Questions about joining a club

[Marshy77]

Going up to a local course (Baildon GC) on Thursday to sign up for full membership for an absolutely cracking deal. This will be my first membership, not sure how many times a month I'll get to play but the cost per month is equal to only a green fee or 2 and should be able to get in at least a quick 9 a couple of times a month plus a couple of comps a month (hopefully).

Rather than going up blind I thought I'd ask on here so I sound like I know bits aboout joining a club.

Comps - not sure if you can log in online but can you just stick your name down and join anyone if there's space or do you have to have a partner or a fourball sorted? Do you pay to enter the comps or is that part of your membership? I'll be starting probably at 26/27 handicap - can you play in the rabbits team straight away? How do you get involved in that?

Social - are you expected to go in the clubhouse after a round, is it frowned upon if you shoot off after playing? I know there's a very good social side at the club as I know a few players there already so that might be good when I get the chance for a pint.

Some of these have probably been asked before but thought I'd try get some answers all in one thread.

Cheers.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Clubs have different ways of entering comps and my recommendation would be to ask when you go. If you are playing with others, it's usually considered good form to go in and have a drink although it's not compulsory. Ask how you get involved in matches, how you join the roll up groups and as many questions as you can think of. Make sure you are happy before you splash the cash and you can get games when you want to play

 

[swanny32]

Very difficult questions to answer as it will be different at each club. I'll answer as though we're talking about my club.

1) Online competition sign up, log on, look at the tee sheet, select a time, enter. Easy as that. You'll probably find that there will be a fair few people who stick their name down for competitions with anyone and everyone, and you'll also find some people have their regular 3 or 4 and they'll play with each other every week at the same time. We also have "majors" at our club, they occur the same weekend as the professional majors and they are all drawn competitions, this means, sign up online and a group/tee time will be selected for you. These are a great way of meeting people who you may not otherwise get a chance to play with.

You'll have a small entry fee for competitions, usually £3 or £4 and an optional birdie sweep as well.

2) Sticking about for a drink afterwards. If I play Saturday roll up, it's not expected but they do like you to at least stick about for a short time to see who's won, quick coffee or pint etc and the banter is usually top notch. If I play in a competition, generally you find that lots of people will swan off afterwards and the drink after is never really a thought, or that's the way it is at my place anyway. I'll usually try and stick about anyway as the roll up lot will almost certainly be in there so it's a chance to have a laugh. Food and drink at clubs nowadays has gotten so expensive that it's completely understandable, at least in my mind, that people don't hang about long. I know I can't afford to spend every Saturday/Sunday eating a club sandwich and chips plus an orange juice and lemonade at the cost of £8-£10 a time, plus then having to buy a round etc. You'd be spending as much on food and drink per month as you do on your membership.

The main thing, is to get stuck in, make an effort to meet people, play the swindles and ENJOY yourself. Don't expect the regulars to come to you!

 

[Cheifi0]

Going up to a local course (Baildon GC) on Thursday to sign up for full membership for an absolutely cracking deal. This will be my first membership, not sure how many times a month I'll get to play but the cost per month is equal to only a green fee or 2 and should be able to get in at least a quick 9 a couple of times a month plus a couple of comps a month (hopefully).

Rather than going up blind I thought I'd ask on here so I sound like I know bits aboout joining a club.

Comps - not sure if you can log in online but can you just stick your name down and join anyone if there's space or do you have to have a partner or a fourball sorted? Do you pay to enter the comps or is that part of your membership? I'll be starting probably at 26/27 handicap - can you play in the rabbits team straight away? How do you get involved in that?

Social - are you expected to go in the clubhouse after a round, is it frowned upon if you shoot off after playing? I know there's a very good social side at the club as I know a few players there already so that might be good when I get the chance for a pint.

Some of these have probably been asked before but thought I'd try get some answers all in one thread.

Cheers.

Hi Paul,
Good to see your joining a club. I have heard good things about Baildon.

So the way comps are run are very much down to the individual clubs. At my place for monthly medals or stablefords you only really need to book peak times which is between 9 30 to 10 30. All our comps are in 3 balls, if there is any 2 balls the pro shop would let you know and book you to join. We also have a few drawn comps which has already been said is a good way to intrigrate the membership. I know of other clubs that are fully booked most of Saturday for the comps.

With regards the social side I think in general it's good manners to have a drink with your playing partners after the game. It's also a great way to meet a lot of other members as generally they will introduce you. Having said that I think most people appreciate that people can have time constraints.

Have fun at the new place mate.

 

[Marshy77]

Hi Paul,
Good to see your joining a club. I have heard good things about Baildon.

So the way comps are run are very much down to the individual clubs. At my place for monthly medals or stablefords you only really need to book peak times which is between 9 30 to 10 30. All our comps are in 3 balls, if there is any 2 balls the pro shop would let you know and book you to join. We also have a few drawn comps which has already been said is a good way to intrigrate the membership. I know of other clubs that are fully booked most of Saturday for the comps.

With regards the social side I think in general it's good manners to have a drink with your playing partners after the game. It's also a great way to meet a lot of other members as generally they will introduce you. Having said that I think most people appreciate that people can have time constraints.

Have fun at the new place mate.

Cheers mate, will have to have a knock once I've joined. Looking forward to it, it's a great course, can be brutal at times but also played it in some great weather.

 

[Cheifi0]

I will take you up on that offer, preferably when the sun is out with no wind.

 

[Marshy77]

I will take you up on that offer, preferably when the sun is out with no wind.

Not sure that happens a lot in Baildon.

Been up tonight and joined The club sounds great, very social and loads of comps on Sat, Sunday plus rabbits on Thursday, 9 hole comp on a Wed plus other knocks. The only thing that I was a bit concerned with was the registering for the comps, it's done on a Thursday evening and you put your nname down, its drawn and you write down the time you want. You can ring the shop on Friday and see if there's slots that you want but can't understand why it's not done online but guess it's to get members into the bar, socialise and spend money in the bar.

 

[huds1475]

Looks very nice mate. That membership offer is a steal.

Hope you have a great first year.

 

[Marshy77]

Looks very nice mate. That membership offer is a steal.

Hope you have a great first year.

Cheers, really looking forward to it.

If any of you North Westerners fancy coming over for a knock I'm sure we could sort something out. The course in the summer looks awesome.

Yes £29 a month rising to £39 next year is a total steal.

 

[Wayman]

Looks a canny course the 2nd looks good

 

[huds1475]

Cheers, really looking forward to it.

If any of you North Westerners fancy coming over for a knock I'm sure we could sort something out. The course in the summer looks awesome.

Yes £29 a month rising to £39 next year is a total steal.

Wold love to visi. My place is moorland too so always keen to play others