Just joined a club and new to competition!

[rayzer88]

Hi everyone, im 23 and just joined my local club after having stopped playing around 8 years ago.

I've never played in a comp before and im really looking forward to start playing. Since ive started playing again i've only been playing with my older brother (whos new to the game and who has also joined the same club)

We are both high handicappers and will obviously be playing in the high handicap section of comps and i was just wondering how the rules work and if we would be able to go out together in the comps until we get used to the way things work?

Im excited to get playing in the comps and meeting new people...just looking for some continuity to get me started!

Thanks everyone

 

[GB72]

Depends on your club, some have drawn competitions where your group is picked at random and some let you play in your own groups. My advice,just get stuck in, get used to playing with strangers and get to know people.

 

[rayzer88]

Yea, im looking forward to getting stuck in and getting into the spirit of the club

At least my club has a high handicap section (like i expect most do!) it will be less embarassing as i'll be playing with players of roughly the same ability

I have a feeling they may not take too kindly to me playing with my brother..due to cheating etc. Though cheating just isn't worth it. I couldn't stand the fact of having a handicap that my ability had earned

 

[BluenoseGolfer]

Same situation for me! Although I am a tad nervous, I get nervous even playing with a friend of a friend who I don't know

 

[philly169]

I agree with GB, just get stuck in. I joined my club on my own so had to do the comps with random members. I was a high handicapper and new the odd rule, but every member i have played with has been nice, let them know your new and this is your first comp.

I still find myself in a position and asking my playing partners what the ruling is for a certain situation.

Once you get the first couple out of the way, you'll become relaxed and start enjoying them more. I think i've done around 8 or 9 comps now and only just starting hitting form, and won last weeks medal.

So be prepared for your first HC to go up a few 0.1's before it goes down a few 0.4's!

just enjoy it.

 

[bladeplayer]

Same situation for me! Although I am a tad nervous, I get nervous even playing with a friend of a friend who I don't know

Playing with strangers will improve your game a bit .. hard to explain but it does . esp playing with people better than you .. nervous is very natrual , just get ye'r names down & get playing, most golfers are dead sound , youl always encounter the odd tit but hey ..
p.s love the avatar

 

[rosecott]

Yea, im looking forward to getting stuck in and getting into the spirit of the club

At least my club has a high handicap section (like i expect most do!) it will be less embarassing as i'll be playing with players of roughly the same ability

I have a feeling they may not take too kindly to me playing with my brother..due to cheating etc. Though cheating just isn't worth it. I couldn't stand the fact of having a handicap that my ability had earned

I can't see any problem in playing with your brother but most clubs will expect your cards for handicap to be marked by a member who already has a handicap. That way there is no question mark over your cards.

 

[Richie13]

Same situation for me! Although I am a tad nervous, I get nervous even playing with a friend of a friend who I don't know

Playing with strangers will improve your game a bit .. hard to explain but it does . esp playing with people better than you .. nervous is very natrual , just get ye'r names down & get playing, most golfers are dead sound , youl always encounter the odd tit but hey ..
p.s love the avatar

your comment about playing with strangers, is completely true i play a few rounds with friends and im crap 123,122,124 yet i go on my own, get paired up with a stranger and i shoot my pb of 107, then 112 and then 109

then i tell my mates and they dont belive me!!!

cant wait to join a club will wait untill i have a car next month or so and then my options increase as im able to travel easier, looking to jump head first next season!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My club has a lot of informal roll ups especially at weekends and new members are always welcome to join (may be know as a greedie or swindle). Ask the pro or secretary if yours has any as its a great way to get your face known and to get a regular game. Again, my club has drawn competitions where you enter in the shop and then they draw you for partners and start time and so it is another way of mixing with other members.

Don't be put off and try and get to know a few faces. Everyone feels the same when they join. Get you handicap cards in asap so you can play the comps and enjoy it. Thats why you pay the money.

 

[rayzer88]

My club has a nine hole "fun" comp as they call it, every wednesday evening. I joined yesterday evening and there was a fair few turned out to play while i was in sorting the membership out. I dont know if it is age restricted as i overheard a guy in his 60s saying that he wasn't going to play with a kid of about 10 as he is a bandit!

Im thinking of playing a few of these over the next few weeks to ease me into it

 

[moorzo1980]

Rayzer i only recently joined my local club and only knew a handful of people but through playing every week in the comps i am now one of the familar faces.
The first comp u will be petrified!! But ur fellow members will help u whether its rules or just general queries over how to play certain shots.
Good luck and hopefully ur handicap will start to drop

 

[oltimer]

At my club I play with a lot of newcomers in your position and who feel the same way you do, I tell them "DON`T WORRY YOU CAN`T DO ANYTHING THAT I HAVEN`T ALREADY DONE"
You`ll learn more by playing with other Members, you can see how to do it by watching the better players and how not to do it watching those worse than you and believe me no matter how bad you feel you are there will always be someone worse than you.
Playing in Comps is no different than playing with your mates apart from the Rules cannot be ignored.

 

[Curls]

Had my first comp a couple of weekends ago, was teamed up with my usual playing partner (his first comp too) and a really nice fella, the guy was playing and a member for years and was so helpful, really enjoyable experience. Was a bit nervous on the first tee but after that it was cool, didn't play out of my skin by any means but came 3rd! Kept the silly scores off my card, thats the trick, if in any doubt ask the guys you're with for a ruling and just play ball.

Enjoy it chap, you only have your first time once ;-)

 

[jamstorr86]

I can't wait to get my first three cards in and get my handicap. I met the club captain last week, who was really nice and offered to take me out so I can hand card in, as I don't know anyone else at the club.

I feel reluctant though to hand a card in as I know on that round I will tense up and play bad.

 

[Curls]

I can't wait to get my first three cards in and get my handicap. I met the club captain last week, who was really nice and offered to take me out so I can hand card in, as I don't know anyone else at the club.

I feel reluctant though to hand a card in as I know on that round I will tense up and play bad.

Well you should count yourself very lucky indeed.

Its really good to hear of a club where the Captain is that involved he'd take out a rookie for his card. Chances are he just wants to see how you behave on the course, do you replace divots, repair pitch marks etc. The score doesnt matter, you'll hand in 3 cards and chances are they'll just take the best one anyway, so dont worry about it and go out and have fun!

 

[HickoryShaft]

As a recent convert to competitions I would say 'dive in and enjoy'

I only played my first this year and was very nervous but as said by others most people you play with are very relaxed about the whole thing.

I have gone from being nervous as hell to trying to enter as many as possible - have done well in a few and not so well in others but I really look forward to them now.

Playing the medal tomorrow and can't wait. My regular partner is on holiday so its two new people to meet and learn from.