Starting Out

Copper_pipe

Hi all,

Having played a lot of Pitch and Putt over the last 12 months ive decided to take advantage of my summer off from College and have decided to join my local course. (Charleville http://charlevillegolf.com/course-information) Im paying 255 for a student membership which seems reasonable.

I have a few noobish questions :p

I understand I must play 3 rounds to obtain a handicap, Do I need to find someone else to play with to mark these rounds?

What colour tee box do i use?

Is it generally frowned upon or Is it deemed acceptable to go out and enjoy a round a golf on your own?

The Premier Man

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Hi all,

Having played a lot of Pitch and Putt over the last 12 months ive decided to take advantage of my summer off from College and have decided to join my local course. (Charleville http://charlevillegolf.com/course-information) Im paying 255 for a student membership which seems reasonable.

I have a few noobish questions :p

I understand I must play 3 rounds to obtain a handicap, Do I need to find someone else to play with to mark these rounds?

What colour tee box do i use?

Is it generally frowned upon or Is it deemed acceptable to go out and enjoy a round a golf on your own?

Yes you need someone else to mark the 3 cards.
I would use the whites or whatever colour is the non competition Tees in your course.
God no,get out there and play as often as you want

charlieIRL

I had to play my 3 rounds off the blue tees for my H/C!!

First Up

Copper_pipe wrote:

I understand I must play 3 rounds to obtain a handicap, Do I need to find someone else to play with to mark these rounds?

Yes, another member should do it. It is usually easiest to arrange during a competition but if you want to arrange to play with someone at another time that's ok.

Copper_pipe wrote:

What colour tee box do i use?

Whatever tees are in use on the day. Any variation in Standard Scratch between the different tees will be factored into the handicap calculation.

Copper_pipe

Sound lads.

I'll try keep an eye out on competitons so and try get the handicap as quick as I can.

Copper_pipe

Hi,

Back again with more questions :pac:

I see the club have a Gents Open Singles on Tuesday, Could I book at tee time for this and would It count as one of me 3 rounds?

fred funk }{

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Hi,

Back again with more questions :pac:

I see the club have a Gents Open Singles on Tuesday, Could I book at tee time for this and would It count as one of me 3 rounds?

Yes

slingerz

enjoy it

Ronan

It looks like the have a pro in the shop, have a chat and I am sure he will steer you right, stuff like you'll need to mark you card 'for handicap' etc.. Most of all have fun.

Copper_pipe

I've a habit of "topping" the ball and see it go a few yards along the ground.

Any videos or books Ye can recommend for me ?

First Up

Copper_pipe wrote:

Any videos or books Ye can recommend for me ?

You don't need to look at a book or a video. You need to look at the ball.

brady23

First Up wrote: »

You don't need to look at a book or a video. You need to look at the ball.

I have only recently began playing again and I have found YouTube videos incredibly helpful.

Certain basics such as grip, stance with various clubs, hip rotation and wrist flexion are all things that you can make adjustments to.
No substitute for a lesson I'm sure but they're definitely beneficial imo.

PARlance

Copper_pipe wrote: »

I've a habit of "topping" the ball and see it go a few yards along the ground.

Any videos or books Ye can recommend for me ?

A lesson will hopefully be your best investment Copper. That and plenty of good practice, trying to learn/figure out what you've done right / wrong.

Just keep it in the back of your mind that in 2/3 years you won't be topping the ball (as much).

Newtown90

Copper_pipe wrote: »

I've a habit of "topping" the ball and see it go a few yards along the ground.

Any videos or books Ye can recommend for me ?

Keep your head down!! :P

I had the same issue when I started earlier this year..

Have you gone for any lesson? There's a good pro in the NCW Golf Club in Ardagh, i think there's a new pro in Charleville aswell.. Worth getting a lesson or two at the start to get the basics right first and stop any bad habbits!

