to Join or Not to Join ?

ryaner777

Following on from the half price subs thread I was wondering is it of real value to become a member of a club if you have a full time job ?

At the moment I’m on the fence about joining my first golf club but the more I think of it, the main reason I have is because it is just the thing to do. When you get serious about golf you join a club. It's looking more than likley that I will join a club but I'm just seeking some answers and re-assurance first.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking club membership and would love to be an active member of a club but at the moment I can’t see how it makes economic sense.

At present I play every Wednesday and every other weekend. I’m using sites like tee times and golf now and deal pages to play a wide variety of courses at very reasonable prices. I tend to play around the north Dublin , Meath & Kildare area.

What I’m hoping for here is assistance in justifying paying a membership fee to a single course. As I’ve never been a member of any club before I’d like to know to people feel they get value for their money they give to their club?

What exactly do you get for your money? from my understanding you get to play the course whenever you want without paying and entered into weekly competitions in your club. You can also play in opens in other courses for a small fee. Is there prizes for these comps and if so what would the winner usually get ? I’ve played a few society days but just as a guest. Would the prizes be along those lines with the weekly comps ?

Thanks

mike12

Depends what you want from golf, if you want to play competitive golf then yes if not than no. If u only play around 30 rounds a year membership is expensive but it depends how the sub is.
Mike

ryaner777

Cheers mike, At the moment I'd love to play competitive but don't think I'm anywhere near being competitive. I'm sure that would change though if I played the same course numerous times.

What would you consider competitve golf ? Is this the opens and weekly club comps people discuss on here ?

And if so would there be prizes for this and what would they be ?

Tones69

Find it weird someone coming on here talking about whether or not to join a club and one of ur main questions is about prizes

ryaner777

Tones69 wrote: »

Find it weird someone coming on here talking about whether or not to join a club and one of ur main questions is about prizes

What do you find weird ? What do you play competitive golf for other than prizes ? Is it a big secret what the prizes are ?

I'm only starting out in this game and starting to take it serious. There's no way ill be competing for anything any time soon.

All I'm wondering what are the benifits of joining a club ?

Kace

Benefits to me have always been the removal of the hassle factor to get out and play. I'm all for playing other courses but I like to be able to rock up when I want for 1 hole, 5 holes or 18 holes. If you're a member you pretty much play as much as you want, when you want. I don't play much these days (wife would say the opposite) but Sunday mornings I'm on the course and that's the family expectation at present. That wasn't always the case when I just played day to day.

When I wasn't a member of a club my games were not as regular or if my playing partners were not around then the game wouldn't happen. In a club you can simply call up and get slotted in with anyone and still play your regular comp. Competitive golf is always that little bit different to the regular knock-around with mates. Prizes will range from something worth anywhere from €30 to about €300 (not sure of the amateur limit these days).

Is it worth it for me right now to be shelling out €1500 per year - probably not, but I still don't plan on giving this up any time soon. What I would really like though is to live closer to the course. If I was joining somewhere new today I don't think I would travel more than 5 miles.

My 2c.

ryaner777

Thanks for the detailed reply, really appreciate it.

Quick question about getting out for an odd few holes, do you just tell the lads your playing with at the start or do you play on your own if youre not completing the round ?

mike12

If u are only playing a couple you are usually playing on your own, Competitive golf would be getting a handicap and playing in comps but i would be hoping to maybe win something once every 2 years if you are lucky. The interclub stuff is good fun. You can join a lot of clubs for less than 1000 now depending on location.
Mike

GreeBo

ryaner777 wrote: »

What do you find weird ? What do you play competitive golf for other than prizes ? Is it a big secret what the prizes are ?

To reduce my handicap, same as most people on here I would assume.

ryaner777

GreeBo wrote: »

To reduce my handicap, same as most people on here I would assume.

Do only rounds in competitive play count in reducing you handicap? If so I apologise as of course this would be the major reason for competitive play.

