Membership

[Potor_36]

Evening all, I'm new to the forum (though I've been reading it for a while) and looking for some advice. Looking at other people's posts asking for advice, I guess it won't be long before someone asks me how long I've been playing and what my handicap is. Well, I've been playing seriously for about 2 years and don't have a handicap, but an 'average' round for me would be in the region of 18-20ish over par.

I have been thinking of becoming a member of my local golf club for some time now and have finally decided to take the plunge and join up. However, since I don't really know anyone there that well - I'm sure there will be people there I recognize and there may even be a few that I know who I didn't realize played the game, I spoke to the secretary and he suggested that the best way to join would be through a 'membership lesson' with the club's pro.

Fair enough I thought, so this morning I booked one for a week next Saturday. After thinking about it for a while though, I'm beginning to wonder exactly what the purpose of this 'lesson' really is - is it just that, a lesson and a chance to get to know the pro, or is it likely to be some sort of test to determine whether I am the sort of person the club would want as a member?

Has anyone on here been through a similar process, and if so, any useful nuggets of advice they wish to share with me?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Whre are you from and where are you thinking of joining. My club has membership days where prospective members get a tour of the club etc and then get to play a free nine holes with the captain, vice captain or members of the board. I'm guessing this club has given that responsibility over to the pro. I don't think it will be a playing lesson or anything like that as a pro would charge for tuition so I'm guessing its an assessment of your ability, etiquette, understanding of the basic rules etc

 

[Potor_36]

Hi Homer, as far as I am aware the lesson is not free and will cost what the pro would normally charge for the 45 minutes. I didn't actually ask though, so I might be wrong. The club is Bury St. Edmunds Golf Club, in Suffolk - I live about 10-15 minutes away. I've played there many times on the 9-hole course, but not the 18-hole as it is pretty pricey if you aren't a member's guest (a nice, well-kept course though by all accounts and if the condition of the 9-hole is anything to go by).

I probably should have mentioned that the club run group interviews for prospective members as part of the application process regardless of how they are introduced, so perhaps the membership lesson is simply to serve as an introduction for people who don't know any existing members?

One of the reasons I was asking is that I haven't ever really played competitively so I may be a little patchy on some rules, etiquette etc. that regular club players would take for granted but I've never come across. I don't want to make a prat of myself