Picking a new club... whats important?

[ForeLeft]

I am moving house this weekend. This means I have to join a new club. I am fortunate that there are several around me (Chester area)

Now, the question is... what should I be looking for?

I have been playing just over a year and am down to 22. A number of the courses are between 5900 and 6500 yrds. Should the length be a factor or are facilities more important.

Views welcome!

 

[simplyme]

I would look at them all. See what all facilities are like. How many competetions are run, attitude of members, etc..

Out of interest, what clubs are you looking at?

 

[Atticus_Finch]

For me it's all about the golf, so the quality of the course is paramount. The clubhouse facilities are not that important to me to be honest. As long as there's a bar that sells Tennents/Carling and smoky bacon crisps, that's usually good enough for me. However, Cost may be a factor in your decision so that will have to be factored in.

My tip? Play them all, give marks out of 10 for course layout/condition and marks out of 5 for facilities, competitiions, cost, members etc...

Hope this is useful.

 

[birdieman]

changed days foreleft, it wasn't so long ago that there were waiting lists as long as 10 years to join many clubs.
I would join the club that has the hardest course, if you opt for the easy course by the time you've played it for the 100th time you'll be bored stupid with it. No matter which club you join there will be some members you get on with and some you wont.

 

[RGuk]

Hey, I live near-ish to you!

Go and play at a few and see how you feel, for me the course (condition and enjoyment) are everything. Don't join a monster if you are on 22, you'll get fed up making routine bogeys on all the long holes. An old course with lots of trees and well designed hazards wil get you better than boshing it around a beast. I'd rather play Hawkstone or Oswestry than Chirk, say.

Only my opinion.....

Dave

 

[ForeLeft]

Some excellent points, thanks.

I will book a round at a few (Mollington, Vicars cross. Pycroft etc) and mark them as suggested (thanks Atticus).

In answer to your point birdieman, no waiting lists and nearly all have some sort of deal!

Realgolferuk - if you have any suggestions I am all ears!

Once again many thanks to you all!