Joining a golf club

[Timh27]

As most of you know i am fairly new to golf and looking to join a club in the new year. I was discussing this with a mate of mine yesterday who is a member of Ferndown Forest golf club who reckons it is best to join Ferndown Forest for the my 1st year while i learn the game then move on to a better course after that when i am a better player.

Ferndown Forest is a fairly short course which is 5014 yards off the medal tees is fairly flat and not to busy. It is only £525 for the year and if i join in February i get 2 months membership free. The other plus is that it is just round the corner and in the summer you can tee off as soon as it gets light before anyone else arrives so i could get atleast 3 games in a week in the summer instead of 1-2 at other clubs.

On the other hand my instinct tells me that it would be better to join a better course and it would be a waste of time to join a club for 1 year. For those of you in Dorset or have played in Dorset the other clubs i am considering is Canford Magna, Crane Valley and Moors Valley.

I am playing Moors Valley tomorrow and plan to play Canford Magna and Crane Valley in January with the idea of making a final decision at the end of January start of February.

I am just after peoples opinions really as to wether it would be worth joining a club for 1 year to 'learn the game' then move on to a better course?

 

[Ethan]

I don't know these clubs, but the general principle seems sensible. Join a club that is not too difficult or expensive so you can get your game in shape and figure out what you want from a golf club before joining somewhere more expensive.

Having said that £525 for a 5000 yard course does not immediately strike me as a bargain, but maybe that is the going rate in your area.

 

[Smiffy]

I guess it boils down to how much it is likely to cost you to join one of the other clubs you mention compared to the shorter one. If prices are similar then I would say go for it straight away.
If they are a lot more expensive then the cheaper course may be the way to go initially. At least you will find out if the "competitive" nature of club golf appeals to you without it costing an arm and a leg.
If you have a joining fee to pay on top of the £525.00 I would advise against it, as you are just wasting your money if you only intend on being there a year.
Hope that makes sense????

 

[Canfordhacker]

I know all of those courses - from my name you can guess where I play. Ferndown Forest is good value to be able to play a lot and get your eye in, so long as there's no joining fee - it's always seemed like a friendly place too when I've been to the range there. Crane Valley is a better course, but some of the holes are aren't the biggest challenge. Moors Valley can be a real test, especially in the summer when the ground is hard. At Canford, for £900 you get three courses so you can pretty much always get a game - Knighton is great for your short game, Riverside is nowhere near the challenge of the Parkland.

End of the day you should play them all - but if there's no joining fee at Ferndown Forest that may be your best bet. Good luck!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Don't be put off by yardages. Wimbledon Common where I grew up is only 5438 off the whites (par 68) and yet is no pushover as it is on commonland (the clue is in the name) and so plays almost links like in that the fairways are fast and bumpy (good tee shots kicking into the rough left or right aren't uncommon) and the greens are small and quick. The biggest plus for Ferndown if I was you is the accessibility and the amount of golf you'd be able to get in during the year. If they have a fairly active competition diary preferably drawn so you get to play with as many members as you can, then you'll be able to work at getting the handicap down readily too

 

[Timh27]

Sorry forgot to mention there is no joining fee at Ferndown Forest.