Does your club charge members admin fees for casual rounds?

That's desperate from the club. I look at our comp results when they come through and have been surprised that the numbers playing comps seems to have dropped dramatically. I can understand a few more lads going away at weekends now, and just doing other stuff because some things are open now. But the drop off is much bigger than I'd expected.

I think your club should call it what it is - a covid levy. I'd be surprised if the reason they're bringing this in isn't because they're way behind on revenue and this is due to covid.

Or another thought - could it be to do with handicap manipulation? For those lads playing 3-4 times a week in particular, if you play those rounds as practice ones (not trying for the best possible score) but submit the scores anyway you can keep your handicap higher than it should be. Basically, if you're playing 3-4 times a week, one being a comp where you're trying to score as high as possible, you'll have about 6 scores where you're properly trying. So your handicap will be the best of 6 scores where your trying and 2 more where you're kind of trying. As opposed to 20 where you're trying. If people had to pay €7 for each of those casual ones they probably wouldn't bother submitting them.

Thankfully it has not happened in my club but I am pretty sure I would leave if they tried that.

My annual subs allow me access to play casual rounds. Whether I count them or not is my own choice. I know members that have not entered comps of any kind in a few years as the times they are on do not suit them. Their membership is just a valid as the member who only plays comps. Really poor form in my opinion

100% on this. There would be uproar in my club if casual golf was charged for. Total money grab by whatever club(s) are doing it.

Interesting feedback.

I know talking to clubs all over Ireland they are seeing issues with members sticking in practice rounds every day with the same partners. This is mostly people we would all refer to has professional bandits with no morals.

I think what clubs are trying to do is make it as hard as possible to stop this type of cheating by making it difficult to post casual golf. And example I’ve seen is, cost, plus timesheet restrictions and playing partners restrictions.

I doubt this is anything to do with revenue and the solution is unfortunately badly thought out by the usual weak committee system at clubs.

if we already pay a golf Ireland levy, then it’s not right for the club to charge for it.

Personally, I think casual golf shouldn’t count and that solves the issue.

My club doesn't allow casual rounds for handicap on the same day as a competition, which I think is a reasonable compromise.

My club does and the most one that uses it is the most one that was all for the charge at the AGM, also the main bandit in the club.

Id love to know if the club are keeping a record of who is entering casual rounds and if they are paying.

Golf Ireland's stance on it is that if the casual round is submitted it has to be processed for handicap regardless of payment. The issue of payment is between the club and member.

Clubs have to process them, but depending on how they are entered, will require certain prerequisites. Ours requires that the same system used for competitions is used for these scores and score cards are returned for checking. Also a sign-in sheet to be used before starting the round.

People can use the GI app instead, but they have to return a score card as well.

That way, the software records the rounds and they are also recorded on the Golf Ireland dashboard whether the GI app is used or not.

I generally only play comps to try get my handicap down. If casual rounds count then I won't be paying 5e every week, possibly €150 per year on top of membership. Lots are similar so the club would be losing lots of revenue so I can see why they're charging.