Dr.Rieux wrote: » A fixed number of home qualifying comps in the previous 12 months, not calendar year, would do similar for handicap purposes would it?
Dr.Rieux wrote: » That is different to joining your local club for the first time in 2015. Many people agree, and have agreed on thread, that stopping distance membership abuse is a good thing. But, is stopping full members of their local club from playing these opens a good thing all because they weren't a member last year?
SaveOurLyric wrote: » I think it still is, in that it ensures some period of handicap history to be built up iunder the supervision of a club. Not unfair to be trying to restore some credibility to the handicap system. Wait a year. Big deal.
alxmorgan wrote: » My issue here is though it does not restore credibility to the system as it has no affect on team comps which are, I would argue generally accepted, the bigger issue. And it is not strange that I can compete in my home club after 3 cards but have to wait a year on away courses even though the handicap system does handle singles scores correctly and automatically ?
dk1982 wrote: » You sound like you have serious anger issues. Take a holiday or something chief. Your blood pressure must be through the roof.
Dr.Rieux wrote: » As part of a membership you get GUI membership, for a fee. This membership entitles you to play in open competitions. If you are immediately disqualified from opens should you GUI membership cost the same? A fixed number of home qualifying comps in the previous 12 months, not calendar year, would do similar for handicap purposes would it?
geeksauce wrote: » In relation to people joining clubs for the first time in 2015 why couldn't they bring in an allowance to the rule whereby if they play in 3 qualifying comps at their home club during 2015 they can then be activated to play in open comps in other clubs. This would remove the unfairness of not being able to play in away open comps for a year and would encourage people to play comps at home at the earliest available time which should result in them becoming more involved with their own club and playing more often there too.
bobwilliams wrote: » 100% agree and what a load if horse****e, get rid of the open days??? Jesus wept he needs an economics lesson on top of everything else
GreeBo wrote: » GUI membership is about far more than being able to play in opens. How much of a discount would you like from the 15 euro exactly? If you dont want to be a member of the GUI then dont join, but they give you a handicap so either follow their rules or dont, you cant pick and choose the options that suit your scenario and expect the rest of the world to subsidise your choices.[\B]
Dr.Rieux wrote: » Except in the case of first time golfers they're not looking to be subsidised. They are paying the same amount as long(er) standing members and are getting less, effectively subsidising the long(er) standing members. The money involved is a pittance (a fraction of the 15 euro) I know but still, as said, you can't expect the rest of the world to subsidise your choices.
GreeBo wrote: » I honestly don't get what you are having an issue with, either its about the money or its not. Do you pay less in your first year of driving or your first year as a club member? Its one of the prerequisites of joining the GUI, you arent eligible for everything off the bat....is that really such a crazy idea that the GUI made up...I dont think so.
alxmorgan wrote: » No but to take away something that new full members had until now...at a time when attracting new members is getting more and more difficult does seem, if not crazy, then a little bit lacking in nuance. I don't think the stated aim of this was anything to do with new full members but it is negatively affecting them all the same. I'll give you one example. A good friend of mine was a full member for years but has been out for two years with injury. He will re-join (hopefully) in January but will be denied the chance to play in open competitions through not fault of his own. He can play 30 qualifying competitions and still not be allowed play in an open. People are talking about collateral damage. I've said it before and I'll say it again...it's just lazy and it didn't have to be this way.
GreeBo wrote: » But there is no such thing as "new full members until now" in reality. The argument is the same as "the price for new members was X now its 2x, thats unfair".No one is saying its his fault, its just a fact of life in your first year, I see it as having to prove your handicap is up to date and think its a good thing.
GreeBo wrote: » Your handicap is probably miles off if you have only ever played 3 comps. I dont see what the "unfairness" is. New drivers cant drive on their own for a while but old drivers can...is that "unfair" too?
GreeBo wrote: » But there is no such thing as "new full members until now" in reality. The argument is the same as "the price for new members was X now its 2x, thats unfair". No one is saying its his fault, its just a fact of life in your first year, I see it as having to prove your handicap is up to date and think its a good thing.
geeksauce wrote: » No your driver analogy is not unfair but tbh they are completely unrelated and the analogy doesn't exactly work. I don't think it is completely implausible to think your handicap wouldn't be miles off if you only played in 3 comps, I have played in a good few more than 3 however my handicap hasn't changed drastically this year at all.
GreeBo wrote: » If you dont want to be a member of the GUI then dont join, but they give you a handicap so either follow their rules or dont, you cant pick and choose the options that suit your scenario.
ezra_ wrote: » I'm quite confused by a lot of this. I'm a new member. Got my handicap this year. Can I: 1) play in other course and have my results there contributing towards my overall H/C? 2) play in competitions in other clubs? Cheers!
geeksauce wrote: » Yes and yes. However if you have not played in 3 comps at your own club this year then next year it will be No and No.
PARlance wrote: » Completely agree, once you have your HC that is that, you're not on a "provisional licence". Greebo, I think your thoughts on that contradict this The rules are the rules. Your initial HC is your HC and there is no magic number of rounds where it suddenly becomes real.
PARlance wrote: » Was just thinking that this is an awful lot of fuss for a couple of thousand or so distance golfers (~0.5% of golfers in Ireland). But maybe it's not about these distance members at all. A far bigger headache for most clubs (and they're the guys ultimately proposing this not the GUI) is the retention of golfers. Golfers have become far more likely to move from club to club (unless paying or having to pay entrance fees). Maybe this rule is designed to make golfers "stickier" to their club? Newbies (completely new to golf) won't really mind that much about not being allowed in opens, but as a current member and someone who likes to test myself on other courses (competitively in Opens), then I would seriously consider changing my club if it meant that I couldn't play opens the following year.
