Benefits of joining a Golf Club?

[g3rrd]

OK so I officially have the "bug"!

Four lessons in and buzzing from hitting @80 out of a 100 balls with
a fairly pleasing degree of consistancy (I know that can disappear overnight/anyday!)
I know find myself in a position were I need to get out onto a Golf course.

Being a billy no mates there is no chance of playing regularly with anyone I know so
I am thinking of possibly joining my local club Sutton Hall

Knowing very little about how clubs operate I am a little apprehensive about approaching and asking about membership.
From your own experiences would a "senior newbie" be best advised/welcome joining a club.
Could I expect to find a culture where members are willing to play a round or two, or am I destined to play as a
one ball early starts and evenings until I become excepted?

Yesterday bought a Ping K15 3 wood and Bigmax IQ trolley, so now sitting here admiring the fancy new toys now set up and taking pride of place in the living room,(while the cats away...) pathetic

Edited by g3rrd on Saturday 4th June 18:51

[DocJock]

Most starters are willing to pair up singles.

I used to just book a tee time and tell him I'd be happy to be paired.
I met someone new nearly every week.

[steve2]

is there not a pay and play course near you, I play quite a bit and do not belong to a club

[g3rrd]

Some cracking municipals around here, but they are all VERY busy.
Newbie single ball high handicapper teeing off with a large audience is not a scenario
that would have me sleeping well the night before.

[giw12]

Go and speak to the club secretary at any course you're thinking of joining and ask them how they integrate new members. If it appeals, and you can afford it, then join up I say!

[Bing o]

giw12 said:

Go and speak to the club secretary at any course you're thinking of joining and ask them how they integrate new members. If it appeals, and you can afford it, then join up I say!

Agreed. Golf membership is a good option especially if you don't already have a set of mates to play with. As soon as you get a handicap then you can start to play in comps where you are guaranteed a partner. I used to be quite happy scooting around my old club in a couple of hours on my own on a Sunday afternoon.

[GT03ROB]

Each club has it's own atmosphere & culture. This is why it pays too look around. Best time to go is around 9am on a Saturday morning. See how it's arranged. A good course for you will have something called a roll-up. In other words you roll-up and are randomly allocated into four balls. Great for making new friends to play with & you also get to play with players of differing skill levels.

[g3rrd]

Cheers for the info guys. First outing is a local municipal (Walton Hall, Warrington) Friday afternoon after work.
After that on Saturday morning go along to Sutton Hall and speak with the Shop Pro's and take it from there.