Nomads to get official handicaps

[IanM]

3. The vast majority or golf is played in informal leagues or rollups administered by the participants. Who also agree the 'rules'. With the huge majority taking a relaxed view on penalties for lost balls, mulligans and gimmies, this varies widely group to group
4.Nearly all rounds go into thier handicap calculation, no matter the format, nor set of 'rules applied.
5. As long as everyone in the group / league stays together the handicaps stay relevant for their purpose. But from group to group and particularly between groups and official competitions there can be large variation.

...

That "very loud bang" was Rulesfan exploding!

 

[patricks148]

After a decent trawl through Golf Empire yesterday, I concluded it would be perfectly possible as a 55+ year old who didn't work to spend March to November playing Senior Opens for naff-all money, several times a week if you wanted to! No need to be a club member at all...weekend access is less easy! The non Senior Opens are slightly more expensive. Also, stay away from the South East and you'll save lots!

Of course, there's potentially lots of travel involved, you're committed to play well in advance regardless of weather etc... but what a laugh. You could enter with mates or just stick your name down and see who you draw. You might not even bother about your score and just play for fun! But what you spend on fees, travel and accommodation is very flexible!

I guess you'd miss the (if local) nipping up for a few holes on a nice evening, any social side, but that isn't important for some..

The Players Club near Bristol already offer "Country Membership" that'll get you a handicap, a County Card and a limited number of Rounds there for £100 plus County Levy. So will be interesting how much this nomad-handicap will cost.

you can play in a Individual strokeplay comp pretty much every week up here from April till end Sept and if you were 55 one a week during the week as well in the seniors, most clubs up here have at least two, with some having many more the Kings i think has 7 open comps and Nairn Dunbar not far short, if you also count in the 4 and 5 day comps as well you could get plenty of golf in, esp if you were not interested in playing betweem Nov and March

 

[2blue]

After a decent trawl through Golf Empire yesterday, I concluded it would be perfectly possible as a 55+ year old who didn't work to spend March to November playing Senior Opens for naff-all money, several times a week if you wanted to! No need to be a club member at all...weekend access is less easy! The non Senior Opens are slightly more expensive. Also, stay away from the South East and you'll save lots!

Of course, there's potentially lots of travel involved, you're committed to play well in advance regardless of weather etc... but what a laugh. You could enter with mates or just stick your name down and see who you draw. You might not even bother about your score and just play for fun! But what you spend on fees, travel and accommodation is very flexible!

I guess you'd miss the (if local) nipping up for a few holes on a nice evening, any social side, but that isn't important for some..

The Players Club near Bristol already offer "Country Membership" that'll get you a handicap, a County Card and a limited number of Rounds there for £100 plus County Levy. So will be interesting how much this nomad-handicap will cost.

Yes Golf Empire could easily supply you & a few mates with a great selection of Comps. Around here if you were to join Leeds Union (don't know the cost or whether they will even be facilitating individual membership) it would supply another 16 in a year for £15 a player.

 

[IanM]

you can play in a Individual strokeplay comp pretty much every week up here from April till end Sept and if you were 55 one a week during the week as well in the seniors, most clubs up here have at least two, with some having many more the Kings i think has 7 open comps and Nairn Dunbar not far short, if you also count in the 4 and 5 day comps as well you could get plenty of golf in, esp if you were not interested in playing betweem Nov and March

So, in the event of a noticeable drop off in Club Memberships in favour of the "non-club handicap" (which folk have say will, and won't happen on here) I wonder if we'll see clubs raising the price of their Opens to make them more about core revenue, and less about "additional revenue" and "reciprocal" golf between clubs. OR even doing fewer of them?

 

[fundy]

So, in the event of a noticeable drop off in Club Memberships in favour of the "non-club handicap" (which folk have say will, and won't happen on here) I wonder if we'll see clubs raising the price of their Opens to make them more about core revenue, and less about "additional revenue" and "reciprocal" golf between clubs. OR even doing fewer of them?

maybe they revert to being used as an advert for the club and selling memberships?

 

[williamalex1]

So, in the event of a noticeable drop off in Club Memberships in favour of the "non-club handicap" (which folk have say will, and won't happen on here) I wonder if we'll see clubs raising the price of their Opens to make them more about core revenue, and less about "additional revenue" and "reciprocal" golf between clubs. OR even doing fewer of them?

Most senior open comps in Scotland don't make much of a profit for a club, they pay most of the entry money out in prizes.
Usually only a small amount spent at the bar and catering.

 

[fundy]

Most senior open comps in Scotland don't make much of a profit for a club, they pay out most of the entry money out in prizes.
Usually only a small amount spent at the bar and catering.

They are a very different price and profile to a lot of the opens down South which these days seem primarily a money making exercise, to the point where a lot of them are actually run by external tours/companies not the clubs themselves

 

[sunshine]

After a decent trawl through Golf Empire yesterday, I concluded it would be perfectly possible as a divorced 55+ year old who didn't work to spend March to November playing Senior Opens for naff-all money, several times a week if you wanted to! No need to be a club member at all...weekend access is less easy! The non Senior Opens are slightly more expensive. Also, stay away from the South East and you'll save lots!

Of course, there's potentially lots of travel involved, you're committed to play well in advance regardless of weather etc... but what a laugh. You could enter with mates or just stick your name down and see who you draw. You might not even bother about your score and just play for fun! But what you spend on fees, travel and accommodation is very flexible!

I guess you'd miss the (if local) nipping up for a few holes on a nice evening, any social side, but that isn't important for some..

