Distance membership & open competitions

SteadyEddie

Hi all,

Myself & a group of friends are considering joining Slieve Na Mon in tipperary for €180 (out of town membership). This is purely to get a handicap that will allow us to play in the open competition circuit throughout the summer. Has anyone here any experience in doing this, and if so, can you think of any pitfalls in the idea? Also, what would the typical rate for open competitions be?

Cheers,

- Eddie

PhilipMarlowe

It's a fairly common thing for people to do... get good value and all they want is an official handicap and travel to play in opens (again getting good value).
One thing to take note of is that you will have to play a set number of rounds on your 'home' club to maintain your handicap... I think it's 3 or 4 so this may be difficult if you chose a club that's too far away from you. You may be better off choosing a club nearer to home that you may be able to play a few more times in the year. Somewhere like Rathdowney (if you are in Dublin) would be accessible...

Sometimes people aren't thrilled when they hear that the winners of the competition were from slieve because there is a perception that their handicaps are less likely to be genuine (having to play 3 or 4 rounds at your home course is a newish rule as far as I know which may overcome this somewhat).

I'm sure people with experience of this will post. I don't travel enough for golf so can't advise.

ASBO

Friends of mine did it last year & worked out really well..

The major pitfalls are the sometimes expensive entry rates, the difficulties in being competitive when playing courses for the first time & the lack of 'free rounds' where you can practice on certain aspects of your game (as a member) and the loss of the team element.

Major plusses are the flexibility, the experience of playing new courses.

Was doing some quick math myself as I'm leaving my own club & thought about the country membership. I reckoned you'd spend close to a grand either way, but hoping on a move to one of the reduced entry rate clubs.

Trampas

You can indeed. You must play 3 rounds at least each year on your home course to make your handicap valid outside your course.

You will get funny looks when you say you are from there as everyone knows you are only down there to get a handicap.

I was a member until I got into a course a few miles away from where I live

spurscormac

I've got distance membership of my hometown club in Mayo this year. Due to work, I've only played 9 holes a couple of times, but hope to get my hadicap over the next couple of months.
My reason was not for playing open comps, but the fact that I'll end up playing with my Dad if I get home, and was paying more in green fees than the distance membership costs.
The added benefit of getting an official handicap and also not feeling like I'm losing value if I get out some evening over the summer to just play 9 holes, makes it even more worthwhile.

keane16

I am a distance member in Slievenamon you will have to play 3 round with a member to get your hanidcap but if a few of you are joining you can mark each others cards as far as I know. The thing to consider is the cost of accomidation and travel for the 3 rounds.

Another idea is if you live in Dublin you can join somewhere like Corballis for around €380 and pay a few quid (it think its €10 a round) for your 3 rounds and thats your handicap sorted, then next year transfer your handicap to Slievenamon and pay the €180 all you need to do is supply your membership number and exact hadicap and never even have to travel to Clonmel.

MiniGolf

I joined Slievenamon last August ...travelled down on a Friday morning.... played 2 rounds on Friday, 1 on the saturday and was home by 5pm saturday evening! I live in Wicklow!
The course is quite short - Some unkind individuals call it a "glorified par 3" but it is a tricky course... especially if it is windy!
I stayed in a lovely B&B outside Carrick On Suir and the whole thing, including insurance cost me approx €400 including food, fuel, accomodation etc. Obviously if you stay in a hotel, have a few drinks, eat well etc the cost will go up accordingly:D

The people who run the place are very friendly and will do what they can to assist you.
I am thinking of joining locally this year as a lot of clubs have waived the "Hello" money and I am sure I will play enough to justify it!:cool:

Wobs

I did it in Portlaoise last year €200. Very short course, believe it used to be a par 3 but has been extended.

I might try Ballinlough Castle in Westmeath this year, €250. I have never played it though if anyone has any feed back on it I would appreciate it.

PhilipMarlowe

keane16 wrote: »

...then next year transfer your handicap to Slievenamon and pay the €180 all you need to do is supply your membership number and exact hadicap and never even have to travel to Clonmel.

See that's the issue. To maintain (keep) your handicap, you must play a fixed number of rounds at your home club every year. We're not just talking about the initial 3 cards to get a handicap here. Trampas says that this is 3 rounds. Every year. I don't know if these have to be in qualifying competitions? If so, that would make distance membership very inconvenient (and potentially as expensive as joining somewhere closer to home).
If you don't maintain your handicap, you will have to go the 3 card route to get issued with a 'new' handicap.
I'm sure that if you called the GUI you'd get clarity on this.

PhilipMarlowe

And if as MiniGolf said above that the whole thing of getting the membership cost about €400 when you factor in travel etc, I'd be more inclined to pick a decent course which is good value but also is reasonably accessible to you. Maybe within 45 minutes drive.
Where about do you live? I mentioned Rathdowney because (in my opinion) it's good value for the standard of course and is close to the motorway network. I've played it a couple of times and I'd happily play there regularly.
I'd prefer to be a member of a 'club' than merely have a handicap but I understand people who like to travel a lot and play lots of different courses.

