Junior Member - Senior Competitions

stevire

I'm a Junior member in my local club (student membership), and to play in senior competitions I needed a GUI handicap of 18 at most and apply for permission to the club secretary.

My question is, is it possible for me to play senior competitions in other clubs? Or do I also have to seek permission at the club before playing?

For the record im 22, so not quite in the Junior Category!

ShriekingSheet

stevire wrote: »

I'm a Junior member in my local club (student membership), and to play in senior competitions I needed a GUI handicap of 18 at most and apply for permission to the club secretary.

My question is, is it possible for me to play senior competitions in other clubs? Or do I also have to seek permission at the club before playing?

For the record im 22, so not quite in the Junior Category!

It's a strange one and on the whole, the answer is no - you generally don't have to get permission from another club to play in say, their open day. They may charge you the full fee of the day to play but generally, a visitor is a visitor.

So if the club down the road from you has a Minor Scratch Cup (18+ h'cap open), it's highly likely that you can call up and book a slot saying "John Murphy from XXX GC, h'cap 22" and that's it.

Weirdly enough, if your own club has a Minor Scratch Cup the junior rule will probably prhibit you from playing, but a kid from down the road can quite possibly play as a visitor.

I was a Junior member of 3 clubs as a kid (they were v cheap and I spent summers in a different county) and experienced many different rules and practices. I found the more enthusiasm you show, and ability to get talking to members and the likes of your club seceratary, the more doors will open for you. Even if it's just a matter of asking if there's a slot free on Friday evening for the following day's comp, with a full member who's happy to play with you, can you play in the comp with a view to being cut to 18.

It's extremely helpful if people know who you are. Be friendly and extrmely well behaved at all times on the course and in the club house - if you get a good name for yourself it'll really help say for example if you get to 19, they may make a slight allowance for the sake of a shot. But if you are unknown to the decision makers they are less likely to help.

The lower you get, the more exemptions will come your way. It's not completely "fair", I'm just trying to pass on my experience of how it works.

stevire

Thanks for the reply sheet, I should've made it clearer but I meant 22 years of age!! Expecting a handicap around 16-18, definitely won't be any higher. Shot 11 over in 13 holes (the other 5 was closed due to frost).

Can't hand in my scorecards until the full 18 is open again, but the 2 scorecards range from 20 over to 17 over! Just waiting to fill in my last one...

So you reckon I can play any senior competition in another club? Even though I'm on a junior membership in my home club?

ShriekingSheet

stevire wrote: »

Thanks for the reply sheet, I should've made it clearer but I meant 22 years of age!! Expecting a handicap around 16-18, definitely won't be any higher. Shot 11 over in 13 holes (the other 5 was closed due to frost).

Can't hand in my scorecards until the full 18 is open again, but the 2 scorecards range from 20 over to 17 over! Just waiting to fill in my last one...

So you reckon I can play any senior competition in another club? Even though I'm on a junior membership in my home club?

Oh right. Well yes, once you have your handicap you can play in any open competition in another club but as I said, you may have to pay full green-fee/comp-fee.

It's only right and proper they don't let you compete at home (or anywhere) until you get a handicap. You should be allowed go out and play with other members though, if there's a free slot and even though you aren't in the comp.

stevire

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Oh right. Well yes, once you have your handicap you can play in any open competition in another club but as I said, you may have to pay full green-fee/comp-fee.

It's only right and proper they don't let you compete at home (or anywhere) until you get a handicap. You should be allowed go out and play with other members though, if there's a free slot and even though you aren't in the comp.

Thanks a mill, just wasn't sure if my handicap would be a different class/status (i.e junior/senior!) and then make me inegible to play senior comps regardless of my hanidcap figure!

DonkeyPokerTour

stevire wrote: »

Thanks for the reply sheet, I should've made it clearer but I meant 22 years of age!! Expecting a handicap around 16-18, definitely won't be any higher. Shot 11 over in 13 holes (the other 5 was closed due to frost).

Can't hand in my scorecards until the full 18 is open again, but the 2 scorecards range from 20 over to 17 over! Just waiting to fill in my last one...

So you reckon I can play any senior competition in another club? Even though I'm on a junior membership in my home club?

Just an FYI for you, If my club's anything to go by, if you submit cards of 17over an 20over expect to get a handicap of about 12! My best score for my 3 cards was 97 (par 71) and I got 16!

I've very rarely seen anyone get a "Fair" handicap at the start, usually the seem to give everyone too low and let them "Work" themselves back out through getting .1's back.

Maybe that just my club I dont know.

But good luck with your golfing, breaking 90 is a good achievement.

Regards
Ian