first time golf club membership

masstiffdog

Hi all. Just looking for a bit of advice on joining a golf club for the first time. I've been playing on & off for couple of years now but have never considered joining a club until now. Main reason for this being it's hard to get a regular playing partner. I live in dunboyne Co meath. I'm dotted with course's around me meath and Dublin 15 so spoiled for choice.I've a budget of about 850 What should I look out for when joining a club? Does the club fill you in on handicaps and stuff?can you start playing competitions straight away? As you can tell all this stuff is a blur to me so any help or recommendations for clubs would be much appreciated.

First Up

Any club should be able to walk you through all that. You will need to play three rounds with someone to mark your card and that gets you your handicap. Once you have done that, you can enter competitions and your handicap will be adjusted as you go along.
Only thing is we are getting to the time of year when most clubs play "winter rules" (placing everywhere) and these competitions are non qualifying - i.e no handicap adjustments.
So if you are joining somewhere now, better hurry to get your handicap - then you are set for the winter.

princess poppy

Even if there is placing and comp is non qualify, you should be able to play without placing and card will qualify for handicapping purposes

the lawman

I'm a member of Rathcore and will gladly talk you through all the ins and outs of joining a course. No pressure to join my place at all obviously but happy to help you out.

PM me if you wish.

markpauldunne

Hi Masstiffdog, I was in the same boat here 4 years ago, In the end I prioritised travel times and I'm glad I did now when it comes to a bit of practice in the evenings. I am in Ashbourne and as Lawman offered happy to give you a tour and I have a couple of green fee's I won if you'd like a round to check it out.

As far as I know once you join somewhere you can have anyone with a GUI handicap sign your cards and the handicap secretary can make allowance for winter play (or tell you to play it as lies for handicap purposes).

Dr_Colossus

masstiffdog wrote: »

Hi all. Just looking for a bit of advice on joining a golf club for the first time. I've been playing on & off for couple of years now but have never considered joining a club until now. Main reason for this being it's hard to get a regular playing partner. I live in dunboyne Co meath. I'm dotted with course's around me meath and Dublin 15 so spoiled for choice.I've a budget of about 850 What should I look out for when joining a club? Does the club fill you in on handicaps and stuff?can you start playing competitions straight away? As you can tell all this stuff is a blur to me so any help or recommendations for clubs would be much appreciated.

Good selection of courses to choose from based on Dunboyne alright, my suggestion would be my homeclub BlackBush in Dunshaughlin, under 20mins from Dunboyne. Good thread about it here which should answer most of your questions:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056836945

What age profile are you? If under 35 they're extending the offer of full membership from now until Jan 2017 for a great price of €590. Details on their website here:
http://www.blackbushgolfclub.ie/membership/

If any other questions or you're looking for a round to initially check out the course let me know.

Eoinyh

Forget about them the blessed lakes 15 minutes from the M50, 25 from dunboyne,super track

Ollieboy

At the price you quoted I'm guessing the best bet for you is Hollystown or taking a life-style membership with Castleknock. Some other clubs will have 5 days membership that will suit that budget.

Some clubs in the area do membership at 1k but it really depends what you want from a club.

You need to consider the following when joining a club:

Location from home and work
Your Age
Your work patterns, I.e. do you need full 7 day membership
Members Club or a business (members club should always be 1st choice).
Inter-club Golf if interest
Type of Course you want to join (easy, flat, hilly, long, links, Parkland, 27 holes or 18 holes etc).
Financial Situation now and in the pass
Debt Levels
Current membership numbers (ideally you want a very active club, something with 500 plus members)
Family membership/junior options if required

I live in Dunboyne and I know a few other lads from the village who are members of my club. I'm also very familiar with the other clubs in the area and have friends in them. But a full 7 days membership will be dearer then €850 for a full paying adult member, but Associate Membership which allows 7 days golf would cost €850 odd. If you want to discuss it drop me a pm and I can ring you or meet you for a pint some evening to discuss all the clubs in the area, I normally drink in O'Dwyers.

Good luck and it's always a good investment joining a club.

masstiffdog

Hi Dr colossus. Thanks for reply. I am over 35 but I see on the Web site the membership is still under 1000 which is good news.I would gladly take you up on your offer of a round up there. When would suit you?

Hoboo

Mannan Castle in Monaghan do distance membership for around 200.

Here's the good bit.

That allows you to play Black Bush beside you and I think 3 or 4 other courses.

Don't know the exact terms but certainly worth a call. Guy I know who used to play Laytown did it, now plays BB the whole time.

Dr_Colossus

masstiffdog wrote: »

Hi Dr colossus. Thanks for reply. I am over 35 but I see on the Web site the membership is still under 1000 which is good news.I would gladly take you up on your offer of a round up there. When would suit you?

Sent you on a PM