Playing the same course week in week out......

[rosecott]

After a while on your homecourse it's the same shots over and over.

But, to put it into context, with your handicap you will have the stroke-making ability and course management skills to ensure that you don't find yourself in places and situations that we lesser mortals find ourselves in!
Since the OP hasn't yet joined a club, he will probably have several years in which to experience finding himself in unexpected places and situations before the faintest whiff of boredom sets in.

 

[birdieman]

Each to their own but I like some variety in my golf. I do also enjoy being a club member so it's finding a balance.
When you look back on your golfing year, invariably the highlights occur on new tracks you haven't played before, that unfamiliarity just makes it more fun I think.

 

[Qwerty]

I was a golfing nomad playing different courses for about 6 years, and to be honest I was gradually losing interest.

I know If I hadn't joined a club I would of eventually given up the game, I think there is only so long you can keep playing courses without really taking the game/score seriously.

For me, joining a club was like starting playing the game all over again.Playing with a card in your hand, trying to reduce your handicap week in week out is for me what the game is now all about.I try not to take it too seriously but I think if I didn't have a few goals I would get bored.

 

[fundy]

love being a club member, the competitions, the members, the banter etc but have to admit I do get a bit bored of my home course. Thankfully we're part of a reciprocal network of 24 clubs most of which are within an hours drive. Add in a few forum meets and a few games with my dad and I should get plenty of variety this year (I have a list of 35 "away" courses I'm hoping to play)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Love being a member. Regular competitions, roll up games, practice facilities and a decent clubhouse. The course is tough enough (for me) to give a challenge every time I play. We also have a reciprical agreement with a few clubs within an hours drive so if I get the urge for a change of scenery I can go an play free

 

[thecraw]

What a fantastic question this is.

I agree with birdieman, golf around the same track came become boring or repetitive. However thats where a good club comes in handy or certainly a good bunch of regular playing partners as the banter adds an edge to the game, keeps you interested and fresh. Bragging rights in the bar afterwards can be better than any £1,£1,& £1 victory. Add in "bits", "birdies" and "oozlers"(sp) and you'll never get bored and it'll keep you concentrating right up until the last putt has been sunk!

Membership also can lead to games at other courses as well. Team matches, local agreements or discounted fees at other clubs. Getting a handicap will lead to Open competitions and other courses off of back tees for a small entry fee.

Nomadic golf has advantages but in my opinion membership outweighs it!

 

[Liverbirdie]

I think Craw sums a lot up.

Variety is the... you know the rest. Golf empire is a god send for me. Once the footy season is drawing to a close I play 3 out of 4 Saturday or Sundays away from my home course at opens. I probably play about 10 new courses a year when away on business. With other things like 2 for 1's, invites and internet based matchplay comps (northern matchplay, four nations golf challenge etc) I get a lot of non-home club golf in to break up the monotony.

All in all I probably got about 30 plus rounds in away from my own course last year. I'm very lucky, but I need to with playing my course 2-3 times a week in the summer.

 

[Imurg]

Regardless of the quality of the Club, Clubhouse or banter, if the Course is, basically, dull then you're gonna get boredAylesbury Park has a good mix of holes, rarely do you go one way and then turn round and come back in the opposite direction. There are not many "Driver/Wedge" holes - it's not the best quality but it's interesting enough to enable me to play it 100 times last year and not get bored...If your Course is interesting it will hold your interest sufficiently.

 

[Smiffy]

I play a lot of different courses. Have always done so. Dread to think how much green fees have cost me over the years. Many thousands of pounds.
As for the thought of playing the same course every week? I think it depends where you play.
I was a member of Highwoods for a short while, and whilst it was a "nice" course, I could have seen myself getting bored with it quite easily.
I have recently re-joined Crowborough Beacon. I was a member there for 11-12 years during the late 80's/90's and loved it. Only left because personal reasons saw me moving away. I never tired of it during all my years there. Really glad to be back and I can see me playing almost all of my golf there in future.

 

[RichardC]

Never get tired of playing at mine, but always get plenty of games with fellow forum members to spice my golf life up.

 

[TonyN]

Great post, good debate. One for the mag???

