Joined my first club yesterday

[KhalJimbo]

I joined on a flexible membership which is £99 a year but gives me a discount on my green fees, so my normal £18 twilight is now only costing me £13.

Its Pentland Golf and they have 3 courses Boughton Golf Course, Etching Hill Golf Course and Pendham Place Golf Course. Suits all my needs, cheaper green fees, can still take part in competitions and maintain a handicap. I don't have any plans to start joining competitions yet since I am not shooting under 100 yet so no point really, but can't wait until I do and until I get my first handicap!

 

[chrisd]

Some good holes at all those courses.

 

[KhalJimbo]

It came down to two clubs both on flexi memberships. Chestfield or Boughton.

I just felt Boughton was a bit easier and more forgiving for me, I also prefer the fairways at Boughton, the seem a bit better manicured to me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Good news. Will you be getting the handicap sorted soon. Enjoy being a member. Nothing better

 

[spongebob59]

I joined on a flexible membership which is £99 a year but gives me a discount on my green fees, so my normal £18 twilight is now only costing me £13.

Its Pentland Golf and they have 3 courses Boughton Golf Course, Etching Hill Golf Course and Pendham Place Golf Course. Suits all my needs, cheaper green fees, can still take part in competitions and maintain a handicap. I don't have any plans to start joining competitions yet since I am not shooting under 100 yet so no point really, but can't wait until I do and until I get my first handicap!

I'd get the cards in now, as you'll lose the higher scores anyway. When you feel ready to enter the comps and not under pressure to get cards in for the handicap under competition conditions.

 

[Andkemp]

I joined on a flexible membership which is £99 a year but gives me a discount on my green fees, so my normal £18 twilight is now only costing me £13.

Its Pentland Golf and they have 3 courses Boughton Golf Course, Etching Hill Golf Course and Pendham Place Golf Course. Suits all my needs, cheaper green fees, can still take part in competitions and maintain a handicap. I don't have any plans to start joining competitions yet since I am not shooting under 100 yet so no point really, but can't wait until I do and until I get my first handicap!

I joined a club just over 2 years ago. I played off and on for a few years prior but had no handicap. Wished I'd done it sooner. I shot mostly in the 90's but had a score in low 80's so knew it was possible. My mate played from junior so got the cards in and played medals straight away with my challenge to get close to his level. First season got a couple of wins which boosted confidence as never won anything before. Don't worry about scores just get out and play the competitions with a touch of pressure it's great. Good luck

 

[Foliage Finder]

This has perked my interest! Are flexi memberships commonplace? I've been thinking that I'd have to shell out around £400 per year for a subsidised younger age bracket membership which has stopped me from looking properly.

Good luck with the new membership, hope it helps! Exciting times.

 

[KhalJimbo]

I'd get the cards in now, as you'll lose the higher scores anyway. When you feel ready to enter the comps and not under pressure to get cards in for the handicap under competition conditions.

Not sure what you mean here? Are you saying I should be taking part in the competitions even though I'm not shooting under 100 yet?

 

[chellie]

Not sure what you mean here? Are you saying I should be taking part in the competitions even though I'm not shooting under 100 yet?

My answer would be Yes. Get your handicap and get in the competitions. There'll be lots of people who don't shoot under 100 in one so don't worry about that.

 

[KhalJimbo]

My answer would be Yes. Get your handicap and get in the competitions. There'll be lots of people who don't shoot under 100 in one so don't worry about that.

Cool! In that case as soon as I get my login I'll start joining the competitions.

 

[KhalJimbo]

Another question here, is it only through competitions that I can gain a handicap, or is there more to it than that? I know I need to submit at least 3 cards, but not entirely sure how to go about it. I know I can't just submit my own score cards after a round.

Guess I have a lot more questions to ask at the club still.

 

[chrisd]

Another question here, is it only through competitions that I can gain a handicap, or is there more to it than that? I know I need to submit at least 3 cards, but not entirely sure how to go about it. I know I can't just submit my own score cards after a round.

Guess I have a lot more questions to ask at the club still.

