Thinking of joining a club... what questions should I ask them?

Do they have medals every week?
How do you book a Tee time for friendlies and for medals?
How busy is the course midweek and at Weekends?
Is it a sociable club?
Any politics or issues you should be aware of?
Joining fee-if applicable- how much and can it be paid in instalments?
What happens to your joining fee should you have to resign within the first year (moving away, illness etc)?
Is there an induction for new members to integrate into the club and meet members?

What else can you tell me or feel I should know Mr Secretary?
 
What Darth said, plus...

What's the jackpot on the fruit machine?

How much is a pint?

Are the chips nice fat ones or skinny fries?

.... and some stuff about the golf course if you must.
 
I went through this a few weeks ago and as well as some of the above I had :

current level of membership and what max is
drainage / winter condition of course
reciprocals
practice facilities
 
Worth asking if they have a members handbook and if its possible for you to borrow a copy to read. Invariably if they do it will answer a lot of the questions you ask and plenty that dont even cross your mind!
 
I would ask for a complimentary round if I havn't played the course James, and having played with you I would also ask whether banditos are strung up on the flagpoles and where they tether their ponies!!!

Only joking James, which club do you fancy?


Chris
 
Do they operate booked times or can you roll up
Are competitions drawn or can you book your group (not good as that tends to be clquey and hard to break into)
Do they have roll ups on non-comp days
Do they have matches home and away with other clubs and can you put your name down or is it just the scratch golfers who play (we have a number of friendly fixtures open to any member and then some serious events the better guys play in)
What are the practice facilities like
Does the club restaurant open early and do breakfasts
Is there a minimum bar levy
 
I would check if there was some fixed plan in place regarding yearly subs increases. I left a club last year because it got too expensive, and turned out to be a pre planned long term yearly subs increase. Also they were only really interested in comps. Some weeks in the summer the course was full of comps so getting just a practice round at short notice after a nightshirt was almost impossible unless u liked 5+ hour rounds being the norm.
 
Some great questions here, many thanks!

Chris... It's a toss up between Sene Valley and Etchinghill. Both are equal distance from my house/work (about 10 mins), so I can just about make a range trip before work or during my lunch hour (or play 9 holes over a long lunch) - anything further afield and I'd not get to play very often. And don't worry, I'll make sure I wear my bandit hat when I go ask the questions. ;)
 
Please benchmark your greens against all other courses in the county

How pretty are your bar staff ?

How mych of a slow play problem, and please give me examples of the last 3 actions you have taken in thsi respect

PLease justify the logic of each aspect of your dress code
 
Check out the golf course again and again and again. Drive in and out a few times, at different times over a couple of weekends. You'll get a good idea how busy it is that way. Sounds, and is a pain, but nothing worse than joining a new club to find its murder to get a slot.

Join or try a course where you know some guys. Go to the pro shop and ask some basic questions. That way you'll get a good feel for whats going on. Nothing worse than joining a new club to then feel totally out of place.
 
If you don't know anybody at either course ask whether there are frequent roll-ups during the day so you can get a game and get to know people.

Roll-ups are great if your regular partner is as infrequent as mine (my brother)!!!
 
This is a really handy thread for anyone looking to join a club!!

I was in a similar position recently, but luckily a mate decided to join as well...

I've recently played in my first Texas Scramble (and finished 4th), so I am getting to know other members!!
 
Jimbooo said:
Some great questions here, many thanks!

Chris... It's a toss up between Sene Valley and Etchinghill. Both are equal distance from my house/work (about 10 mins), so I can just about make a range trip before work or during my lunch hour (or play 9 holes over a long lunch) - anything further afield and I'd not get to play very often. And don't worry, I'll make sure I wear my bandit hat when I go ask the questions. ;)
Click to expand...


I for one James would make that Sene Valley. There are a lot of benefits in joining the private members club in that you can just roll up and play as there is no booking tees - so long as there is no closure on for a comp. The members at Sene are largely experienced golfers so you wont often get stuck behind groups of beginner "pay and players" who won't call you through. The bar is probably cheaper with the club discount card than Etchinghill and I have played there loads and find the members good company. The course is, in my opinion, streets ahead of Etchinghill, although its hilly and a slog compared to my place.

If you carry a handicap at Sene you could play anywhere and be comfortable off it whearas you would be potentially 3 to 4 less at Etchinghill as it is easier (in my view). There will be more comps to enter at Sene I would guess and overall would be cheaper for a full 7 day membership. One added advantage is that most of the private clubs have a £15 deal in the week between each other and I have played Sene, Bearsted, Tenterden since we introduced it and there are several still to play

If you want to play Sene on a Wed pm when I'm off to try it (or Ashford) just let me know, although I will be out of action from the 8th Dec for a few weeks


CHris
 
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