Would you join a "goat track" just to get your handicap????

[Smiffy]

Membership renewal time and a dilema.....
£550.00 to be a member of a decent course where you are not embarrassed to invite anyone to visit but hardly ever play there.
Or £30.00 a year to join a "goat track" of a 9 holer just to retain your "official" handicap but it's the kind of place where you wouldn't invite your worst enemy?
What would you do?

 

[bobmac]

What would you do?

Goat track every time.
How much did you spend on green fees last year Rob?
By not joining you will save yourself about 17 green fees for next season

 

[Smiffy]

What would you do?

Goat track every time.

That's what I'm thinking Bob.
Highwoods is a lovely course, I enjoy playing it. But I'm just not using it enough.
It has about the worst teeing off arrangements I have ever come across at week-ends, which puts me off inviting friends down to play. You can't pre-book, the 1st and 10th tees are completely closed for play between 10.00am-Midday, and then you have restrictions galore after that. Fourballs aren't allowed to tee off the first until a certain time... I took 3 guys up there last year and we had to wait nearly two hours to tee off, and in the end we ended up playing as two 2 balls just so that we could get a game in! When I was at Crowborough, if there wasn't a competition on a Sunday morning you could phone the pro during the week and book a tee time from either the 1st or 10th tee for yourself and guests.
I only get limited time off work (one Thursday every fortnight) work every Saturday and although I get Sundays off usually end up playing with mates on different golf courses because of the restrictions in place at Highwoods.
At the end of the day, all I am really interested in is keeping my handicap active so that I can play in some open competitions.
My current membership at Highwoods allows me to play 25 rounds per year, but I still have 12 rounds to go, with one month of my membership left! They cannot be carried over to the following year, and with the state of the course at the moment I very much doubt I will get to play during March. The last time I played the course was a medal in October!

 

[bobmac]

Bin it. Stupid tee arrangement.
In fact, send me the £550 and everytime you want a green fee, I'll send you it.

 

[Tiger]

I think you've answered your own question Smiffy If I'm in your neck of the woods on a Thursday I'll play you on the goat track. I'm assuming you get two goats per player, one to saddle your clubs with and the other to ride around the course. It's not easy being green is it

 

[Ethan]

I don't play much golf these days, but when I do, I don't want to play on a goat track.

 

[Smiffy]

I don't play much golf these days, but when I do, I don't want to play on a goat track.

I played "my" course 12 times last year Ethan.
Despite a 200 mile round trip, I played Bearwood Lakes 7 times.
Go figure

 

[Ethan]

I don't play much golf these days, but when I do, I don't want to play on a goat track.

I played "my" course 12 times last year Ethan.
Despite a 200 mile round trip, I played Bearwood Lakes 7 times.
Go figure

I think there are membership vacancies at BL ......

 

[USER1999]

I am guessing that BL is a bit more than £30 per year, or there wouldn't be any availability?

 

[Smiffy]

I think there are membership vacancies at BL ......

And divorce courts throughout the UK

 

[Robobum]

What are the "add ons" Rob??

To keep that h'cap active you need at least 3 cards each year, do you have to pay for each time you play at the goat track too??

Still seems a no-brainer to me.

Your area seems to be awash with good green fee package deals within 2 hours. The only thing you miss out on is the "club feel" to comps and get togethers.

 

[Zeek]

You're not far from Sedlescombe are you? Do you ever play there? They do a flexible membership (with full member rights) for about 150 quid a year, and you use the 'points' to redeem against rounds. Points get carried over each year too.

I have lessons down there, and I was thinking about doing this flexi thing this year.

 

[Macster]

12 Times on your own course ??????

I know that Tee arrangement sounds rubbish, but even so.......what about summer nights ????

Isnt there a reasonably good other course near you Rob that is a better bet ?

When I fancy a few holes, or an evening game, I couldnt put up with a Goat track, however cheap, whats the point ?? Life's too short.....

My own Course is £870/yr, but quite frankly, its worth every penny, and I wouldnt move for anything.

 

[grumpyjock]

As a member of the local muni, its easy to pay the £100 membeship just to keep a handicap.
As i do play there at least every month just to keep the number up and then play the other courses around the area.
Works both ways.

 

[Ethan]

I am guessing that BL is a bit more than £30 per year, or there wouldn't be any availability?

Yes, but only a little

 

[john0]

What would you do?

Goat track every time.

My current membership at Highwoods allows me to play 25 rounds per year,

Am I reading this correctly - for £550 your restricted to only 25 rounds a year?

 

[Smiffy]

Am I reading this correctly - for £550 your restricted to only 25 rounds a year?

Correct
Equates to £22.00 per round (which is cheaper than the members guest rate) and I get to play in competitions and receive an official handicap.

 

[Macster]

Ah I missed that Rob, thats crazy !! Bin it straight away.

For £870/yr i can play my course every day if I wanted to, even twice.

Surely must be something better close to you ? Where are you based ?

 

[JustOne]

I played "my" course 12 times last year Ethan.
Despite a 200 mile round trip, I played Bearwood Lakes 7 times.
Go figure

I'm sure I saw goat tracks in the mud there last week

Smiffy you are such a journey man, how many times would you actually WANT to play your own course (regardless of which one you join)??

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy you are such a journey man, how many times would you actually WANT to play your own course?

With you?

Never

xxx