Picking a new club

[Saville85]

I'm fairly new to the forum (this is in fact my first ever post) so please be gentle.

My wife and I are moving from London to Northampton where, other than my parents, we will not know anyone. I'm therefore looking to join a club to try and increase my social prospects for both myself and my wife and 2 young kids. Problem is I've never been a member anywhere before so don't really know much about the joining process. Without wanting to succumb to stereotypes I don't really want to join a club full of old men as that defeats the purpose of joining for social reasons as much as golfing ones.

Has anyone on here ever done anything similar? Can anyone suggest a way in which I can find out about a club's general age range without offending anyone?

Also if any forum members can suggest a club in and around Northampton that would be hugely appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Brampton Heath , Collingtree and Northampton Golf Club ( Harlestone ) are good courses with nice clubhouses and nice atmospheres

Northampton County ( next to Brampton Heath ) is a lovely lay out but have been there 3 times and not been impressed by the welcome or friendlyness of the members

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I enjoyed playing Kingsthorpe with my cousins last year http://www.kingsthorpe-golf.co.uk/

Very friendly welcome and no booked tee times according to the website which is a bonus. I guess it comes down to budget, travelling time and what you want from a club

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Welcome, I guess I would be classed by you as an old man, in fact you could well be right, still with age comes wisdom and a lack of fear about asking stupid questions. I would suggest that you narrow the clubs down by availability, locality and cost. If two or three are still in the running why not call in for a chat with the pro or secretary and simply tell them you would like a club where there are a good number of similar aged, like minded people and ask about the junior programme, the ladies section and the social scene. If you can have a drink in the bar and look at the notice boards, you should get a feeling about the place.

Good luck and NEVER EVER get stuck with 3 old codgers :whoo:

 

[fundy]

Welcome to the forum

Am just down the road from Northampton in MK, was new to the area 5 years ago and joined a club (AVGC) and fitted in no problem at all.

With regards to clubs in Northampton, the ones Phil have mentioned are all fine, it will partly depend on where you are living as to which I would join. If you're south of the town centre I'd also consider Silverstone and Whittlebury Hall as possibles too.

 

[fundy]

I enjoyed playing Kingsthorpe with my cousins last year http://www.kingsthorpe-golf.co.uk/

Very friendly welcome and no booked tee times according to the website which is a bonus. I guess it comes down to budget, travelling time and what you want from a club

Kingsthorpe is OK but the course is quite short and fiddly and its on a tiny piece of land. One big plus is you get reciprocals with 30+ other clubs if a member there

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Kingsthorpe is OK but the course is quite short and fiddly and its on a tiny piece of land. One big plus is you get reciprocals with 30+ other clubs if a member there

I didn't know that. It was a bit short and didn't really seem to "flow" but a decent enough place to play.

 

[full_throttle]

I played at Brampton Heath only the other day, really enjoyed the course, the membership seemed friendly enough. Full tees and greens all year round is a bonus too. Lets just say I've booked to go back in November. I recall being told Northampton County is expensive.

 

[Saville85]

Thanks for the all suggestions, I'm sure I'll do my best to get round them all at some point before the start of the new membershp season.

 

[drewster]

I recently made the move from Essex to North Lincolnshire and wanted to join a new club. Like you've probably done i undertook a lot of internet research and made a shortlist of three that looked decent and within easy distance. I contacted them all beforehand with a view to provisionally arranging a look around . The first i contacted Elsham Golf Club came back to me within 2 minutes with their manager asking me over for a look around and to bring my clubs for a round too. He showed me round, took me on course for a round and introduced me to key club members all before the other two came back (they never did !!). That was good enough for me!!! I joined and have not looked back. I have since played the other two and whilst good courses i have no regrets over the decision made. It;s a tough thing to do to join a new club where you don't know anyone but go with your instinct!!!