Time for a change

[Whereditgo]

When I joined my curent club last year it was conveniently situated between home and the office I usually play Saturday and Sunday and in the summer once during the week after work. I normally go into the office at some point on a Saturday so it was ideal.

Since then my work situation has changed which now means I have a 40 mile round trip and £5.40 in Tolls for every round!

Factor in the fuel and its costing me an additional £30 to £40 per week for my golf. From a financial point of view it makes sense to find a new club asap. I pay my membership by monthly direct debit, would need to check with the club to make sure there is no penalty for leaving mid season, but I am undecided as to whether to move now or wait until after the summer.

Does your handicap 'go with you' or would I have to get a new handicap? Don't want to miss out on playing in club comps and I am currently in 3rd place in our order of merit table

Decisions, decisions

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Providing your handicap is active I think it goes to your new club. Think there might be some sort of time limit though before it will lapse and you'd have to get 3 cards in. If there is too much of a gap the new club might ask you to put the cards in anyway.

 

[Whereditgo]

If I do decide to move it will be with immediate effect Homer, so no problem with any time lapse

 

[Swinger]

I think there is usually a two year period before a handicap lapses completly. So you will be fine taking your current H/C with you. It might be worth playing a few general play rounds and hand them in as you may find any new course will be harder/easier than your last so it will give you a chance to be adjusted the right way slightly to have a fairer H/C round your new track.

Alot of clubs however do insist on completing your direct debit payments for the whole year. You will need to check this at your club, possibly tell them that your circumstances have changed in someway and that being a member of this club is no longer a viable option for you. This can be more of a problem if the direct debit facilities are run by a credit company outside of the club as they may have paid the club the full amount at the start of the year and will need a refund which can make things awkard.

 

[Imurg]

You may find that part of the deal of paying by DD means that you commit to paying all the years subs if you leave early.

 

[Whereditgo]

Yeah had considered the possible implications, will check with the club before deciding. It's council owned so no problem with any 3rd party being involved.

 

[User 105]

At our place you can bring you're handicap with you but you aren't entitled to win anything until you have played 3 additional competitive rounds. 6 rounds if it's one of our majors.

But you can still play in the comps off you're existing handicap.

 

[HRC99]

Where are you thinking of joining?

 

[DingleBerry]

If u leave a club your handicapp card can be sent or given to you personally and as long as u have played 3 comps that season and there is say 6 months left of your club season it will be still valid!

 

[19th]

I would suggest you may not be paying the CLUB by direct debit but repaying a third party who have already paid the club your full sub.

If this be the case it will therefore depend on the terms of this third party's agreement with you as to the charge, if any, that will be imposed.

 

[Whereditgo]

Where are you thinking of joining?

Not sure, bizarely I've not played many of the courses locally. Have played Cottingham a couple of times which I always enjoyed.

Brough and Hull are also close and both gorgeous tracks but I can't really justify their fee's at the moment. Don't fancy Hessle for some reason, might have a look at Cave Castle which is just a few miles up the road.

 

[Whereditgo]

At our place you can bring you're handicap with you but you aren't entitled to win anything until you have played 3 additional competitive rounds. 6 rounds if it's one of our majors.

I'm not really that concerned with winning pots, my main aim is to see my handicap come down to mid teens this year.

 

[HRC99]

Where are you thinking of joining?

Not sure, bizarely I've not played many of the courses locally. Have played Cottingham a couple of times which I always enjoyed.

Brough and Hull are also close and both gorgeous tracks but I can't really justify their fee's at the moment. Don't fancy Hessle for some reason, might have a look at Cave Castle which is just a few miles up the road.

Brough and Hull are very nice. They are about £900-£1,000 per year. But you do get a lovely course and nice clubhouses too.

Cottingham is a nice track. It's come on leaps and bounds since it opened. The downside to it is that they have lots of societies and events there so it can be very busy. You need to be organised to play. You'll struggle to get on if you just decide to play a quick 9 or 18 holes. Plus its quite slow round there. You're normally looking at 4 hours 30 for a round.

Cave Castle is a good track too. Maturing nicely. Quite long and a good test. I was a member there for a couple of years.

For me, Hessle is the toughest track around this neck of the woods. Long, quite tight and tricky greens. They are also building some excellent practice facilities. Really top notch.

