Membership for the first time! Help!

[DaveyG]

Hi Guys,

Been playing for a year or so and love the game so much. Playing either rane or a course atleast 5 times a week and as you can imagine its all adding up. Im starting to think being a member will actually be cheaper! The closest course (literally 5 minutes walk) is Great Barr and they have an open day on saturday!

I asked the missus to marry me last week on holiday and obviously we have to start saving but if i have a membership it will keep me out of the pubs and clubs as i will want to be fresh on the weekends... Amazingly HID agreed with my way of thinking and gave the go ahead. We went to look at the course today and i instantly felt at home and excited standing on the first tee the course is amazing as i am used to council/pay n plays. My worries are is the club to advanced for me. My golf has really improved and my pro thinks if i can learn to put i should be a single figure player. At the moment though my confidence falls to pieces when i play with good goflfers... I seem to put so much more preaaure on ten when i go with the lads for a knock.

I am going to the open day and knowing me i will just get carried away an hand over a large amount of money...

Has anyone got any advice for what i should look out for other than all the sales talk and the fact the course looks amazing. I might be joining with a friend but he said if the money is right so it could be me alone. I worry they might not be afriedly bunch and i struggle to get people to play with.

Apologies for spelling mistake but if you could see the state of my smashed up iphone you would see why.

Thanks

Heres the course

www.greatbarrgolfclub.co.uk/

I have looked at many comparisons but for money we have gone down to 1 car and being bery close to home will prove invaluable.

 

[full_throttle]

ask about entry to competitions, social events, ease of getting a game, tee time bookings etc etc

 

[GreiginFife]

Agree with full throttle on the ease of getting a game part and comps. The course can be as great as it likes but that's no good to you if you can't get a game.
I wouldn't think of a club as being too advanced, you play the game mate you are as entitled to be a member of a club as anyone else of any ability.

 

[Aztecs27]

Just from looking at the course website, and the fact you live 5 minutes walk away - seems like a no brainer to me!

Looks to be a lovely course. I've recently changed clubs and gone from a nice course in great condition which is half an hour's drive away to a course in ok condition that's 10 minutes away and cheaper. It wouldn't be my first choice of club necessarily, but they're pumping money into the place for improvements, everyone there is friendly and it offers a better challenge than my previous course (some tighter tee shots, not all lies are flat and some of the bunker placements are genius) so should help me improve as a golfer.

Having a course close to your house (especially THAT close) will prove invaluable in improving your game as you can wander down for a few holes every day after work or even first thing in the morning.

Best of luck with it!

 

[duncan mackie]

course looks a god one to develop your game - the right sort of balance between length and layout.

reading behind the visitor and societly arrangements it appears that the members focus is on weekend mornings and that there aren't any closed off periods for members during the week - this may be 'before 0800h' .

the guest fees for members look excellent, and the weekend restrictions re handicap etc reasonable, again you should find these work for you.

full throttle has raised the key issues to establish

personally, if you go in with an open mind and want to develop your golf, you will generally find most clubs friendly and accomodating.

Finally, I would be surprised if they are still charging a joining fee - in some ways it's actually encouraging because it suggests a club that people want to join ie it's delivering...

 

[matts1984]

Agree with what everyone above has said.....also try and get a free round first to see what you think

 

[mcbroon]

Just do it. I joined my local course last year in similar circumstances - I didn't know anyone but it 's 5 mins from the house.

The club secretary introduced me to the pro (and the bar staff ) and the pro fixed me up with games in the medals. I now have a regular playing partner and have got to know a good few people round the place.

Another tip, take HID up for a drink/lunch some day as well. I took my wife and daughter up not long after joining (when the wee one was only 4 months old). To be honest, I was a bit worried about how she'd be looked on in the clubhouse, given her tendency to make a noise and a mess, but everyone was very welcoming. The pro even stopped in to introduce himself to my missus and see the baby.

Do it. You won't regret it.

 

[DaveyG]

Thanks guys, i dont think they are goong to need to sell this too hard but im going to try and hold out for no joining fee.

 

[full_throttle]

if you join, I'd be very interested in joining you as a guest, that way I can always play again with my county card.

 

[macca64]

going thru similar,if two of you join, MIGHT,get a small discount

 

[Stub]

Ask about roll-ups, they are a great way of meeting and playing with members and my experience is that they have a mix of abilities and types and are very friendly.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If they have an open day go along and make yourself known. Look the place over top to bottom and ask all the questions you can. Maybe suggest you are dead keen to joing but would like to play the course first and see if you can score a free or discounted round. No point joining if you don't like the course

 

[PIng]

Go for it! I've just joined a club (North Worcestershire) because of the introductory offer - I can play unlimited golf for about £12 per week, it was costing me £16 for one round at the municipal. Played 4 full rounds so far and it would have been more if work and weather didn't keep getting in the way. It's a very friendly place and apart from competition days you don't need to book. The quality of the course is great and you don't get kids arseing around on the greens.

If you join at this time of year you'll probably find several new members looking for a game, just ask the pro, Likewise, once I get my handicap I can ask the pro to put me in the competitions with other high handicappers.

If the clubhouse has a function room you could hold your wedding reception there!

 

[Crow]

Reading the website it appears a very nice course and a well run club.

The only thing I'd say is that it looks to be a very traditional club, especially if all the comments on the website are adhered to. Obviously I don't know you personally and this might be one of the attractions for you but it could be a problem for some.
My advice would be go to the open day and meet as many members as you can and see how you get on with them, if you don't get on with the members it doesn't matter how good the course is.

(I've never heard of a general club, ie not a show course such as Woburn or The Belfry, where visitors must have a minimum 21 handicap and bring their handicap certificate to prove it.)