The problem with golf ....

[Deleted member 21784]

You must live very close to were I used to live, given the courses you talk about and have played. I used to live in Rochford and there are a few clubs around in that area that follow that kind of procedure which I found imposing and stopped me joining one such club in Essex.

I never had the chance to play golf(parents never did, they certainly could not afford it or for me to and me/parents didn't move in the right circles) when I was young and do find the attend an interview etc not very inviting and certainly not painless. However I find it interesting reading some comments such as drive4show saving that it is painless, just shows how different outlooks view the same matter differently and makes me want to challenge my outlook on the matter, so thanks for that as in many ways you are right really.:thup:

Thorndon Park, love the layout of the course, but the number of problems we had there over the years(wont mention the groups name but I have never held a day there myself due to the problems). But it is my favourite layout of any course I have played, was top 100 course IIRC for 1 or 2 years.

Ah rochford my aunt lives near there. Myself from Hornchurch. I play all over the place (not just my shots) as my golf society is based through work and I work in the finchley area so most events are around the A1 so everyone has an equal journey to play.

My second society plays more the east end of London or Essex so suits me

Got a good mate who lives in barnet we take in turns to travel


Thorndon is a lovely club I have played once and would like to play again. Paid £20 members guests rates was worth every penny. Don't know if I could pay the £70 for a standard round when I could go and play another pretty decent course for say £30 and play twice lol

 

[Deleted member 21784]

What is stopping you from applying? It states quite clearly in the bit I have highlighted.

Apart from the fact I am not looking to apply and just giving a hypothetical situation I wouldn't be able to simply ask my mate to put me forward I would have to contact the general manager and make my case.

I am not interested in joining a club and if I was it would be more local , under 20 mins drive so I could maximize my usage for it. Lovely course and id play their again when my mate invites me out but I don't want to join.

 

[CMNI]

Don't forget there are different types of club, private members versus proprietary. A PMC will always vet prospective members as they are not money making organisations, they exist to provide a service. If you pay a hefty joining fee and substantial annual subs you don't want to be paired up in the monthly medal with the local paedophile or violent criminal

You make no point of PMC in your original post. You simply said it is standard procedure. If a club lets an player come along and pay the fees to play a round then the same player should not need to go through an interview to become a member. He poses no more risk to the club if he pays per round, or pays for the year.

I agree with your point on playing partners, and I suppose this is something I haven't considered as I tend to play with the same guys week in week out.

 

[Hobbit]

Don't forget there are different types of club, private members versus proprietary. A PMC will always vet prospective members as they are not money making organisations, they exist to provide a service. If you pay a hefty joining fee and substantial annual subs you don't want to be paired up in the monthly medal with the local paedophile or violent criminal

But playing Devil's Advocate for a second. I could enter an Open at said club and be paired with an axe murderer from another club. Or I could be an axe murderer who turns up and pays a green fee.

Don't forget, a green fee payer is a temporary member, yet gets access to the club that someone else has had to do backflips to become a full member.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Apart from the fact I am not looking to apply and just giving a hypothetical situation I wouldn't be able to simply ask my mate to put me forward I would have to contact the general manager and make my case.

I am not interested in joining a club and if I was it would be more local , under 20 mins drive so I could maximize my usage for it. Lovely course and id play their again when my mate invites me out but I don't want to join.

In your hypothetical situation, it is hardly an inhibitor to you joining though. A simple email or phone call to the GM explaining you are interested in joining but don't know any members. I'm sure he would be delighted to hear from you.

I think some people overcomplicate a pretty straightforward process.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

You make no point of PMC in your original post. You simply said it is standard procedure. If a club lets an player come along and pay the fees to play a round then the same player should not need to go through an interview to become a member. He poses no more risk to the club if he pays per round, or pays for the year.

I agree with your point on playing partners, and I suppose this is something I haven't considered as I tend to play with the same guys week in week out.

Apologies, I made the assumption that everyone understands there are different types of club.

 

[CMNI]

But playing Devil's Advocate for a second. I could enter an Open at said club and be paired with an axe murderer from another club. Or I could be an axe murderer who turns up and pays a green fee.

Don't forget, a green fee payer is a temporary member, yet gets access to the club that someone else has had to do backflips to become a full member.

This is the point I was wanting to make. Though you put it much more eloquently :rofl:

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

...we've got to make it less rule-bound and easier to score - short holes; bigger cups; few hazards.

How any club wishing to try out that approach would make that happen would be up to the club to work out how to accommodate it in their land - or in association with local pitch-and-putt or par 3 courses.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

But playing Devil's Advocate for a second. I could enter an Open at said club and be paired with an axe murderer from another club. Or I could be an axe murderer who turns up and pays a green fee.