AldilaMan

Yes

ryaner777

cheers, I didn't know that. I thought you counted every round. Thanks

newport2

GreeBo wrote: »

To reduce my handicap, same as most people on here I would assume.

+1

Give me a choice between a prize and getting cut, I'd take getting cut anyday. That is the ultimate prize in golf, for me anyway.

charlieIRL

newport2 wrote: »

+1

Give me a choice between a prize and getting cut, I'd take getting cut anyday. That is the ultimate prize in golf, for me anyway.

same here.

BigChap1759

Reasons for joining a club:

Getting an official GUI handicap - allows you to play in both club competitions and open competitions at other clubs.

Meeting new friends and getting to play with people who are better than you - you learn a lot from lower handicappers

Access to proper practice facilities

Interclub compeitions

It is great to feel part of a club and get to know other members, go for a coffee/pint after and a bit of banter, watch the golf/football in the clubhouse etc.

Tones69

GreeBo wrote: »

ryaner777 wrote: »

What do you find weird ? What do you play competitive golf for other than prizes ? Is it a big secret what the prizes are ?

To reduce my handicap, same as most people on here I would assume.

Exactly what i was gettin at, after winning a few comps this year for the first time i can safely say the real buzz for me is playin good golf and getting cut

ryaner777

Sorry for the never ending questions but just two more thats running round my head.

Whe you first join and you need to submit 3 cards to get your handicap, do these rounds need to be competitions ?

And also

another boardsie advised me of a deal in kilcock golg club which sounds great, problem is it's an hours drive away.

What is the average distance or time people here generally travel to their home club ?

newport2

ryaner777 wrote: »

Sorry for the never ending questions but just two more thats running round my head.

Whe you first join and you need to submit 3 cards to get your handicap, do these rounds need to be competitions ?

And also

another boardsie advised me of a deal in kilcock golg club which sounds great, problem is it's an hours drive away.

What is the average distance or time people here generally travel to their home club ?

No, they just need to be marked and signed by someone with a GUI handicap.

30 minutes for me, but varies hugely between posters here obviously.

ryaner777

newport2 wrote: »

30 minutes for me, but varies hugely between posters here obviously.

I understand, do you think you'd go any futher than that ?

would your limit be 30 mins ?

newport2

ryaner777 wrote: »

I understand, do you think you'd go any futher than that ?

would your limit be 30 mins ?

No, but it would just influence how often I would play there. If it was an hour away I'd play more regularly at other clubs closer to home.

GreeBo

ryaner777 wrote: »

Sorry for the never ending questions but just two more thats running round my head.

Whe you first join and you need to submit 3 cards to get your handicap, do these rounds need to be competitions ?

And also

another boardsie advised me of a deal in kilcock golg club which sounds great, problem is it's an hours drive away.

What is the average distance or time people here generally travel to their home club ?

3 mins.
I wouldnt go further than 15/20 because it would massively cut down on the amount I could play.

Keano

My old club was 30 mins from my house, so an hour round trip. Used to find it hard to motivate myself to go and just play a few holes. My club this year is about 25 mins round trip and I find myself playing and practising more.

BigChap1759

20/25 mins here - don't think I would travel much further than that

AldilaMan

I use to be 25 mins - this year I moved and its 15 mins. Makes a huge difference when deciding to go up and play 6 holes - the nearer the better as long as you like the course. Its expensive enough without adding significant fuel costs to it.

ryaner777

cheers lads, I was recommended an offer they have in kilcock at the moment for €500 for full membership lasting until feb 2013.

It'd be a 40 min drive and also tolls on the m50 both ways.

Do you think this is to far for a someone like me who would be joining their first club ?

I'm in dublin 5 if that matters.

Kace

I would personally look at other options if you can afford the cash for Dublin clubs. If not then it's definitely doable, but 40km is a bit of a trek.

I am 20km away personally but because I play at 07:30am the trip is just under 20 minutes.