MiniGolf

Licksy wrote: »

See that's the issue. To maintain (keep) your handicap, you must play a fixed number of rounds at your home club every year. We're not just talking about the initial 3 cards to get a handicap here. Trampas says that this is 3 rounds. Every year. I don't know if these have to be in qualifying competitions? If so, that would make distance membership very inconvenient (and potentially as expensive as joining somewhere closer to home).
If you don't maintain your handicap, you will have to go the 3 card route to get issued with a 'new' handicap.
I'm sure that if you called the GUI you'd get clarity on this.

I don't think Slievenamon require the 3 cards per year as my nephew is a member for a number of years - Playing off 8!! - and I am sure he has never even seen the course!!


I take your point about €400 being a lot but it was nothing compared to my local clubs!! The nearest to me being Druids Glen & Heath:eek:. That is of course was if they would let you in the door! I know that the Heath recently opened up to members at a very reasonable rate but unfortunately it co-incided with new motorsport regs that required me to outlay approx the same (€) as Druids Heath were looking for.
It also suited me as I was just starting off in golf and was not sure if I would stay playing especially as I am a regular competitor in motorsport which takes up most of my spare time.:D

keane16

Licksy wrote: »

See that's the issue. To maintain (keep) your handicap, you must play a fixed number of rounds at your home club every year. We're not just talking about the initial 3 cards to get a handicap here. Trampas says that this is 3 rounds. Every year. I don't know if these have to be in qualifying competitions? If so, that would make distance membership very inconvenient (and potentially as expensive as joining somewhere closer to home).
If you don't maintain your handicap, you will have to go the 3 card route to get issued with a 'new' handicap.
I'm sure that if you called the GUI you'd get clarity on this.

You do not have to play your home course 3 times a year to keep your handicap. Once you get your handicap thats it. You maybe getting mixed up with inter-county club competitions where you must have played in 4 club competions the previous year.

PhilipMarlowe

http://www.congu.com/template2.asp?pid=54&parent=33&parent2=54

PART FOUR: HANDICAPPING
25. Lapse of Handicap
25.1 A Union may direct that the handicap of any player, in whatever Category, who fails to return a stipulated minimum number of Qualifying Scores in a period between Annual Reviews shall lapse.
25.2 A handicap that has lapsed in this manner will not be acceptable for competition where a CONGU® Handicap is required but may be used for social golf and the like.
When a player fails to return the specified number of scores in the period between Annual Reviews of handicaps resulting in a lapse of handicap, the following points are relevant:
The handicap is ‘starred’ and deemed to be inactive in the sense that it is not acceptable for competitions in which a CONGU® Handicap is required. The ‘starred’ handicap, however, is not ‘lost’. It can be used in the normal manner for all forms of social golf and is valid where a handicap certificate is a condition required to play at another golf course.
A ‘starred’ handicap does not preclude a Member from playing in a club 18 hole Qualifying Competition in order to have a CONGU® Handicap allotted. Such scores, however, must be excluded from the calculation of the CSS.
Clubs have discretionary powers in very exceptional circumstances to allow the retention of a CONGU® Handicap where ill health or injury has precluded a player from returning the specified number of scores.

As far as I am aware, this exists in Ireland (recent addition to the rules I think) but as I said, a call to the GUI will confirm.
Since the purpose of having this type of membership was stated by the OP to allow him to play in open competitions then it becomes an important consideration. Presumably "Qualifying scores" means you would have to play 3 competitions at the home club in the summer.

george67

Licksy wrote: »

http://www.congu.com/template2.asp?pid=54&parent=33&parent2=54


As far as I am aware, this exists in Ireland (recent addition to the rules I think) but as I said, a call to the GUI will confirm.
Since the purpose of having this type of membership was stated by the OP to allow him to play in open competitions then it becomes an important consideration. Presumably "Qualifying scores" means you would have to play 3 competitions at the home club in the summer.

3 qualifying rounds mean 3 g.u.I sanctioned rounds home or away. Opens included

keane16

george67 wrote: »

3 qualifying rounds mean 3 g.u.I sanctioned rounds home or away. Opens included

That's what I thought. I have been a member in Slieavenamon for three years and have never played the course, but have played in at least 10 open competions a year.

SteadyEddie

Thanks for all the advice guys. When you say people in open competitions would look at you funny - would they actually have a problem with it?

Another course I saw that is Carrick on shannon who have out of country membership for €195.

http://www.carrickgolfclub.ie/index.htm

Anyone any experience with them? Or is Slieve Na Mon better?

Cheers.

1916

george67 wrote: »

3 qualifying rounds mean 3 g.u.I sanctioned rounds home or away. Opens included

Yes, but a club may have a rule that requires you to play in 3/4 competitions to be eligible for a particular membership eg Distance, so if you haven't played you can't re-join and hence lose handipcap

Trampas

I think the GUI just brought in a new rule that you are required to play your home course 3 or 4 times a year to allow your handicap to be used in opens