The Players Club near Bristol already offer "Country Membership" that'll get you a handicap, a County Card and a limited number of Rounds there for £100 plus County Levy. So will be interesting how much this nomad-handicap will cost.

I needed to make a crucial addition to your post

 

[IanM]

I needed to make a crucial addition to your post

Marry a golfer!

 

[Old Skier]

So, in the event of a noticeable drop off in Club Memberships in favour of the "non-club handicap" (which folk have say will, and won't happen on here) I wonder if we'll see clubs raising the price of their Opens to make them more about core revenue, and less about "additional revenue" and "reciprocal" golf between clubs. OR even doing fewer of them?

If this has to big an affect it will result in clubs shutting down then where will nomads go. There needs a careful look at how far the benefits a nomad gets compared to a member, if the balance goes in favor of nomads gold could end up in trouble for both sides.

One thing we will look at is a different green free for golf club members and a different rate for nomads. When it comes to opens there could well be a single prize for best nomad in the same way that clubs differentiate between visitors and home members in some comps.

 

[moogie]

If this has to big an affect it will result in clubs shutting down then where will nomads go. There needs a careful look at how far the benefits a nomad gets compared to a member, if the balance goes in favor of nomads gold could end up in trouble for both sides.

One thing we will look at is a different green free for golf club members and a different rate for nomads. When it comes to opens there could well be a single prize for best nomad in the same way that clubs differentiate between visitors and home members in some comps.

Surely what you're saying in 2nd paragraph is quite clearly discrimination..??

 

[SammmeBee]

After a decent trawl through Golf Empire yesterday, I concluded it would be perfectly possible as a 55+ year old who didn't work to spend March to November playing Senior Opens for naff-all money, several times a week if you wanted to! No need to be a club member at all...weekend access is less easy! The non Senior Opens are slightly more expensive. Also, stay away from the South East and you'll save lots!

Of course, there's potentially lots of travel involved, you're committed to play well in advance regardless of weather etc... but what a laugh. You could enter with mates or just stick your name down and see who you draw. You might not even bother about your score and just play for fun! But what you spend on fees, travel and accommodation is very flexible!

I guess you'd miss the (if local) nipping up for a few holes on a nice evening, any social side, but that isn't important for some..

The Players Club near Bristol already offer "Country Membership" that'll get you a handicap, a County Card and a limited number of Rounds there for £100 plus County Levy. So will be interesting how much this nomad-handicap will cost.

Downshire do something for £75ish to play in all comps, handicaps, matches etc - just pay a green fee everything you play......

 

[Crow]

Another thing driving the number nomads looking for courses to play is the large number of municipal courses that have been closed in recent years or are on the verge of closing, leaving the pay & play golfers with a much reduced choice.

I don't think nomads with handicaps will have a big impact on club memberships as most members get a lot more from their membership than a handicap.

 

[Old Skier]

Surely what you're saying in 2nd paragraph is quite clearly discrimination..??

Know more than fees that are in operation now between members and visitors to opens, just adding a third layer to a pricing structure.

 

[IanM]

Surely what you're saying in 2nd paragraph is quite clearly discrimination..??

No. It's a commercial choice. Now, you might say that is "not cricket" but it is not illegal.

Eg Club Members have a levy card that get 20% of drink prices in the bar. Anyone can get one if they are a member. Not allowing you to be a member because you are from Aldershot, that would be discrimination!

 

[rulefan]

That "very loud bang" was Rulesfan exploding!

I try to stay away from US golf handicaps.

 

[sunshine]

If this has to big an affect it will result in clubs shutting down then where will nomads go. There needs a careful look at how far the benefits a nomad gets compared to a member, if the balance goes in favor of nomads gold could end up in trouble for both sides.

One thing we will look at is a different green free for golf club members and a different rate for nomads. When it comes to opens there could well be a single prize for best nomad in the same way that clubs differentiate between visitors and home members in some comps.

Don't you have this already - the county card scheme?

 

[Old Skier]

Don't you have this already - the county card scheme?

Not all counties come under the scheme, there are also times during the day and months at some clubs were the scheme cannot be used.

 

[sunshine]

If this has to big an affect it will result in clubs shutting down then where will nomads go. There needs a careful look at how far the benefits a nomad gets compared to a member, if the balance goes in favor of nomads gold could end up in trouble for both sides.

One thing we will look at is a different green free for golf club members and a different rate for nomads. When it comes to opens there could well be a single prize for best nomad in the same way that clubs differentiate between visitors and home members in some comps.

Also... I think golf courses (clubs) need to understand their target market, and actually who are their target customers. Just like any business.

There are plenty of successful courses where the balance goes in favour of nomads. A private members clubs might have 80% rounds by members and 20% green fees / societies. A resort course maybe it's the opposite. I don't know the percentages but 80/20 is usually a good guide in life.

Who is your target? Members or visitors? Because the two groups have different expectations. Trying to please both camps is likely to result in neither being happy!

 

[Old Skier]

Also... I think golf courses (clubs) need to understand their target market, and actually who are their target customers. Just like any business.

There are plenty of successful courses where the balance goes in favour of nomads. A private members clubs might have 80% rounds by members and 20% green fees / societies. A resort course maybe it's the opposite. I don't know the percentages but 80/20 is usually a good guide in life.

Who is your target? Members or visitors? Because the two groups have different expectations. Trying to please both camps is likely to result in neither being happy!

It is thought that you could split Cubs into 3 categories:

Clubs who won’t be catering for nomads and because of the prestige of the club won’t be affected
Clubs who will look at nomads as a marketing tool
Clubs who could well go under with members leaving in numbers that will make the club unsustainable