thinking of leaving after just 4 months

they are both in great condition to be honest, i still play there now and again.

Everyone knows that there is not much enjoyment playing golf on your own week in week out.

As i have said i play alot in the week 2 maybe 3 times so being able to have someone to go round with in the week is more important to me as the weekends its comps and your put with someone anyway!!
 
This is something that clubs have a duty to look at. Fortunately mine is good.

Firstly, they have a committe member in charge of looking after new members. The week I joined, he emailed me to introduce himself, explained most of the comps, when the most social games were, and even offered to look around other members to get a game if I needed one.

Second, the club pro, who I was already having lessons with, was very proactive. I was up there with him on a Saturday, so afterwards, he took me over to the clubhouse where the Saturday swindle guys were finishing up and having lunch. He introduced me to the club captain, handicap sec etc, and basically said "here's a new member" can he come along next week?" Job done. Now have a regular game whenever I want at the weekend.

Our website also has a "request a game" function so if all else fails you can sort out a game online. If there are other new members in a similar position, they can find each other ... like online dating I suppose.

Touches like this are what marks the difference between a "golf course" and a "golf club".
 
Love the request a game idea I may suggest that to my club secretary. It beats searching through the booking list and adding on to three and two ball bookings.
 
Monty_Brown said:
This is something that clubs have a duty to look at. Fortunately mine is good.

Firstly, they have a committe member in charge of looking after new members. The week I joined, he emailed me to introduce himself, explained most of the comps, when the most social games were, and even offered to look around other members to get a game if I needed one.

Second, the club pro, who I was already having lessons with, was very proactive. I was up there with him on a Saturday, so afterwards, he took me over to the clubhouse where the Saturday swindle guys were finishing up and having lunch. He introduced me to the club captain, handicap sec etc, and basically said "here's a new member" can he come along next week?" Job done. Now have a regular game whenever I want at the weekend.

Our website also has a "request a game" function so if all else fails you can sort out a game online. If there are other new members in a similar position, they can find each other ... like online dating I suppose.

Touches like this are what marks the difference between a "golf course" and a "golf club".
Click to expand...

Sounds a very proactive and inclusive club you're at Monty.

There is no reason why all clubs shouldn't/couldn't be like this! I have no problems at my place but read some experiences on here and wonder how some clubs are left with any membership at all!!

The way your club goes about welcoming new members would, I assume, help secure more long term members than other places
 
Yep I suppose my club does seem progressive compared to some of the experiences described on here. Never thought that it was until now. To most of us it seems like common sense.... they are simple things to do but go a long way to make people feel welcome.
 
Some good ideas from Monty_Brown's club and food for thought. A lot of swindles are very cliquey not just at my club but in general. We have a seniors one midweek and a couple of times I've asked to play just to get a game and have been told "too young", "too good" (no really) and basically any excuse under the sun. I'm already a member and so its frightening to think what they'd say to a newbie. Fortunately the weekend lots are much easier to get involved in
 
My club has a problem not so much with cliques as such but rather a large percentage of long established members. Most have been there for 10 or more years so as set in their ways. Everyone knows everyone and they have just forgotten what it is like to be a new member trying to find a game. It took some real effort to integrate myself but I am glad I stuck with it and I now have a number of options for a round at weekends.

I still think that far too few clubs focus on integrating new members and they would not loose anywhere near as many as they do if they put in some effort. I think that every club that I have looked around has said that you just need to turn up and you will find a game and that is probably true for longer standing members who know everyone but rarely seems to be the case for new ones.
 
I think you also need to be pro active yourself though, my club have been very welcoming but you have to put yourself out there abit. When I first joined I was chatting to a elder gentleman who had an Irish accent. As I worked in Irish freight and an Irish mother in law we had a chat in the bar for a whole after our rounds and he invited me to join him the following week as one of his regulars was on holiday. Told my mate who informed me he was the club president! Squeaky bum when I turned up but it was great introduced me to a few people and never looked back. Similar situation with a couple of seniors who introduce you to a few more and before you know it you go from not knowing anyone to feeling part of the club.

I agree that if clubs took just that little bit of time and effort to help you integrate they would benefit in the long term in membership etc.
 
We use the BRS on-line tee booking system and I just put my name down in a free space, wether I know the people or not, and I've never been greeted with anything but a welcome by everybody.
It also means I've now met and know a high percentage of the membership in the 4 years I've been here.
 
My club is great for Roll Ups. There is one every day and on Wednesdays there are four in the Summer. You can turn up and there is a draw for groups, some play four ball match play, some medal, some stableford. It also enables new members to meet others.

I know this is not an answer for the OP but it is a shame that more clubs do not operate this.
 
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