Should I Change Clubs?

[medwayjon]

My membership at Gillingham finishes in December and I am contemplating a change.

The reasons are as follows

1) Is the course pushing my game on? The problem is that poor shots dont get punished enough. If I slash a drive 50yds right I can walk off with a birdie/par no worries a lot of the time so the need to improve is reduced.

2) Competitions, I want to play comps, however the medals etc are not drawn, it is the same fourballs at the same time and getting a place in a group you are not made to feel an outsider in is hard. Competitions are often played at stupid times (1pm wednesday) so people like myself cant enter.

3) Run by a few, for a few. This is why things like 2 are occurring.

4) Cost, Going to be nudging £1000 for next season.

I really dont know what to do, I have made some good chums at the club and for social play it is grand. What annoys me is the competition thing more than anyhting else.

I dont know what to do, a shame as Gillingham is 5mins from my house and work, it is a nice little track and has fantastic facilities.

 

[Imurg]

God I thought you were changing your Titleists for a second!!

Seriously though, you need to work out exactly what you want from your club and whether there is another localish club that can offer you that. The competition thing is annoying - all compys at mine are drawn although you can request an early or a late start. It would make me look hard at the club.

If you can find another club nearby then why not give it a go - unless joining fees need to be added into the equation.

Don't worry about the social side - I've got a feeling you'll be alright on that front!

 

[HTL]

What else is around you mate?

Does sound like a change is needed, You know how hard I found princess after playing park land for so long, you need a course to test you to improve

 

[haplesshacker]

I don't think clubs do enough to mix up the people playing in comps. It really doesn't help the roll ups to get a game in.

Good luck in your quest.

 

[medwayjon]

It really has left me snookered, I have been sat here today getting the arse about it as had my invoice for next year which prompted the thoughts.

An example of the competition thing is this. All my mates play medal on sundays, I have to play on a staurday as I work sunday, my dad works saturday, thats how we do it so saturday is medal day for me.

I went and did the calling sheet thing, 2 guys had their name down, I put mine below theirs at the allocated time, then 2 of their mates scrubbed my name out and put theirs in to make a four-ball. It is exactly this that annoys me, If you put yourself on the calling sheet as a single no-one puts them and there mate next to you, they start another box as a 2-ball. This grates me.

The reason medals arent drawn is because all the old farts (sorry to the seniors on here) who have played in the same 4-ball at the same time for 20 years want to stick together so that is why it was done this way.

I havent even bothered going in for the oct/nov medals because of this, a shame as I love medal golf but my heart hasnt been in it.

I would have entered the monthly shotgun but surprise surprise that is played on a weekday afternoon when only the retired (funny its the same 20 year established 4-ball again) golfers or those who are minted can get the time to play and its the same there, the same faces at the same times in the same groups.

 

[HTL]

Think you have made your mind up. Move clubs! And enjoy the time being a nomad.

 

[medwayjon]

Its hard though because of the convenience thing. The alternatives I am considering are atleast 20mins away from home/work and obviously I would be losing the social side of my golf with the Gillingham members I get on well with.

Hmmmmmmmmm

 

[HTL]

Go nomad through the winter and see if you miss being a member, might save some money?

 

[DCB]

Jon,

I think that you've not been around long enough to make a full decision about this. You may well have problems with the old fourballs, but you've not been there a whole season yet. Give it another year, learn to play the course and your handicap will drop. Get your name on the winter knockout comp sheet if they have one, and cetrainly get your name down next spring for that seasons summer singles. That's the way to get yourself known and to meet people.

I think most clubs could appear this way to a new member initially, give it another season as you did seem to be enjoying the whole thing during the later part of the summer.

 

[medwayjon]

I joined in February so have pretty much had a full season there.

It was as hard as hell to even get my 3 cards in as all these little swindles dont welcome outsiders and the one swindle that is every day at 2pm, who are all absolutely great fellas, only ever play a short round.

For someone to have scrubbed my name was out of order.

 

[vig]

What about Princess, Is that an option or is it too far to travel.
Personally I wouldn't give a sh!t about the cliques. there will be other members in the same situation as yourself.
Is there a noticeboard you can put a request on?
I haven't mixed with the cliques at my club,(2nd year membership) but there are enough others who are decent folk that I have played with and sometimes you have to push yourself forwards.

Nothing satisfies me more than upsetting the equilibrium.

 

[Smiffy]

For someone to have scrubbed my name was out of order.