Personally I miss being a club member. I was at a great place in Chester but had to leave when we moved. Joined the club in my sig for a couple of months and left for a variety of reasons. Now I play different courses and will be joining works society. I do enjoy playing different courses and the forum has provided this opportunity on plenty of occasions.

If i could afford to, id definitly be a member of my closest club because having something on the door step I can turn up to whenever I want is great. Having unrestricted use of facilities and a larger social circle for games is a bonus.

As for getting bored... I can see your point but if you become involved with a group, youll have roll ups, different formats and competitions to take part in. The course will vary regularly anyway. Different tees, different flags. Playing a sunday comp is different to your mid week roll up and playing your club champs is a different game all together.

Enjoy whatever you choose.

 

[PNWokingham]

love being a member of a course - have been at 3 in this area and enjoyed the membership aspects at all of them. Happy to play at my place for many years if I can and the only thing that would make me leave is money, but I still enjoy playing at other courses - favourite ones and new ones. In fact, playing today at Epsom, which looks short and quirky - time to open the shoulders and let it rip!!

 

[RichardC]

time to open the shoulders and let it rip!!

Do you know any other way

 

[bignev]

Ive Been a member of Rudding Park for 3 years now and had no hessitation signing up this month
for another year. You cant beat being a member and playing with people you know regularly especially with the banter you get from friendly rivalries. As for playing other courses as a member of the Rabbits team I get to play lots of the other local courses for reduced fees a win win situation

 

[PNWokingham]

Do you know any other way

No!!

 

[G1BB0]

I joined a club in my 1st 6 months and its the best thing I ever did. Play every week generally, 2 comps a month. I made sure I joined somewhere not too busy and affordable enough to allow me to go on away days. I am playing quite a few different courses this year whilst still being a member of a club.

Best of both worlds

 

[Hendo007]

I guess you can look at it in the way that no matter what sport you choose to play its the same, take football for example, your a member of a team you play most of your games at home, do you get bored no because every game is different, then you have the away matches, same game but different circumstances, golf is the same, good to belong to a "team" where you play most of your games although 2 games are never the same, you still then have the option to try other courses. Better this way with the added bonus of belonging to a club and all that goes with it.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Been a member at my place for about 25 years now and I'm far from bored but I guess a lot depends on the club and the course. I have payed places where I got bored before I'd completed 18 holes.

The course rarely plays the same from week to week and I certainly don't so there is always plenty of variety. There's greens I still cant read and shots I still can't call. I think the fact it's an old course designed by a couple of the greats (Harry Colt and J H Taylor) helps. There's so many different ways to play each hole. It's nearly 100 years old and despite all the modern gear and only being 6400 off the tips it's still a pretty good test.

Over the years we have also added and taken out lots of trees and bunkers, grown the rough, cut it back, shaped the fairways, speeded up the greens etc. We have recently re-routed 2 holes.

The fact that I am playing basically the same course though gives me a bench mark for my game.

There are many other advantages to being a member of a club apart from just the course.

• Lots of comps, some which we consider our "majors" that have been running for decades (something nice about getting a cup and seeing the first winner was probably playing with hickory shafts).
• Banter with other members on the course and in the bar.
• Easy to meet new people and play with a wider range of players.
• Getting to know the pro and getting tips or advice about gear and the odd deal on stuff.
• Being able to just turn up and play a few holes in the evening.
• Team/club matches.
• Practice facilities.
• Seeing other members improve and especially the juniors coming through to win club champs, county caps, etc
• And of course having a moan in the bar about everything and anything over a beer!

 

[jammag]

I think in the UK with the weather being very variable it is definately worth signing up to a club, no game will hardly ever be the same. I know you may about out a few hundred to join a club, but if you are paying £20 and you have a bad round it feels rubbish and you have to pay another £20 to go play again to rectify it, if you have paid your subs then you can crack on it again the next day. Plus as others have mentioned a lot of the time you will have affiliated clubs and you can gain a county card.

 

[louise_a]

I will be glad when my club membership comes through, I am itching to get out on the course, I played three times last week on other courses and its quite an expense.