Member or nomad

[Ken_A]

I am a member - personally I love it, there is always the challange of beating your best on a course you know. Just turn up and play, no need to gather playing partners, no need to worry if you can afford 3 rounds on the last week of the month, local pro that knows your swing and I am starting to get to know plenty of other members. Its nice to beable to go 'home'.

I find playing a new course quite frustrating - especially if I play with others that have not played before.I like to know where to play my shot too and whaere the green/ safe areas are etc - even if i cant hit them. I do enjoy playing other courses with members or places I know. This seems to take me out of my comfort zone.

What is your thoughts - Nomad or Member and why.

 

[viscount17]

Member, as you say there is the comfort zone of knowing that a round ia always available, go on your own and the chances are you'll join up with another member if you don't so what, you know the course and you're always going to beat it (aren't you?).

At the same time I like playing new courses. I may not play them well but it just adds another dimension, especially when they don't have course plans, there are few 'Next Tee' signs and the course criss-crosses itself.

 

[cm_qs]

Member - I play most of my golf at night, after work, during the week and on a whim. With a young family, weekends are not ideal for playing golf for me and the flexibility of deciding to squeeze just a few holes in before it gets dark without having to prearrange partners etc. is ideal for me. There are a handful of other members in exactly the same position as me and I know that if I go to the course at half six on any weekday evening that at least one of these guys is likely to be there to pick up a bounce game.

 

[Molly]

I am a nomad.

In fact, I am the King of the Nomads....I am secretary for the Istead Rise Golf Society - I only got the job as the incumbant announced his retirement at the agm and asked for volunteers....the silence was deafening, so I said yes. That was 5 years ago!

We play once a month as a society and have a nice mix of members and nomads in the group. We play all over Kent and into Surrey and Essex on occassion. I try to mix up the courses with some we have not played before or for a few years, but there are only so many within an hour of where we live - maximum most want to travel.

Outside of the society, I am still nomadic, though usually across 3 or 4 courses. I also have a young family so can't guarantee that I can get out every weekend or during the week as I work in London and bythe time I get home, most of the light is gone. I can't justify the annual subs to commit to one club as I never know how often I will get to play. It varies from once a month to 4 or 5 if the wife is feeling generous - or wants my credit card!

I would love to be able to join a club and have a regular outing as I do like to play the same course over and again as for the reasons above. Maybe sometime next year...? That said, I find that there is a lot of satisfaction in winning a society day on a new track with a socre in excess of 36 points; beat your handicap, beat your mates and beat a course you don't know. Excellent feeling.

 

[Parmo]

I am kinda in the middle, I play the same Municipal week in and out yet not a member. All the private clubs around me that I could afford see to play comps with the same groups all the time and as a single golfer now I am looking for the social side of things.

 

[iwtuk]

Outside of the society, I am still nomadic, though usually across 3 or 4 courses. I also have a young family so can't guarantee that I can get out every weekend or during the week as I work in London and bythe time I get home, most of the light is gone. I can't justify the annual subs to commit to one club as I never know how often I will get to play. It varies from once a month to 4 or 5 if the wife is feeling generous - or wants my credit card!

I would love to be able to join a club and have a regular outing as I do like to play the same course over and again as for the reasons above. Maybe sometime next year...?

Nomad for exactly the same reasons. A young family (unlike myself!) and rather expensive clubs around my area mean I'm probably staying that way for the foreseeable future! That said, I play the same 3-4 courses but don't have that luxury of rolling-up and getting a game; everything needs planning with military precision around the little ones and HID's work commitments, only to find, more often than not, that torrential rain has made the entire exercise a waste of energy!

Still, wouldn't stop for the world

 

[rgs]

Member in my second season and also secretary of a golf society for the past 10 years a task i enjoy.

 

[OldWindy]

Overall, prefer it as a member but I do like to play as many different courses whenever possible. Suffice to say, there really aren't that many round these here parts. If I lived in Fife I would be in golfing heaven...

 

[andiritchie]

iam a member but thinking of not bothering next year as its all too competitve wear i play and playing in silence does not suit me one bit,prob join somewhere in scotland as a county member though as i go up once a month anyway

 

[teetime72]

I`m similar to Parmo,same muni twice a week(Duxbury Park Chorley ),although there are rumours it is going to turn into a pay & play next yr.If this happens we will be looking to join a local club where we usually have a couple of games a month in addition to the muni.

 

[andiritchie]

where else do you play teetime played duxbury a few times last year

 

[teetime72]

WE play Shaw Hill&Preston G C mainly,occasionally Lytham & Blackpool.Expensive clubs we use 2 4 1 when we can.I think Duxbury,when dry,is an excellent course to play,certainly as good as some private ones.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Member.

I have been virtually living up the club this summer. Was fortunate to have 4 weeks off to do nothing but play and work on my game and even now I'm back at work I'm still hitting balls, practicing my game and touching up my putting.

Not only can I wander out any time for a few holes or hit some balls etc but I know that if I pop in the bar after for a quick diet coke there will always be someone to have a chat and laugh with. If it wasn't for the members making me feel so welcome (and loads are coming up now asking when I'm next in GM or what I'm up to on here) I'd find it hard to justify the high cost for the course alone.

That said I also enjoy the competitions most weekends and the challenge and banter of trying to take money off my normal Saturday fourball. We all know each others strengths and weaknesses and no quarter is given or asked. I think it helps the game playing a course you know well as you know which holes you can take liberty's with and those where bogey will often be good enough

 

[andiritchie]

what is shaw hills membership fees a friend of mine used to play there in the 90s and he was paying 1200 then good course though as for dubury not a bad layout does tend to get wet though

 

[GB72]

I love being a member. The most basic benfit for me is that it is simply the cheaper option. With the amount I have played this year it will probably work out at less than £10.00 a round and I am not sure that I could justify the £30-£40 per round it would cost to pay and play in my area.

The main reason for membership for me at the moment now is that I am now never short of a round. My regular 4 ball play other sports as well so are not always around and my other mates are only up for the occasional round. Since joining I have me many other people who are happy to play or am normally able to just pick up a game if I turn up.

I am also now starting to enjoy the comps as well. It brings back the competitive edge that I have missed since giving up rugby.

I can see the attraction of playing many other courses but the nomad life is not really for me.

 

[USER1999]

Member. I play maybe four times a week, I know lots of people to play with, it is my second home, there are comps, practice area, swindles, bar (lets not ignore it), handicap, comittee to moan at (where would I be without this), saturday breakfast, club matches, section matches, stupid winter foursomes, god I love it.

 

[RGuk]

I love being a member. The most basic benfit for me is that it is simply the cheaper option. With the amount I have played this year it will probably work out at less than £10.00 a round and I am not sure that I could justify the £30-£40 per round it would cost to pay and play in my area.

QED.

If i was a rich man, dum di dum di dum di dum di dum di dum di dum di daaaaaaaa.

Start on a concert "D"......you'll get it.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I have been a member since the start of this year and it is my first experience of golf club membership and I certainly will be renewing my membership when the time arises. I would perhaps have liked to find more people who I can play with regularly, but other than that it has fulfilled all my expectations. Everybody is incredibly friendly and there is always somebody to chat to but everybody who has been there for a while already has regular playing partners so is not looking for another.

 

[DCB]

Been a member of my club since the mid 80s. It's not just about playing golf, it's a way of life!