Isn't that against club rules?
Fair enough, the original two could have scrubbed their names and put them below yours with the other guys they wanted to play with, but to scrub your name out??
I'd be fecking livid myself

 

[medwayjon]

Princes is too far to travel for me, It is 45 miles so nipping for a quick knock is out of the question.

 

[RGuk]

m-w-j, I can only empathise with you.

I joined the nearest club to me (despite "nudges" from a few others) and from the point of view of getting 9/18 in or playing bounce games it's great.

What's not so good is the Saturday bias to comps (I can't do Saturdays generally) and the behaviour of some of the members. Because we need to take all-comers, the place is full of utter ignoramuses and sometimes I get really p***** off.

The secretary has had zero sympathy for giving me such a low h'cap (for my current playing standard), the pro has cocked up a few things and in general, the only folks who seem to really like it are the clique-y ones.

BUT, I'm not going to move unless it's folds.....for me, the ability to go and play some holes and turn up on a Sunday (even if it's a waste of the entry fee) makes it worthwhile. I think as long as you get enough golf in to cover the yearly sub, you might as well stay.

As for the course not being the most testing.....forget it.....make your own challenges and test yourself on visits to other, harder courses.

 

[vig]

I have another course quite close to me (3 miles) that I found out the other day had opened membership up last winter.

When I played before my break in the game, the waiting list was around 8 years.
It is quite an elitist club but a nice course with good facilities, although not overly long it is tight.

I will seriously consider joining next year if it comes up again as long as they don't require a joining fee.

I assume that some of the older members have passed away and they are struggling with numbers otherwise I can't see why they would open it up.

 

[Parmo]

Don't run before.. I have been playing a year and intend to play another year at my local muni to get the full basics right before I move to a full on course, my hcp is 15 after 14 months and might move when the time is right. Jon you sure you are not pushing your game too much?

 

[medwayjon]

Chubb, I am finding Gillingham too easy for my handicap. I am off 27 yet I go round in anything from 82-85 on average now which is much lower than my handicap.

Because I am not playing comps my handicap isnt coming down either.

Those on here who have played with me generally say "27 handicap my arse" but until I can get it down Im stuck.

I just want to play comps in a fair and equal setting, it is also widespread oppinion (and truth in a couple of cases) that these regular groups have been known to slightly bend rules for each other.

 

[viscount17]

I think you've made your mind up jon. one thing though, how is the club doing for membership? if it's falling maybe it could be a catalyst for change.

for me, my club is local and cheap, but most comps are Sunday which I can't do so I have 5-day. because I work I can only manage a half day once a month and an early tee time for the Wednesday medal (though I do take another day for the society games). I'd like to play the Saturday medals but I'm not sure that it would be cost effective getting 7-day just for that.
golf clubs generally aren't really tailored for those who work.

 

[RGuk]

Chubb, I am finding Gillingham too easy for my handicap. I am off 27 yet I go round in anything from 82-85 on average now which is much lower than my handicap.

Count yourself lucky....I don't see this as a good reason to quit. Your course is shorter and no doubt easier than some, but surely you can get cut? If this is a real issue for you, and you can't play in comps, can you not hand in 3 properly completed/signed cards from bounce games and ask for reconsideration.

You have the opposite problem to me in this respect.....

There has always been the contingency to get cut under general play......but it's only a 1 way street......down, not up.....speak to the secretary......

 

[USER1999]

jon, having played with you a couple of times, yes you are better than a 27, no doubt, but you are a bit wayward. Now Gillingham may be a bit forgiving, but you can use this to get a rapid handicap reduction, rather than beating yourself up on a tough track and getting a bit disillusioned. In the long term you need to tidy yourself up, so the bad shots are not so destructive, this is a mind set, and can still be done without moving somewhere penal.

As to playing comps, you haven't met the right people yet. My club also has medals not drawn, and it took a couple of years to crack it properly. Once more people know you, either they will be looking for someone to make up a group, or if you put your name down people will join you. In the mean time, ask the sec if there are another swindles later in the day, or saturday morning which you can play in and meet more people. Some are bound to need guys to medal with.

Don't write off Gillingham yet, as the most important thing with a GC is it is near to home or work for that quick nine when you feel like it.

To sum up, you need to meet more people, so that you have more options. There must be more like minded people there than just you. Stick with it, it will come good. Especially if you get your h/cap down.

If you don't instantly get in with the right crowd, your new club could prove the same.