Then there's my place, Beverley. A bargain at £416 per year for full membership. Not particularly busy so you can almost always rock up and get on (other than on Saturday & Sunday morning).

It's a very consistent course. It never gets into really really top nick, but it's almost never in bad condition because of where it is.

If you fancy a knock round my place, just let me know.

 

[SimonS]

I'm not really that concerned with winning pots, my main aim is to see my handicap come down to mid teens this year.

Having seen you play at Castle Stuart, I'm surprised that you are not there already!

 

[Macster]

Phil,
I'm with you on Hessle, - its maturing nicely but just doesnt hit the spot for me either, and Clubhouse is a blot on the landscape.
Having said that, it does attract some o the best golfers in the area, a lot of the Yorkshire lads base themselves there so must be a good test. I didnt find it particulary testing when I played there recently, considering it was a one off.

Cott - would test my patience trying to get on the course, I hear its bad, and as its privately owned, they are never going to limit societies etc.

The beauty for me of a Club Membership is being able to walk on for 5/9/12 holes, whenever I want within reason, without having to book or wait for ages.

Brough & Hull. Both super courses as you know, but been a lot of dissent at Hull this year as their Subs rose considerably, possibly to help recoup the cost of the Clubhouse re-fit, which wasnt spectacular in the first place!
Not sure about their Joining fee. Hull has been looking great last few times I played there.

I know at Brough they are still charging the Joining Fee, but it can be spread over 3yrs, interest free, but perhaps still a barrier for a lot of peeps.

Having said that, Ive been a member for 20+ years, and never ever had a thought of moving, I still love the place. Tough test mind, and I'll warn you, your H/C will go UP before it comes down at Brough ! Guaranteed.

Beverley - only ever played once, but I do recall it played a lot better than I ever imagined it would, so might be a good option for you, and very reasonable too.

 

[HRC99]

Phil,
I'm with you on Hessle, - its maturing nicely but just doesnt hit the spot for me either, and Clubhouse is a blot on the landscape.

Blot on the landscape? Definitely, but have you seen Ganstead?

Having said that, it does attract some o the best golfers in the area, a lot of the Yorkshire lads base themselves there so must be a good test. I didnt find it particulary testing when I played there recently, considering it was a one off.

It is a very tough track. Probably a shot or two harder than anywhere else locally. The greens are very tough. They were redone some time ago and, if they are ever properly quick, they would be nigh on impossible.

They have lots of land and are investing quite a chunk in a massive practice area at the front of the club with covered bays and a tremendous chipping green.

A friend of mine moved from Hessle to Hull as he found it very cliquey. It could also very well be that my mate is a knob.

Cott - would test my patience trying to get on the course, I hear its bad, and as its privately owned, they are never going to limit societies etc.

The beauty for me of a Club Membership is being able to walk on for 5/9/12 holes, whenever I want within reason, without having to book or wait for ages.

Definitely. There is a gym there though and a proper driving range so it does have good facilities. Although, the thumping bass from the aerobics class that thunders out across the course does get on your nerves.

Brough & Hull. Both super courses as you know, but been a lot of dissent at Hull this year as their Subs rose considerably, possibly to help recoup the cost of the Clubhouse re-fit, which wasnt spectacular in the first place!

It is awful. What a waste of money. I nearly fell off the extremely uncomfortable new chair when I heard how much they'd spent!

Not sure about their Joining fee. Hull has been looking great last few times I played there.

Played it twice in the last three weeks. It is in great nick at the moment.

I know at Brough they are still charging the Joining Fee, but it can be spread over 3yrs, interest free, but perhaps still a barrier for a lot of peeps.

Having said that, Ive been a member for 20+ years, and never ever had a thought of moving, I still love the place. Tough test mind, and I'll warn you, your H/C will go UP before it comes down at Brough ! Guaranteed.

I've always enjoyed playing Brough. Lovely track. A well-designed and interesting layout. Quite nice practice facilities too.

Beverley - only ever played once, but I do recall it played a lot better than I ever imagined it would, so might be a good option for you, and very reasonable too.

Only played it once?

 

[Whereditgo]

Sounds like a good idea, I am a little busy over the next week or so, will drop you a pm after then and fix something up