Take your time also! I found when I was topping my shots I was more worried about holding the next guy up! Relax and enjoy it!

pajoguy

I am jumping on this thread as I am also thinking about starting out. I have played a golf about once a year for the last 15 years. Thinking of investing in new clubs as my second hand ones are wrecked. Grips worn, steel shafts rusted up. Never really looked after them. Got them for free.
Any recommendations for a new set for a newbie and should i just play regularly for first year before committing to a club.
I was looking at charlevilles offer for new members. But would wait until the new year until joining. I have heard of a friend its difficult to get a tee time there.

Copper_pipe

Played first round for Handicap yesterday. it was an experience :pac: :pac:

acalmenvoy

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Played first round for Handicap yesterday. it was an experience :pac: :pac:

Come on! Some details..How'd ya get on

Copper_pipe

acalmenvoy wrote: »

Come on! Some details..How'd ya get on

Scorecard attached. Some highs but more bad moment Lost 6 balls I think in total

I'm very bad with the irons on the fairway. Anything longer than a 7 iron I struggle with. Must look into lessons.

Senna

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Scorecard attached. Some highs but more bad moment Lost 6 balls I think in total

I'm very bad with the irons on the fairway. Anything longer than a 7 iron I struggle with. Must look into lessons.

A par on the card, you'll be getting a handicap of 5 maybe 6!!!

Only joking:D

Copper_pipe

Senna wrote: »

A par on the card, you'll be getting a handicap of 5 maybe 6!!!

Only joking:D

Only need to par the other 17 holes now :pac::pac::pac:

Running Balance

Oh and take the opportunity to play every day while off..

Once you join the rat race you ll be wishing you were in the rough looking for your ball..

Biggest regret not taking up golf while in school/college. what a way to spend a summer

slingerz

Running Balance wrote: »

Oh and take the opportunity to play every day while off..

Once you join the rat race you ll be wishing you were in the rough looking for your ball..

Biggest regret not taking up golf while in school/college. what a way to spend a summer

100% agree with the above.

Enjoy it and dont be too hard on yourself. You'll see a massive improvement in time and still have the odd disaster hole

Copper_pipe

Went for another round today. Slowly making progress. Went to the driving range 3 times between today and the card I posted above. Hoping to get my last marked card for handicap done this week.

ronnie3585

16 shots better, and two pars - well done!

Copper_pipe

Played the last of my 3 cards this morning! No double digits which is a plus how long before I'm officially handed my 28 handicap?

Copper_pipe

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Played the last of my 3 cards this morning! No double digits which is a plus how long before I'm officially handed my 28 handicap?

Card attached

charlieIRL

Doubt you'll get much higher than 18 TBH. Ring your handicap secretary after a few days and they will tell you.

First Up

charlieIRL wrote:

Doubt you'll get much higher than 18 TBH. Ring your handicap secretary after a few days and they will tell you.

That card would be 12 stableford points off 18.

charlieIRL

First Up wrote: »

That card would be 12 stableford points off 18.

I know that but i haven't heard of any club handing out much higher than 18 to any player lately.

Copper_pipe has a few pars and a few bogies, if he can keep the big numbers off the card as he improves, it won't be long until he plays off 18.

Copper_pipe

I thought I'd be a shoe in for 28 after those 3 rounds. Will update once I hear my official handicap

tbayers

I recently handed in my card and was told by a few that if you can swing a club and stand you will receive a handicap of 18 regardless. Might be just my local club though.

Rikand

tbayers wrote: »

I recently handed in my card and was told by a few that if you can swing a club and stand you will receive a handicap of 18 regardless. Might be just my local club though.

If I ever lose my handicap I'll be sure to sink 10 pints before I step onto the course. Not only will I be unable to stand but I'll be running to the jacks every 30 seconds. I'll be a shoe in for 28

Newtown90

Did you get your handicap yet?!

Handed in my last card Friday so looking forward to getting my number now.

