Joining a club???

richy

richy

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Feb 9, 2010
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Evening,

I was wondering if anybody on here had joined a club by themselves. Ive been playing for around 6 months and have decided to join my first club. Only problem is Ive no one to join with. Before all the jokes start I have got mates, they just dont play golf. I currently play with my Dad, who wont join a club yet for some bizzare reason. My brother in law but he lives to far away to join the same club. And one of my best mates is moving to oz in about 3 months so he wont.

I know Im an adult and this sounds like Im scared but I think it would be more fun to join with someone I know.

Sorry for the long post but can anyone share their experiences?

Cheers
 
I haven't been a member of a club for years now, but I wouldn't hesitate to join a club by myself.

I'm sure it's no different to years ago.

Once you join, just get involved with as many medals and swindles etc as you can. The pro will pair you up with different members, so you don't have to go looking for people to play with.

And there are few golfers out there that you wont have something in common to talk about.
 
I did and whilst I know plenty of people now, I really wish I had asked whether there were regular roll ups and whether competitions were drawn. These are ideal ways of meeting playing partners but unfortunately they do not exist at my club. Even competitions are played in any 3 ball so most play in their regular groupings. I had no choice other than to pitch up at the club and look for a game (or ask the pro who generally tries to match people up who do not have a game). It is not hard to fnd a few decent people to play with but I also had a few weeks when I pitched up and could not find a game.
 
If your club have drawn comps then get your name down for some, as you will meet lots of members that way.

I also think that going in the bar after a knock is a good way to mingle and meet people.
 
I joined on my own in September & everyone has made me feel extremely welcome. The sheets for Saturday & Sunday go up the week before and you just put your name down and off you go. Everyone has been more than happy to play.

Having said that, I also have a friend who joined another club and has left there as it was extremely cliquey and he struggled to get a game with people as they all had their set times each week & weren't interested in others.

He was there three years before giving up and joining another club where he knew more people. An expensive mistake with joining fees over £1,500.

It is an expensive commitment to make so take your time & chat to members, the pro & secretary before deciding. Just don't rush in. Most clubs are crying out for members at the moment so its very much a buyers market.
 
I have joined my last 2 clubs as a single player and my advise is that whilst drawn comps do get you meeting new people it is not necessarily a way to meet new mates. The club I am at now is fantastic, the guys I play with are very welcoming and I am getting to know them more every week, however my last club had drawn comps and that meant playing with different people every week and that left me on no more than nodding terms with the people I played with as the following week I was with someone new.I never was really accepted at the club and even after a year I was just a stranger to most. I suppose it depends on the guy's at a club and how welcoming they are prepared to be.I would go into the proshop and ask if there are any new members in the same boat that are looking for a playing partner also.
 
Dont worry about it. Most clubs have support for newbies. Roll up. Other peole in the same boat etc...
Take the plunge and be open minded about who you play with.
When I joined a club on my tod, my regular partner was fantastic company and a far better golfer than me, and also 30 years older with a limp.
Go figure
 
Take the plunge. My club holds open days for prospective members so they can get a feel for the place and the course and are actively encouraged to get involved once they join. Our competitions are drawn so its easy to meet other members and there are a numer of weekend greedies (swindles or whatever they are called at your place) that its easy to into and play wih others.
 
Be a Man there's no need 2 be anxious after your first visit on comp day u will go home thinking wot all the fuss was about
 
I have just joined on my own in november there as moved back to NI, I was previously a member 3 years ago but I didnt really know anyone as I was only really getting into the game. They dont have roll ups, and the main comps are saturdays where the fourballs have been together for years so getting a reg game is a nightmare, but at least I call into the pro shop and get out with a group, maybe a diff one every week but least its a game, and I have met a lot of diff people. Also put my name down for ulster cup and jimmy bruen, which are comp for handicap players which is something we didnt have in england.
good luck fella... JT
 
My club is pretty good for new members. We have a Captain's Swindle every Sunday at 9.30am(except on Medal days) and all are welcome. We also have open days for prospective new members and an Open pairs competition which is only open to members who bring a guest player.

On the club wesite there is also a section with names and phone numbers of people looking for a game/playing partner.
 
Thanks for the advice guys, thats pretty much what I hoped. I think I'll speak to the pro Ive been getting lessons off and hopefuly he might be able to introduce me to others like me or pair me up with someone for a game.

Cheers everyone
 
A good pro will make sure you get to know people and introduce you. If you're quite handy and coming down, you'll also get asked to play with people as part of their teams. People are often looking for new talent!
 
I'm just echoing the thoughts already mentioned.
I joined on my own in march and have only played one comp yet due to work etc but I was made very welcome by the people I played with and I can't wait to play in my next comp.

Good luck..... :)
 
go for it Richy,
My workmatre got me into playing golf about 6 years ago now and i joined the club he was a member at which was a little 9 holer.However after 12 months i broke 80 and i thought i needed more of a challenge. He wouldnt leave so i was forced to go it alone and took the plunge and joined an 18 holer about a mile away.I was there for about 18 months and really struggled to get to meet anyone.Everyone seemed to have there usual playing partners and didnt like to see a new face. Anyway, to cut a bit of a long story short i went to another club for a course of lessons about 3 miles away and the pro suggested i joined there and basically he got me in with lots of people and helped me along with everything. Ive now been at my New club about a year and im absolutley made up. Ive a regular playing partner but if i ever went up on my tod there are loads of guys asking you to join them. So, i suggest you try and book some lessons with the pro at the club you are thinking of joining and tell him of your concerns and im sure he will help you as mine did.. Good Luck :)
 
I'd agree that life will be considerably easier if your club has drawn comps, mates comps (which I don't agree with) can be hard to break into, but check whether your club holds a few tee times for roll ups on medal days - these might be early.
Depending on the times you can play don't discount the seniors, usually happy to let you join up and many have a good game - may not hit as far but straight.
 
richy

Go for it, I joined my first club on my own last year in March, I join in all the comp's, which are drawn, and have met a variety of people some good some not so good, but generally they have been very good to me and have made me feel welcomed.
I was also asked to represent the club in some mixed matches last year after I had played in some mixed/fun comps at my course, and I'm no great player far from it (h/c25) although I do have a played four won four when representing the club.

In January this year in one of the comp I was playing with a new member (december) h/c12 we had such a good laugh that I asked him if he wanted to join up with me in this years comps. Since then we have had a 1st a 3rd and a 8th place, and we really do enjoy eachother's company.

So my opinion is, yes go and join, it was one of the best decision i have made in the last 25 years.
 
Because someone on the forum is bound to be a member of a course near by that could get you on/ introduce you/ mark you card etc!

They strike me as a friendly bunch...
 
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