Nomad golfing

[thecraw]

With the wettest summer in 100 years now behind us and into autumn which has also started with more of the wet stuff should I just become a nomad golfer? It certainly won't be any more expensive. It'll be a hell of a lot cheaper. I can play open competitions every week for £10-£20 on top quality courses of my choice, I can take advantage of excellent deals to play due to clubs all over the country struggling financially and I can hope for the odd invite here and there.

I'm £800+ for an average track which is soaking wet. 90% of the inland courses in Scotland must be in the same boat and I'm just not prepared to pay that sort of money any more to (A) play on a poor conditioned course (B) play for a maximum of 6-7 months a year and probably most importantly (C) not enjoy playing my golf in said conditions.

I can easily keep my handicap nowadays plus I'll hopefully still be a member of another course about 150 miles away that I can play the required 3 medal rounds plus I intend to play "opens".

If I play 2 Opens a month from April - September with and average of £15 entry fee each that's only £180 to play different courses that I want to play.

I've always said that being a member was the best form of golf however I'm now not so sure. There are many many advantages of being nomad now in this climate.

Thoughts????

 

[CMAC]

Join a links, all issues solved!

 

[jammydodger]

Hi Crawford

One thing to think of is that you may always be a single trying to get onto a course thats packed with 3 or 4 balls. I like the idea of playing opens to give yourself the variety and this is something that i've been thinking of doing but I need somewhere to manage my h/c for me first. You will also not feel 'obliged' to play in bad weather as you dont have to justify the yearly subs to yourself or your wife.

 

[Snelly]

Craw,

That is what I do although mine is mostly corporate or society golf. It works for me with a busy work life and two young children.

The only issue I have is that I don't have an official handicap which is a little tricky if I want to play in something where one is required. For example, I am playing in a charity Am-Am next week in Sussex and in early October, am at Royal County Down for Pat Jennings Charity Golf Day. In both instances, I have written to the organisers to explain the situation and suggested I play off 2. Both have agreed but it is a bit of a chore and probably a bit harsh too as I am more like a 3 or 4 HC player at the moment. I manage to get by like this but it isn't ideal.

If you can avoid this and have a properly managed official handicap then I can't see a real downside to nomadic golf. Certainly makes economic sense.

 

[ADB]

I joined my course under a 'flexible' membership scheme which has suited me down to the ground having a busy family/work life. I pay £100 per annum and then pay a reduced green fee (usually £10 or £15) when I play. The big draw was I could get a handicap and play in monthly medals and stablefords - but not board comps, which I am fine with. Another bonus is I get reciprocal rates at other local courses.

Not sure if this is an option to you in order to have a 'home' course, but it certainly works for me.

 

[DelB]

I have to say that I've been considering my golfing options for next year too. My course has been in OK condition despite the weather, but it has been playing really long as you're even getting apparent backspin off the driver at the moment!!! Been thinking about links golf, but then have to factor in the cost of getting to and from a course down the coast. The jury's out at the moment and I'll assess my options over the winter.

 

[thecraw]

I have to say that I've been considering my golfing options for next year too. My course has been in OK condition despite the weather, but it has been playing really long as you're even getting apparent backspin off the driver at the moment!!! Been thinking about links golf, but then have to factor in the cost of getting to and from a course down the coast. The jury's out at the moment and I'll assess my options over the winter.

Exact same boat here Del and I will probably wait till March/April time before coming to any firm decision. West Kilbride is the course I'm thinking about moving to but like yourself I need to factor in a 30 mile round trip.

 

[Monty_Brown]

I hear what you are saying. A few aspects of club membership that I would miss though:

- chance to pop to the course on a whim and play a few holes
- proper grass practice facilties
- sense of being in a club and regular competiton against mates.

Obviously these vary from club to club so if they are not a factor for you, the nomadic existence has much to recommend it.

 

[cookelad]

nomad golf is good fun for a while but essentially golf is a social game and unless you've friends doing the same thing it might get quite lonely - obviously for opens you'll get paired up with randoms - but it is nice to return to your home course and play with fellow members.

P.s. Technically Autumn starts on the 21st so enjoy the last 2 weekends of "Summer"!

 

[ScienceBoy]

My golf expenditure as a member golfer was about £120 a month this included membership fees, driving range tokens, competition entry, lessons and the odd club match fee.

