What club to join?

Glinda

Hi everyone,

This is a great board and I've picked up lots of useful tips, though I've never posted anything before. So here goes...

I've been playing for a couple of years, society in work, rounds with friends, relatives etc. etc. Although I go the range every week, I've finally realised that unless I play more golf out on the course I'm never going to get any better! So, the big decision is where to join. I'd like to play once a week, probably early morning on a weekend day (popular I know).

Thing is, I'm a girl. Now I generally play with men, and have no problem keeping up, but I've heard a lot of throwaway comments about women golfers ('oh no, the fanny pack are up ahead, we'll be here all day...' etc. or where I've been looked at in complete shock on the first tee, as though I was an alien or something, although this has always settled down once it is apparent that I can hit a ball).

It's like they forget I'm female once we're playing, but then laugh together about the women the groups up ahead, not realising it might bother me. (I think sometimes I'm actually supposed to join in, but then there's this awkward bout of coughing and everyone pretends nothing happened). Now that's all very well when I'm arriving with a group, or have my brother along, and I am well able to give as good as I get, but if I join somewhere I'll be arriving to play on my own, so I don't want to be in a club that I'm not really welcome in, or where I can't join a group tee time without getting funny looks.

On the other hand I've played in some clubs where it's regarded as perfectly normal to be female (!), there's a great atmosphere and women are welcome to play any time, treated just the same as the men. Sadly these ones have all been a bit too far from home for membership to be practical.

I'm the first to acknowledge that I'm still learning, but I'm not a complete beginner and I can play a full round fairly respectably. I live in north county Dublin. (Before anyone suggests I join a club where I know people, relatives all members of one club, don't want to join there as a) much beyond my budget and b) they all single figure handicappers, so I'd prefer to keep away!).

Just want somewhere I can turn up on Saturday or Sunday morning play my round quietly with whoever's about and go home.

Any recommendations?

PARlance

Is no-one going to reply to the girl...

Hey Glinda,

That's a pity you have to deal with all that, golf can be a frustrating game at the best of times and I wouldn't fancy having to put up with throwaway comments like that on top of everything else.

I don't play much golf out your neck of the woods, Swords Open would be the only course that I've played on several occasions.
I've never seen a mixed grouping when I was out there, but I've seen plenty of female groups. It may be worth considering.

I don't know if you could possibly find out in advance if the club is "female friendly" as you put it. I would say most clubs are as friendly as the next but within each one you'd have a lot of snobbery towards women. Unfortunately there'll be a lot of members in every club that 1) aren't too friendly to new members and 2) even less friendly to new female members.

I would think your best option would be to find a club within your budget that has the healthiest female membership and try to get in there and make some new female golfing partners.
Start playing away with fellow ladies and then start to integrate further into the club by getting involved in some mixed competitions, with the hope that you'll impress some gentleman enough to let you have another round with him

It's a shame that someone so interested has to deal with these obstacles.
There's a Boards society here that you'd be more than welcome to join, there's a lady that has played on a few occasions. (Not sure how many, I didn't attend those ones, I personally wouldn't play with a girl )

Best of luck with it anyway, and let us know how you get on.

slave1

I was presented with this dilema this time last year, I joined where most of my work society play as they are my playing partners, no point in joining somewhere cheap if you don't know anyone and therefore limit your playing options.

GreeBo

Hey Glinda,
if you take a look at the sticky thread (at the top of the forum) you will find a link to Dublin Club Prices.
This will help you to narrow the choice based on what you can afford.

Im not sure how useful it would be to you but I know there is at least 1 ladies club that runs out of leopardstown. My mother started her golf career there and had great fun. I think she played on a Tuesday but Id guess they have weekend things also.

FixdePitchmark

Hi,

St Annes have a great ladies group of players. This is only as a visitor looking in.

My own view is , you would need to ask ladies from the club in question.
Plenty around airport a bit cheaper.

"fanny pack up ahead" :eek::eek::eek::mad::mad::(:( Gob****es.

Glinda

I think the ideal would be somewhere that already has a healthy ladies' membership, but fairly well mixed in, so I can play when I want, rather than at some designated 'ladies' time, if that's possible!

Did you like Swords Open, AJCurry? I think I might drop down one day and have a look. I'm not too worried about the social side tbh, quite happy to play with whoever's around - just want to put in some time on the course.
slave1 my work is city centre, so they are members all over the place. Nobody near me, unfortunately.
Greebo, thanks, I had a look at that thread. I can stretch to a couple of grand probably (ouch). Leopardstown a bit far from me - needs to be north county Dublin, near Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Donabate etc.

Fixed Pitchmark, had a good laugh at your post - will check out St. Anne's though.

I played in Craddockstown near Naas last year, seemed to be very good mixed bunch there: pity it's too far away!

Back9bandit

Glinda, if you are heading down the M8 anytime and want a game, drop me a PM. You will be more than welcome in Mitchelstown.

Jimmy Two Times

Do check out St Annes.

Might be a little above the figure you quoted but the benefits are probably worth the few extra quid.

Year Round Golf, Weekend Time sheets with loads of ladies competitions on Saturdays and Sundays and a good mix of ages too.

PARlance

Glinda wrote: »

Did you like Swords Open, AJCurry? I think I might drop down one day and have a look. I'm not too worried about the social side tbh, quite happy to play with whoever's around - just want to put in some time on the course.

Apologies for delay, missed the response.
I don't really like giving reviews on courses, too many variables...the standard of course you've previously played, ability level, what you're looking for from a course etc..
From my part, I go out there 4-5 times a year for a round with a friend that lives close by. It's very much a social thing for me. I've been lucky enough to have played some really great courses...would I go back to Swords Open on a regular basis if it wasn't a social thing? probably not but that in no way means it's a bad course. (1st hole is uninspiring but it gets better after that)
But best thing is to go out and have a round for yourself to make your own mind up as you'll hopefully be playing it every week with all those lads out there