Newbie Joining Club - Intimidated.

[logger123]

Hi,
I am a newbie, only been playing a few weeks so as you can imagine my golf is errmm erratic.
Eg Par 34 - 9 hole took me 60 shots.
I enquired about joining my muni club so I can play as often as I want whilst hacking my way around the course, enjoying myself and learning in the process.
The chairman (or whoever he was) phoned me to say I could join as long as I played in the competitions.
I explained that I dont know how to play and I am having lessons and will be out of my depth even attempting competitions.
He said I couldn't join unless I played in the competitions mosts Sundays. Once again I said I am nowhere near ready but he kept on insisting. I said I would have to think about it and would get back to him.

What do you think?
I do not want to get up at 6am to make a fool of myself BUT I told him I can't play and would gain experience from other players - I might even enjoy myself.
So would I get on your nerves if I was placed with you and took 8 shots on a par 3 or would you enjoy the challenge of showing a hacker the ropes.

 

[cm_qs]

So would I get on your nerves if I was placed with you and took 8 shots on a par 3

Playing with an inexperienced golfer wouldnt get on my nerves at all.
Joining any club which made weekly participation in comps mandatory against my express wishes would right royally p*ss me of!!
If I were you I'd reconsider my choice of club or, since you're just starting out - pay & play and spend the club fees on a couple of lessons to get you going.

Also , if you can find any golfer - experienced or not - on this forum who hasn't ever taken 8 strokes on a par 3 then I'd be astonished.

I once took twelve strokes (including 8 to get out of a 6 foot deep pot bunker) on a par 3 on the Kintyre course at Turnberry.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I concur. Any course that stipulates you have to play in competitions is not worth joining. It is a game to be enjoyed, not some sort of physical and mental assualt course each week. I would derive no enjoyment knowing that I had to play competitively every week (especially the way I am playing) and would miss the Saturday morning roll ups for a £1 a head with my mates which I think is the essence of being a club member.

Don't get me wrong I enter every club event even when I'm not playing well (last place at last weeks club championships!!!!) but I also enjoy mixing with other club members and just having a bit of banter and a pint without the metal toil that comes with trying to put a competitive round together.

As for playing with a newbie, I would have no qualms playing with you providing you had a basic concept of the rules and had good course etiquette (repairing pitch marks, letting groups through etc) and were properly attired.

Other than that as long as you worked at your game (practicing what you learned in your lessons and kept working on the swing basics - grip, posture and alignment) you are welcome to play any time you want

 

[Gazzery]

I totaly agree with the other replies,get yourself to a standard where you feel comfatable to enter comps, i felt the same and ony now feel i can compeat, now my H/C is down to 22.

If you keep up the practise you will soon be at a point to choose which club you join, and there you will gain more confidence, but a club which says you must play in comp sounds very odd to me.

 

[DCB]

I rember trying to get into the club attached to my local muni and finding that I couldn't get in because the membership was full. Having talked to a mate who was a member, he said that it was because so many people joined but didn't play regularly. They didn't want social/house membership because they did play once in a while. As a young keen golfer this made me mad. End result I ended up in a private members club. Been there ever since. Play as many comps as I can.

Get some golf under your belt, go back to the man and ask again, he's only looking for you to be an active member of the club not just a social mamber.

All the best whatever happens.

 

[TonyN]

Me thinks this Guy is just looking for extra cash to line his and his pals pockets with.

I feel that if you pay your subs to a club, you should be able to come and go as you please. May it only be a quiet round twice a week with the same people or full on entry into everything.

Find another club and wait untill you are comfatable before jumping in.

Welcome to the forum, rest assured, you dont have to engage in EVERY post to be a welcome user here.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I will only echo the previous posts in terms of my opinion on actually joining a club that is putting that pressure on you. And as for playing with a beginner golfer I would have no problem at all- what we golfers have to remember is we all were like it once upon a time, and thankfully most golfers accept this.

 

[TWM]

"I do not want to get up at 6am to make a fool of myself"

I once went round in 148 in a competition when I was trying for handicap. This was 43 years ago and the memory of it is just fading to the extent that I can laugh a little bit about it now.

Go round in 120 if you must. Just get the experience.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If you read my article in this months mag you will know how bad my first round ever was. It does get better and you will improve with lessons and playing regularly. If possible try and get a game with someone better tahn yourself and watch and learn. Ask questions. Imitate and see if it works for you (keeping to the swing basics your pro has been teaching). Get a short game (spend hours chipping with every iron, hybrid and fairway wood). Above all remeber it is a leisure activity and don't join anywhere that makes you feel unwanted or pressurised.

In my opinion these guys probably play for a few quid a round and want you to join them to line their pockets seeing you as an easy touch. Don't join. Most decent clubs will let you become a member and let you play as often as you want without having to play in competitions although you will have to put 3 cards in at some point to get your handicap

 

[GB72]

I can agree that being forced to play in comps as a beginner is a bad idea. Just putting that scorecard in your hand adds pressure to a round that you do not need when you are learning. I can appreciate this as I am only now confident in comps and that is after more than a year of playing.

I can appreciate maybe being told to enter a few comps in your first 6 months as it may help with integration into the club but every comp from day one is not good.

Shooting high scores is not a problem and most members will be helpful and sympathetic. My concern would be the hit it may give to your confidence and enjoyment of the game.

 

[viscount17]

I doubt, from the sound of it, that you would be offered any advice by these guys, especially during a competition round. Truth is most people will only offer advice after a competition round.

Of course if you could insist on being in the Captains group and he, then having to wave through everyone else, might see how stupid his idea is.

No, do as others have advised, save the money for lessons.

 

[logger123]

Thanks for all the advice.
I have decided not to join and will continue to pay & play until next Spring.
Too much pressure for a newbie and I know I will make a tit of myself at the moment.
Maybe I was jumping in too soon with joining a club but I thought I would pay my fee to get unlimited golf and be left alone until I got to a stage where I would seek out competitions.
I played today and can feel myself improving, although I still get flustered and rush when people are waiting. I couldn't even wave them throguh as the course was bumper to bumper. The only consolation is my nephew played worse than me so he had the crowds sniggers.
Had a few wicked tee shots, follwed by a nice chip onto the green, follwed by 4 putts grrrrrrrrrr. Putting seems to take up half the score card.
Hey, ho.
P.S. Do they make Golf Patches that you can stick on you arm during the days when I am not playing golf? A bit like nicorettes but they release damp grass into your bloodstream until the next golf fix.

 

[viscount17]

logger, there's no such thing as joining too early, once you know that golf is for you.
joining the right club, that will be helpful and supportive to all its members - now that's the trick.

 

[GB72]

Where abouts are you based Logger?

 

[logger123]

I am in South Wales.
I went out today for a quick round and you would think I have never held a club before.
Everything I learned in the lessons went out the window.
Pre Shot Routine - CHECK
Correct Grip - CHECK
Stance as per lesson 2 - CHECK
Swing - ping 30 yards to the right, left or across the floor.
I was getting right royally peeved.
I couldn't hit a ball and as for chipping it on the green, pffftttt. Over the green by 50 yards, dribble 2 yards, miss the ball completely to shouts of "Practice Shot".
I was actually please to "only" take 3 putts, that's how bad it got.
I lost so many balls that when I got home I was sure I had been robbed.......
And do you know what?
I will still be back out tomorrow to repeat the experience.