Is it more than just the golf

[vinny613]

when you joined your golf club, was it simply because it was the closest and you could afford it , or did you look around for a while and settle on what you thought was the ideal club you had formed a idea of how and what you thought a golf club should be.

me i like the social side just as much as the playing and the course, the bar, resteraunt, pro shop , the whole package.

would love to know what it would be like to be a member of somewhere like STOKE PARK or WENTWORTH , cos that surely is just more than about the golf.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I joined my club because:

1) there was no joining fee. I've no interest in paying a golf club in excess of £1,000 just to join the club. They'll get enough money out of me during my membership (over the bar, comps, etc).
2) it was an 18 hole par 72 course. Most of the courses around here are only 9 hole affairs.
3) there was no interview. It's a golf club, not my employer. I have no wish to be interviewed for any form of social activity.

 

[JustOne]

I've just joined the nearest club to me... and it happens to be great.. just what I wanted - pity my golf is so crap

I've lived just down the road from it for 13yrs and just popped in for a look... paid the next day. It's not Augusta, but it's perfect for my needs which is to hit golf balls and putt on decent greens.

 

[pbrown7582]

I searched around and found one that fitted my circumstances best a little bit of travel (10mile) past several others courses but it's all dual carriageway so 10mins extra means I can play when I want and fits me and family commitments best.

 

[PIng]

Just had an informal interview at my nearest club. I chose it because there's no joining fee and introductory full membership that works out at about £12 per week, can't play the local muni for that!

 

[Richuk123]

It's All down to personal circumstances. If i had the £££ , there are so many courses within 10 miles of where i live (Oldbury, Just outside B'ham) that i could join, such as Handsworth, South Staffs, Beau Desert, Kings Norton and so on, but as i don't have pockets of cash, i play my local Muni, Brandhall GC. Off the whites, it's a tight , little test, which rewards supreme straight hitting, slightly off line and its a double, regardless of length. its £45 a month full 7 day membership and as muni's go, the council do actually look after it.

 

[sweatysock41]

I joined mine for 3 main reasons.It's 5 minutes from home, it is reasonably priced (£788 including £50 behind the bar) with no joining fee that's less than £15 a week and it is friendly with no pretences of being something it isn't.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I joined because my neighbour was a member and his step-dad was captain that year. Bit of a done deal. It ticked all the boxes and when I left and then started playing again Ascot had moved to their new home which was a better test of golf and had retained the same atmosphere so it was a simple choice. I did look at other clubs but the no-booking of tee times was a big clincher plus getting a locker which makes life a doddle in the summer when I can commute and cab it to the course from work

 

[Essex_Stu]

I joined because its a very good course which isn't snobby and several work colleagues and my father in law are members already. Played other courses locally as well but much prefered the pro and clubhouse atmosphere compared to other locals. No joining fee was a bonus but probaly would of still payed even if there was one.

 

[full_throttle]

I joined because as a beginner the membership was affordable. With the course being 10 minutes walk it made sense, although to be honest I'm too lazy to walk.

 

[Smiffy]

My course is a good 30 odd miles away, a 50 minute run on a good day.
I'll try to avoid the "rush hour" tee times if I can.
There are courses that I could have joined that were closer, but I love Crowborough and the county membership deal they offer made it financially viable.
£50.00 a month for SkyHD or £50.00 a month for membership of a great club??? No contest.

 

[nil1121]

we have currently been members at 4 different clubs so far and it was a case of finding the one that is best for my childrens golf, that do not restrict the juniors to silly tee off times and have competitions they can enter.

 

[Imurg]

Value for money.
Decent course - priority 1
Close to home/work area
No pretentions
No real club atmosphere but that suits me at the moment.
I'm there to play, have a sandwich and then off to work.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I joined for 2 main reasons: The club is nearby and the course is excellent.

I'm also lucky that it turned out to a great "club" with friendly members and an excellent pro.

That was about 20 years ago and I just feel at home there now.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

when you joined your golf club, was it simply because it was the closest and you could afford it , or did you look around for a while and settle on what you thought was the ideal club you had formed a idea of how and what you thought a golf club should be.

me i like the social side just as much as the playing and the course, the bar, resteraunt, pro shop , the whole package.

would love to know what it would be like to be a member of somewhere like STOKE PARK or WENTWORTH , cos that surely is just more than about the golf.

I've been at my club since the days of 5 year waiting lists and restricted 5 day memberships, however if joining a course now I would look for:-

1. An enjoyable course
2. A members course
3. Good competition
4. A good atmosphere within the club.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Mines isn't the cheapest, nor is it the closest to me.

It is a good course though, a lot of the par 4s are testing (especially off the back tees, 5 over 430 yards) and the greens are now very good indeed after a bit of TLC.

The clubhouse was rebuilt within the last 10 years and as such looks great, but it does miss a bit of the character that the old clubhouse had.

The club pro is great, I get on well with him and his teaching methods seem to sink in with me, he'll do his best WRT price matching online retailers and will always try to do a deal with you. His shop is well stocked and as a result, it's pretty busy. The downside of this is that you need to organise a lesson about a month in advance. If you've got an urgent problem it's hard to get an 'emergency' lesson.

Now, to the social side. I joined because my Dad plays there. He joined because a lot of the members are ex BT so he knew them through work. There's a group of about ten players that we play with and it's great fun.

Without the social side I probably wouldn't have joined and I'd have missed out on all the things I really like about Prestonfield.

 

[Threeoffthetee]

I take the attitute that if I am joining a golf club, it is to play golf. Therefore the priorities were:

1 - Cost (have to be realistic here
2 - No joining fee (conscientious objector)
3 - 18 holes
4 - Course condition
5 - Organisation of comps....

..anything else was secondary

Not sure I would like to be a member of those other clubs, if I had some starched shirt pulling me up about the length or colour of my socks, I might find an alternative use for my driver.

 

[joma1108]

I joined mine as it was
within 3 miles of my home (not a pre requisite as my old course was 30 miles away)
Decent test of golf (greens were superb a the time, now not so great bumpy and slow)
No Joining fee
cost was a factor but not huge £50 per month

I did look for decent practice facilities which locally there were none.

I recently took a country member at a course 70 miles from me, it is motorway pretty much all the way and takes an hour to get there, the course is fantastic, practice area is very good and the people are so friendly.

If it wasnt 150 mile round trip i would be there every week in the comps, just now every second week.

 

[Region3]

A few reasons...

Only 2 miles from my house.
Proper tees and greens all year.
Drawn comps.
One of the cheapest in the area.
Very friendly.

 

[mcbroon]

I joined for 2 main reasons: The club is nearby and the course is excellent.

I'm also lucky that it turned out to a great "club" with friendly members and an excellent pro.

That was about 20 years ago and I just feel at home there now.

Same here. Except for the 20 years ago bit.