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I've had it with my course !

C

colint

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Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
1,372
Location
Heswall, Wirral
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Apologies in advance as this is no more than me ranting on, but it's either this or go and smash drives into the clubhouse.

I haven't been too happy at my course over winter as it suffers terribly in the rain, drainage is non exisitent. You can't blame the groundsman for the land the course is built on, but when you see things like ponds being pumped out onto already sodden fairways, it does make you wonder if they know what they're doing.

Things have dried up nicely with the recent weather, but the greens are dreadful. Bumpy, some fast, some slow, GUR all over the course, it's in worse nick than 2 local muni's.

I could make excuses for the condition, but the attitude of some of the older members (and this is from a 40 year old) is diabolical. I play a lot of solo games when I nip on depending on work, and if it's before lunch there's a more than good chance that you'll get stuck behind a 4 ball. It's happened 4 times in the last week or so, and I haven't been called through once. I've tried hanging back, politely making myself obvious, and even bordering on being a nob and playing too close. I was stuck behind a game today and was waiting on every hole from the 5th on, they had numerous obvious opportunites to let me through but didn't even look at me. When they spent 5 minutes looking for a ball without even looking in my direction I snapped and sent a drive over their heads. Apparently they are going to complain about me !

I'm due to pay the second installment of my fees (another £500) this week and I can't bring myself to write the cheque. I'm on the waiting list at 3 others clubs but it could be months /years before I get in to any of them, if at all. I'm considering becoming a nomad until I get a decision from these 3 clubs, but think I might be looked on more favourably if I'm already a member somewhere else.

I really like being a member of a club, but I'm not paying money to play a goat track full of inconsiderate, ill-mannered to$$ers who haven;t read a rule book for the last 20 years.

Ahhh, feel much better now
 
Thats a nice weight off your shoulders,as has been said before even though a single has the right to be waved through imo the best thing to do is take a few balls on each hole and use the round as a bit of practice it can really help in your approach to each hole.
 
If you decide to stay and you're unhappy with the condition and maintenance of the course, then the best thing to do is get involved. Document and raise your issues at meetings and talk to committee members (in a constructive manner) about the problems.

Every club will have some people who would do anything to avoid letting a single player through. As pokerjoke said, play several balls and practice if they won't let you through or skip ahead if you're in a hurry.
 
Apologies in advance as this is no more than me ranting on, but it's either this or go and smash drives into the clubhouse.

I haven't been too happy at my course over winter as it suffers terribly in the rain, drainage is non exisitent. You can't blame the groundsman for the land the course is built on, but when you see things like ponds being pumped out onto already sodden fairways, it does make you wonder if they know what they're doing.

Things have dried up nicely with the recent weather, but the greens are dreadful. Bumpy, some fast, some slow, GUR all over the course, it's in worse nick than 2 local muni's.

I could make excuses for the condition, but the attitude of some of the older members (and this is from a 40 year old) is diabolical. I play a lot of solo games when I nip on depending on work, and if it's before lunch there's a more than good chance that you'll get stuck behind a 4 ball. It's happened 4 times in the last week or so, and I haven't been called through once. I've tried hanging back, politely making myself obvious, and even bordering on being a nob and playing too close. I was stuck behind a game today and was waiting on every hole from the 5th on, they had numerous obvious opportunites to let me through but didn't even look at me. When they spent 5 minutes looking for a ball without even looking in my direction I snapped and sent a drive over their heads. Apparently they are going to complain about me !

I'm due to pay the second installment of my fees (another £500) this week and I can't bring myself to write the cheque. I'm on the waiting list at 3 others clubs but it could be months /years before I get in to any of them, if at all. I'm considering becoming a nomad until I get a decision from these 3 clubs, but think I might be looked on more favourably if I'm already a member somewhere else.

I really like being a member of a club, but I'm not paying money to play a goat track full of inconsiderate, ill-mannered to$$ers who haven;t read a rule book for the last 20 years.

Ahhh, feel much better now
Click to expand...

I didn't know you were a member at my course! :D :D

I feel the same sometimes. Talking to the committee is like talking to a brick wall.... a bunch of life's failures who feel like they need a jacket and some power... until they get home and it's "Yes dear, certainly dear".

The game of golf is the thing that is suffering.
 