Seve OB

Looking at the scores, I worked out the course is par 70. OP's best score on each hole would give him 104.
Reduce the mad scores to a double bogey brings that down to 94.
On that basis, I think a handicap of 24 would be quite fair

BigChap1759

tbayers wrote: »

I recently handed in my card and was told by a few that if you can swing a club and stand you will receive a handicap of 18 regardless. Might be just my local club though.

Off topic I know but I despise that kind of attitude from a club/secretary - use the CONGU guidelines as set out or move over and let someone else do the job :mad:

Copper_pipe

Just a quick bump on this.

Still no handicap

Got in contact with them yesterday and was told "it would be sorted this week"

Hoping to play open singles at the weekend


(Ive been checking the Golfnet site like its going out of fashion lately) :P

Seve OB

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Just a quick bump on this.

Still no handicap

Got in contact with them yesterday and was told "it would be sorted this week"

Hoping to play open singles at the weekend


(Ive been checking the Golfnet site like its going out of fashion lately) :P

thanks for the update...I had been wondering
bad form them taking very long over it

Copper_pipe

Seve OB wrote: »

thanks for the update...I had been wondering
bad form them taking very long over it

Yeah I can't imagine it taking too long to process...

Copper_pipe

I've been given 18

Seve OB

Copper_pipe wrote: »

I've been given 18

Now there's a surprise!

First Up

Copper_pipe wrote:

I've been given 18

Sounds sensible; scope to move either way. As it is your first h/c, I would expect the club to be reasonable about reviewing it - i.e they won't enforce the ten .1 rule if you are clearly not ready for 18/19.

Hoof Hearted2

First Up wrote: »

Sounds sensible; scope to move either way. As it is your first h/c, I would expect the club to be reasonable about reviewing it - i.e they won't enforce the ten .1 rule if you are clearly not ready for 18/19.

Just to be clear, it's not limited to 10 .1's, it's one full shot higher than your current year lowest, also this is a CONGU rule and all affiliated must follow the rules, there is no scope to fiddle with it, but there is scope for the HC committee to review the HC and make adjustments if necessary.

moycullen14

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Only need to par the other 17 holes now :pac::pac::pac:

I guarantee you, you will be saying exactly the same thing in 20 years time.

First Up

Hoof Hearted2 wrote:

Just to be clear, it's not limited to 10 .1's, it's one full shot higher than your current year lowest, also this is a CONGU rule and all affiliated must follow the rules, there is no scope to fiddle with it, but there is scope for the HC committee to review the HC and make adjustments if necessary.

I know, but if the OP's first h/c is 18 then the max would be 19.

If he is better than that, he'll be cut.

Copper_pipe

Playing open Singles tomorrow so will be giving the handicap its debut.

So I pick up once I can't score on the hole?

First Up

Copper_pipe wrote:

Playing open Singles tomorrow so will be giving the handicap its debut.

]So I pick up once I can't score on the hole?

If it is stableford then good etiquette is to pick up if you are out of the hole. (If strokes, the torture goes on....)

You have a shot on each hole, so its easy to keep track.

Best of luck.

fred funk }{

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Playing open Singles tomorrow so will be giving the handicap its debut.

So I pick up once I can't score on the hole?

If you're not holding up play, play out the hole even if you can't score. The practice will help you improve.

First Up

fred funk }{ wrote:

If you're not holding up play, play out the hole even if you can't score. The practice will help you improve.

Good way to annoy your playing partners too.

ironkiwi

Copper_pipe wrote: »

I've been given 18

I handed in 3 cards 10 days ago and haven't heard anything yet. Does the club ring you or send out something in the post with a GUI membership card?

94, 92, 88 .... not sure what my handicap will be with those scores?

charlieIRL

ironkiwi wrote: »

I handed in 3 cards 10 days ago and haven't heard anything yet. Does the club ring you or send out something in the post with a GUI membership card?

94, 92, 88 .... not sure what my handicap will be with those scores?

Going to be a low one, great shooting.

charlieIRL

Copper_pipe wrote: »

I've been given 18

I was thinking you would. Hopefully the more you play and some practice you will be playing to it in no time.