To put in your cards, most clubs require you to log in the book that you are doing a card for handicap purposes before you start. You need to go out with someone who can act as a marker for you and sign to validate the cards and to sign them yourself before submitting to wherever, at your club, you are required to do

 

[duncan mackie]

To put in your cards, most clubs require you to log in the book that you are doing a card for handicap purposes before you start. You need to go out with someone who can act as a marker for you and sign to validate the cards and to sign them yourself before submitting to wherever, at your club, you are required to do

Are you not mixing the supplemental rules here Chris?

We require 3 X 18 hole cards on the home course signed by any member played at any time within a 6 month period . Not all 3 can be signed by the same member.

To the OP - I think the suggestion was to start getting cards in for handicap sooner rather than later; by the time you get the third in you should be able to get a handicap of some sort! You will need a handicap to compete in competitions - whether you can play in a competition field to get a handicap card will be up to the club's rules but I wouldn't recommend it to a new player for a number of reasons.

 

[KhalJimbo]

Are you not mixing the supplemental rules here Chris?

We require 3 X 18 hole cards on the home course signed by any member played at any time within a 6 month period . Not all 3 can be signed by the same member.

To the OP - I think the suggestion was to start getting cards in for handicap sooner rather than later; by the time you get the third in you should be able to get a handicap of some sort! You will need a handicap to compete in competitions - whether you can play in a competition field to get a handicap card will be up to the club's rules but I wouldn't recommend it to a new player for a number of reasons.

Right, thanks. So what do I need to do to start getting a handicap? Do I just go out and play and submit a card after? So long as someone has signed it that is. I thought that you can only get one via playing in competitions\matches?

 

[duncan mackie]

Right, thanks. So what do I need to do to start getting a handicap? Do I just go out and play and submit a card after? So long as someone has signed it that is. I thought that you can only get one via playing in competitions\matches?

Your club will have its rules regarding who can sign the card; congu (currently) require it to be played on your home course. There are generally few restrictions because it's only your best card that will count (best may not be the lowest gross so don't double guess the system ). Normally you are required to have the card signed by a member with a handicap but different clubs have different interpretations of CONGU'S requirement for it to be signed by a 'competent individual'

Good luck and enjoy your golf

 

[KhalJimbo]

Your club will have its rules regarding who can sign the card; congu (currently) require it to be played on your home course. There are generally few restrictions because it's only your best card that will count (best may not be the lowest gross so don't double guess the system ). Normally you are required to have the card signed by a member with a handicap but different clubs have different interpretations of CONGU'S requirement for it to be signed by a 'competent individual'

Good luck and enjoy your golf

Excellent, thanks. I'll speak to my club and see what they recommend. I currently don't have any friends that are handicapped (that I play with or are members at my home club), so will need to see if the club has events where I can start playing with other members who could sign my cards.

 

[chellie]

Excellent, thanks. I'll speak to my club and see what they recommend. I currently don't have any friends that are handicapped (that I play with or are members at my home club), so will need to see if the club has events where I can start playing with other members who could sign my cards.

The club Pro should know who will be happy to go out with you to mark your cards I know ours did for HID and he also got him started off with a small group who played on a Sunday morning. For me, I had loads of offers from the Ladies section. I'd been having beginners lessons at the club but neither of us knew anyone else there before joining.

 

[KhalJimbo]

The club Pro should know who will be happy to go out with you to mark your cards I know ours did for HID and he also got him started off with a small group who played on a Sunday morning. For me, I had loads of offers from the Ladies section. I'd been having beginners lessons at the club but neither of us knew anyone else there before joining.

Cool, I will speak to the pro and see what he says. Going to pop into the driving range tonight for a bit of practice, so will ask then 😀

 

[Bert]

Would thoroughly recommend getting your handicap sorted now, even though you may feel as if you're not ready for it. I put my three cards in straight away and got 27 I had a nett 98 so scored over 100 . Entered my first competition the week after getting it. Played off the whites which I have never done scored 21 points (didn't come last I will add & I was chuffed to bits) but I loved minute off it. The experience of playing with a card in your hand is so exhilarating and is something I thought I would never do three months ago.

 

[KhalJimbo]

Ok, I've just checked my last two rounds on the App I use to keep track of my scores and they were Net 89 and Net 85. Will get some cards in asap, plan on playing Friday so will try get a card in then.