I feel your pain with the single player situation. I know when I have played at my course sometimes if i have finished work early the "old boys" who can't wait to pick you up on any infringement possible that you might make wouldn't call you through if their lives depended on it.

If the course is in bad nick at this time of year I would look to move elsewhere but waiting lists, costs and proximity to your house / work have got be a factor.

Good luck and don't let the old ..... grind you down

PS I am 40 as well !
 
I've tried playing 2 balls etc, but that doesn't always help and if I'm going for a quick round, I don't see why I should take over 4 hours just because some ignorant old duffers won't play by the rules.

There are plenty of decent courses in the area that I could join, but I don't want to suffer another joining fee until I hear from the 3 courses I really want to join. It'd kill me (and my wife definitely would) if I paid a joining fee and then got into one of the other 3.

Stay where I am or join a cheap track for the time being ?
 
I like to get out for a quick 9 holes now and again and have been lucky so far that I have either been waived through or the hold up not that severe, I think that I would be very unhappy with folk not playing me through to the point where I'd ask to play through, especially if there was a gap in front of them.
 
Hey Colin,To have a rant about the condition of your own private members course is one thing.its your perogative,to bring the 2 local muni's into the equasion is another,i think i know which one's you are referring to.i am a member of one for 20 years or so,and when you get the local scallies nobbing on f.o.c it will get chewed up.If you don't like what your paying for get out or get on with it...not happy with your comments buddy
 
century, didn't mean to slag off someone else's course mate, was just making the point that the 2 muni's (Brackenwood and Arrowe), with higher traffic, probably lower budgets etc are in better nic and in my opinion there's no reason why they should be. It was more a critic of my course than anything else.
 
Life is too short to play on a course you aren't happy with and where you just get frustrated. It is after all supposed to be pleasant and relaxing.

May be better to be a pay and play golfer until you get accepted to one of the three courses on your list.
 
Life is too short to play on a course you aren't happy with and where you just get frustrated. It is after all supposed to be pleasant and relaxing.

May be better to be a pay and play golfer until you get accepted to one of the three courses on your list.
Click to expand...

Golfmmad agrees with Golfman :)

I'd find the situation totally unacceptable - selfish members and a poorly maintained/constructed course doesn't make for enjoyable golf.

I would get out now and use the £500 for green fees as a nomad golfer. You never know Colin, you might just find another gem on your travels!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do :cool:

Golfmmad.
 
I'd be keeping my £500 in my pocket - that'll pay for a lot of pay and play until you hear from on of the three tracks you fancy.

I'd also let the club know why I was going - poor upkeep of the course and poor etiquette from other players when they see a lone player - to be honest were I in your shoes I'd relish the 'complaint' from the fourball you bombed!! The damn well should have waived you through!
 
I have to say not knowing any of the courses its hard to make a subjective suggestion other than leave. You're clearly not happy and it doesn't look as anything will change, even if you make a proactive suggestion, in the near future. Its bound to end up affecting your golf and as thats the reason your there in the first place it seems a relatively simple equation.

For the sake of £500 I'd probably use it on green fees for a while but get in touch with the clubs you are on the list for and see where you stand. At least that way you're have a clearer idea if you are likely to get the nod anytime soon and if not maybe join one of the others if the nomadic approach doesn't appeal
 
Yep, you're wrong. Any group has standing, and has done for some years. A group can be one to 4 players.

Only if there is a local rule in place does a single have no standing.
 
I don't think it is that widely known that single players have standing on the course any more. For years, it wasn't the case and it will certainly take some time for the change to filter through.
 
I had the same issues last year at my old club.Potentially a decent course, a wee bit straight-forward, but good enough.The green keepers however continually had temp greens,even when the weather improved.Members were generally pretty unwelcoming too ( not all of them, but enough to turn you off).Getting a time in a medal was pretty hard, closed shop.Plenty society days meaning we struggled to get a time at weekend...something I find unacceptable for a member to suffer.That was Royal Musselburgh.
We've moved to Kings Acre this year, and for less than we were paying last year.Better practice facilities,USGA greens,friendly staff and members, lower membership numbers,better course,easy entry into medals and just generally more welcoming and a higher standard.
Dont pay the £500, shop about.In Scotland we have SGU cards,greenfeesavers and some other ways of getting reduced fees, I'm sure there is something similiar in your neck of the woods?
 
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