I played at least 36 holes of golf a week, more during light evening periods. I more than got my monies worth as just "being a member of a club" on top of the actual golf is a huge part of it. The people, the banter, the friends, the rivals etc

This year as a nomadic golfer I have more than halved my expenditure, I have resisted going out to play on light evenings because of the cost, I have only played on good sunny days locally. I a membership of a driving range so get some of the "club" features but the lack of regular competitions and the point of forking over cash every evening I feel like a few holes is annoying.

Its much different down south or on the coast as the weather is better and the courses built on the chalk downs are playable all year round bar any snow events.

I guess the only solution would be to watch the LONG LONG LONG range weather forecasts...

 

[Hobbit]

Based purely on cost, its a no-brainer. Become a nomadic golfer. Play Opens cheaply, usually off the back tees and they are usually in good nick for the Open.

So what would I miss? Turning up on an evening for 9 holes, 100+ members I know and could get a game with, and banter with, aggregate comps that run thro' the summer.

I'm lucky, I'm a member of a links course and apart from when its actually been physically raining and I've not wanted to go out anyway, we've never been shut. I left a parkland course in the early 80's for the very reasons being discussed, i.e. the amount of golf lost to soggy ground conditions. I wouldn't dream of going back to one other than to visit for a game.

 

[CMAC]

Exact same boat here Del and I will probably wait till March/April time before coming to any firm decision. West Kilbride is the course I'm thinking about moving to but like yourself I need to factor in a 30 mile round trip.

I did longer as it was worth it to play stunning courses.
Weren't you moving house as well recently, maybe factor in a course you want then persuade HID's to move there

 

[cookelad]

Maybe have a look at the deVere membership I think its something like £295 and you get 100 points which you use to buy rounds (at different rates - obviously 9am Saturday morning costs more than 2pm on Tuesday afternoons for example) gives you a membership but is still cheap enough that you can go touring as well.

Obviously (again) if there's no deVere anywhere nearby then its probably not worth it!

 

[dufferman]

I've looked into the DeVere thing - but where I am down south there's really only one course! Rubbish!

 

[cookelad]

I've looked into the DeVere thing - but where I am down south there's really only one course! Rubbish!

If you're in the right place I'm sure its a good investment - but I agree London area not so good!

 

[arnieboy]

Golf is my one and only hobby and that is where all my friends are so club membership and society golf is what I do!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I hear what you are saying. A few aspects of club membership that I would miss though:

- chance to pop to the course on a whim and play a few holes
- proper grass practice facilties
- sense of being in a club and regular competiton against mates.

Obviously these vary from club to club so if they are not a factor for you, the nomadic existence has much to recommend it.

+1 on the above. I can't really afford my membership subs but I don't know if I'd get to play much were I a nomad.

 

[patricks148]

Crawford, old boy i think that could work in scotland as you could join a small club or 9 holer somewhere and just keep your handicap there.

The trouble is when you just fancy a game or have a fee afternoon or evening and want a game just on a whim.

I could join some where up here for £100 like, Tarbut, Bonar Bridge, Carrbridge etc and just play away opens every weekend from April to October no problem and keep my handicap.

Most of my local courses are now upto £400 which this year has just not been worth it. I kept my Tain Membership this year just for the recp rounds at Dornoch and few other, but when i worked it out a could have still played those courses in opens and still saved a few quid.

i think next year Patricks148 will only be a member at one club.... (sad face)

2 years ago i was a member of 3.....

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Most of my local courses are now upto £400 which this year

Good grief - around my part of the country the going rate for annual subs of a straightforward members club is around the £1300-£1400 mark (now you understand why I can't afford a DMD ;-))

Mind you as my track is sand-based we are very rarely closed by wet weather. Flooded greens will drain in maybe 15-20mins and ground underfoot never really gets bad or muddy.

 

[Alex1975]

Due to financial constraints I have not been a member of a club this year. Although I do miss it a great deal for a lot of reasons I am still welcomed at the club as if I were a member by the staff and members. Every 5th round I play I get for free and that is a major bonus towards the end of the month if I need a game and have no money.


The weather being what it has I have often found myself this summer heading for some of the courses in the Chilton Hills that I know drain well, if I had still been a member I would not have done so. It has been a huge advantage, especially in the early summer when my home course has been unplayable.


If I were to toss it up I would still have loved to be a member at AVGC as I love to be a part of a thing but the blow has been softened by the chance to play some of the courses I have not played in years and the relative conditions they have been in.