

 

[MVP]

Tell them you prefer to use wedges on the greens when you got anything over 10feet, and you think that raking bunkers is the green keepers job!

 

[USER1999]

Just be your self, but imply that the social side also appeals, so they don't think you will just play golf and then f**k off home.

Think of answers to this sort of question:

Why do you want to join this club?
What do you like about / expect out of golf club membership?
What handicap?
How long have you been playing?
Three things that define you as a golfer?
Three things that annoy you on the course?

It will be a lot of bul, all they are trying to find out is if you have eaten any children recently, and if so, will you still change your shoes in the car park.

 

[TonyN]

ask them questions. Be prepared. Take in a note book with you' write you questions down before you go in so you dont forget them and you can also make a note of anythin they tell you'

 

[birdieman]

It's all down to ability, if you're a low handicapper they'll welcome you with open arms, even if you're straight out of prison and fit swear words in every sentence, however if you're playing handicap is higher than 20 despite being angelic you should expect a polite refusal.

 

[ianmc]

ive just joined a private club and was expecting the same but on the night in question there was five other guys looking to join and all they did was take us into a big room along with our sponsor/seconder and introduced us to the comittee.all they seemed interested in was our cheques.no questions nothing and its not like theres a shortage of members there over 800 at my club.ian mc

 

[medwayjon]

I have heard from my propser and my form is on the notice board now. I am to be summoned in 10 days or so.

I suppose I am lucky as my proposer has been at the club for 32years and has held various positions of responisibilities within. This, I have been told, means that I am basically a cert.

Fingers crossed though, don't want to blow the interview!

 

[Parmo]

It sounds like joining a club is like joining the masons to someone newish to the game.

 

[USER1999]

I look at some of the t***ers in my club, and think the interview can't be that rigorous, look who else they let in.

 

[brendy]

Parmo I get the feeling some clubs could be like that sometimes.
My own club brought me in aong with a few others and interviewed us seperately with our proposers.
My interview went a little like this,
Pompous stuffed shirt man: Hi Brendy, welcome to BGC, I see you have a handicap of 6, where did you play previously?
myself: Gilnahirk in castlereagh.
stuffed shirt: Oh, so you will require a handicap of around 10 here then?
myself: No, 6.
Stuffed shirt: Well, here is a little more difficult than gilnahirk..titter titter.
myself, Really, last time I played here was in the junior cup and I beat one of your better players on his home turf.
stuffed shirt: ........
myself: Anyway, can I ask a few questions? I went on to ask about getting on teams, locker availability etc.

Sometimes you do need to asert yourself and dont let the older generations talk down to you. Be positive and polite. Even now, I havent seen this bloke around the club and from what I gather is a high handicapper,

 

[birdieman]

A proposer, a seconder and your details on the noticeboard for 2 weeks for objections is enough for us, there is no interview.

 

[medwayjon]

I take on board your thoughts on how joining a club seems like joining the masons however these procedures are put in place for good reason.

If you look at the way some people play golf at pay and play courses it is frightening. There are people who have no respect for the rules, the course or other golfers.

There is no room in a private club, where people pay good money to belong, for idiots who throw flagsticks around, smash their putters into greens in a rage and run trolleys all over tees and greens.

This is why clubs are selective, they want people who will treat the course & facilities with the respect they deserve.

I can't see the value in a new golfer joining a club straight away anyway. I think that time needs to be spent learning the rules, learning the game and learning how to play on municipals. Some people take up golf and don't like it (fools) so club membership would be money wasted for these people. In my eyes it is best for people to serve their apprentiship on a p&p and then go onto club membership. That is what I have done and I am happy.

 

[viscount17]

At the end of the day it is about
1. money, they want to know that you're not going to default and will be sufficiently grateful that you won't kick up a fuss when fees are raised.
2. manners, you know more than the basics of golf etiquette, you're not going to do a champ' in the clubhouse, you scrub up well, and that you will/will not vanish into the shubbery with the lady captain/captains memsahib
3. ability, you know your mashie from your niblick, green from tee and may enhance the team
4. won't fuss too much when you're drawn against the club champ in every match.
oh, and
5. what are your 'add quals' - what services can you offer; on-course surgery, legal aid, car sales, brickie, plumber etc

 

[fade_away]

All good points Medwayjon but i'm not sure how an interview can determine how a prospective member would act on the course. I have seen many members of my club not replcaing divots, not repairing pitchmarks, throwing clubs etc and i'm sure they would 'come across' very well at interview.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When I joined Ascot I made a big thing of wanting to play regularly in competitions and club matches. I told them I was keen to use their wonderful practice facilities and that I would support their social side.

They asked about my playing history. Just be honest and don't try and big your game up especially if end up having to play a round with the pro or put your handicap cards in.

Above all be polite and enthusiastic

 

[Parmo]

If you look at the way some people play golf at pay and play courses it is frightening

I don't see any and I play week in and out at p+p?

There is no room in a private club, where people pay good money to belong, for idiots who throw flagsticks around, smash their putters into greens in a rage and run trolleys all over tees and greens.

You normally find its the ones with money who smash their gear (read GM Jan for the fella who throw all his gear in the lake). The only people I see with trolleys are the over 40s who have all the gear.. but then again they are everywhere.

This is why clubs are elitist , they want people with money who they can bleed abd who they think will treat the course & facilities with the respect they deserve.

Fixed that for you Jon

 

[medwayjon]

You feel quite strongly on this one then Parmo.

I have to use a trolley as my chiropractor will be a millionaire if I don't, I sepnt a fortune there to get back to rights so won't jeapordise it.

I have to argue about clubs being elitist, at the club I am joining there are cabbies, window cleaners and so on. Not everybody who joins a club is minted, I certainly am not. What is wrong with a club being selective? Surely it is in their interests to only have members that they feel will be an asset to the club, respecting its course and facilities, and fitting in with the ethos of the club.

All I can say is that when I have been a guest at a private club the welcome has been friendly, the facilities excellent and the members take great pride in the club and course and look after it with kid-gloves.

You are lucky with your p&p experiences. On saturday I was walking onto the green and was nearly decked by a golf ball. As it transpires a couple of guys waiting on the 2nd tee had decided to use the 1st green for practise while they waited with no regard for anybody elses game by chipping onto it whilst I was walking to my ball which was on the green. These are the sort of to$$ers I hope I will leave behind by moving onto club golf.

This isn't an isolated incident either, I saw 4 guys last summer on a municipal, shirtless and sharing a set of "bootfair special" clubs. They could barely top the ball 20yds and they wouldn't let anybody play through.

I could go on and on about the bad experiences I have had but they all make the same point. I have had enough of idiots and want to play somewhere where the course is 1st class, the facilities are great and I will not have my day spoilt by yobs & scrotes.