Don't forget, a green fee payer is a temporary member, yet gets access to the club that someone else has had to do backflips to become a full member.

Very true Brian but at least that person is only there for the day and not week in, week out ruining the fabric of the club.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

In your hypothetical situation, it is hardly an inhibitor to you joining though. A simple email or phone call to the GM explaining you are interested in joining but don't know any members. I'm sure he would be delighted to hear from you.

I think some people overcomplicate a pretty straightforward process.

Its hardly straight forward though

to join a club it should literally be

ring the office "hello im interested in joining the club whats the fees?" fill in your bank details and off you go.

when I was a member of my old club I literally just had to pay the yearly subs and then play as much as I wanted. Shouldn't have to have an interview . if im interested in joining a club I have come to the stage where I have researched beyond doubt that its the right club for me

 

[CMNI]

Apologies, I made the assumption that everyone understands there are different types of club.

You said standard procedure, therefore all clubs. I assumed the topic would revolve around the majority of clubs, not PMC, seeing I talked about walk ups paying their fees.

But to assume makes an ass of u and me....

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Its hardly straight forward though

to join a club it should literally be

ring the office "hello im interested in joining the club whats the fees?" fill in your bank details and off you go.

when I was a member of my old club I literally just had to pay the yearly subs and then play as much as I wanted. Shouldn't have to have an interview . if im interested in joining a club I have come to the stage where I have researched beyond doubt that its the right club for me

It is straightforward! Phonecall/email, fill out form and send it back. Proprietary club you will probably get straight in, private club may take a few weeks (or months if there is a waiting list).

How difficult is that?

 

[CMNI]

Very true Brian but at least that person is only there for the day and not week in, week out ruining the fabric of the club.

They could however show up every week or every other week and pay their green fee if they wished...

 

[Deleted member 21784]

It is straightforward! Phonecall/email, fill out form and send it back. Proprietary club you will probably get straight in, private club may take a few weeks (or months if there is a waiting list).

How difficult is that?

you have mentioned interviews in previous posts. Unnecessary

Playing a round with a pro in a pro am someone else mentioned? because that wont be at all intimidating

Ill stick to pay as you go , get to explore new courses. I did enjoy my first year as a member but my second year I found very boring. wont rush to join another club just yet

 

[Deleted member 15344]

you have mentioned interviews in previous posts. Unnecessary

Playing a round with a pro in a pro am someone else mentioned? because that wont be at all intimidating

Ill stick to pay as you go , get to explore new courses. I did enjoy my first year as a member but my second year I found very boring. wont rush to join another club just yet

The comment about playing in a Pro Am with a Pro had nothing to do with joining a club ?

I'm guessing you don't want to play competitive golf then

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Its hardly straight forward though

to join a club it should literally be

ring the office "hello im interested in joining the club whats the fees?" fill in your bank details and off you go.

when I was a member of my old club I literally just had to pay the yearly subs and then play as much as I wanted. Shouldn't have to have an interview . if im interested in joining a club I have come to the stage where I have researched beyond doubt that its the right club for me

Thing about joining a members club is that you are joining a club in which many members will take pride in - sometimes great pride. The point of an interview therefore becomes a moment when the prospective member becomes aware (or should do) that they are joining a club and will become one of a body of generally like-minded people. So without it usually being said explicitly, the prospective member should take away from the interview: that they will be expected to fall in line with a few simple norms and standards; that they cannot just behave however they want; that they are responsible for the behaviour of any guest that they bring to the club and/or onto the course; and that they have responsibilities of consideration (and hopefully respect) towards other members and players.

Basically your membership is in the context of a framework of responsibilities and expectations of you that should not be too restrictive, but will be reasonable and should be adhered to wherever possible.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

They could however show up every week or every other week and pay their green fee if they wished...

Not a private club they couldn't.

 

[Hobbit]

Having just looked at a number of application forms I'm amazed how many still ask your "profession."

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

you have mentioned interviews in previous posts. Unnecessary

I think they are very necessary for a private club so I guess we will just need to agree to disagree on that one.

 

[Coffey]

you have mentioned interviews in previous posts. Unnecessary

Playing a round with a pro in a pro am someone else mentioned? because that wont be at all intimidating

Ill stick to pay as you go , get to explore new courses. I did enjoy my first year as a member but my second year I found very boring. wont rush to join another club just yet

I am entering my second year of membership at this club so may be ill change my mind this time next year...

I joined my club with 2 good mates of mine, both of which have stopped playing. I am fully integrated into my club after just 1 season, now playing in a winter league and had a few away days with people. Every time I'm in the bar for food or a drink people are coming up and speaking to me and everything. I think being part of a club is great.

What did you find boring about it? Was it just playing the same course every week?