28 replies to this topic

[Jeepguy1981]

I have mulled this decision for a year now and today I finally pulled the trigger and joined my local country club.  I live in a fairly small town and just got fed up with playing our crappy public courses, and also got tired of playing by myself all the time.  I don't have a lot of golfer friends so I often have to play by myself.  Which brings me to my first question:

What is the best way to start making golfing buddies and get into a regular group?  I only know one other guy who belongs and he has a regular Sunday group.  He told me he'll play with me on Saturdays when he can and if there is ever an open spot in his Sunday group I'm welcome to fill in.  I appreciate that, but I would like to find some regular playing partners.

Hang around the clubhouse and wait for other singles?  Talk to the pro and see if he knows of any groups he can hook me up with?

This is my first "country club experience" so I am not real familiar with normal protocol in country clubs.  I would appeciate any advice and tips some of you veterans can give me.  BTW, I am 30 years old so I am probably in one of the younger age groups at the club.

[mcadenhead]

I was in a similar situation when I joined my club last year. I primarily played by myself for the first 2 weeks, but quickly found playing partners. Does your club have club sponsored choose-up games? For me, the weekly choose-ups and club tournaments helped meet the other members. Another option is to hang out in the lounge which is a popular gathering spot at my club.

[jeffreyl]

Pro's should be glad to help and introduce you to members. We have events that are drawn by the Pros (depending on format) ABCD players etc.

We always introduce ourselves and offer to play with new members and the Pro helps, as well.


Enjoy the course and the people, I have for many years!



Jeff

 mcadenhead, on 08 May 2012 - 06:47 PM, said:

I was in a similar situation when I joined my club last year. I primarily played by myself for the first 2 weeks, but quickly found playing partners. Does your club have club sponsored choose-up games? For me, the weekly choose-ups and club tournaments helped meet the other members. Another option is to hang out in the lounge which is a popular gathering spot at my club.

[UnderPar18]

Not to thread jack, but I saw a comment above about pro's should be glad to play with you and introduce you to other members. I wish this was the case. I am 22 years old and just joined a Country Club. The women in charge of your membership where you pay and what not were very rude and unwelcoming and when I introduced myself to the pro and mentioned how I just paid for my membership he put me into the handicap system and then turned around went back to the counter and just talked on the phone. It was very dissapointing since I have worked at a golf course since I was 16 and helped out since I was 14. We never treated new members this way. I am glad to see some clubs that welcome members and make the golf course a place of kindness and enjoyable.

I know you guys might bash me for going through and paying for the membership, but I am moving to my first apartment and starting my first job. This was the only course nearby that had a student membership and it also is only 15 minutes away from my apartment so the price and distance is perfect. The course is nice and well maintained, just the employees were unwelcoming.

[scotchblade]

Awesome!  I suggest familiarizing yourself with "house rules."  Dress code, guest policy, use of cell phones and the like.  When you do invite a guest, advise them in advance of those rules.

I work at a private and see people show up in cargo shorts, untucked shirts and on the phone more often than you'd think.

[elp3022]

I'm in a similar spot myself.  I left my old club because there wasn't anyone my age (36) playing regulary on the weekends for some reason.  I recently joined a new one closer to the house and am attending a new member social Friday night.  I'm hoping to meet some people there and start playing with a regular group.  You might ask the membership director if they have and socials like that at your club to introduce new members around.

[Jeepguy1981]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.  Next weekend the club is having an invitational tournament that I signed up for, so hopefully that will get me in the door a bit.

[dporto]

I don't belong to a private club, but I do play at a few fairly often. As in any social situation, relax be yourself and let it happen naturally. Don't try too hard or it'll be very obvious and you might come off as pushy or rude. In my experience, golfers in general are very nice, considerate and accomodating - Good Luck and play well!

[HackerDave]

 Jeepguy1981, on 08 May 2012 - 06:28 PM, said:

I have mulled this decision for a year now and today I finally pulled the trigger and joined my local country club.  I live in a fairly small town and just got fed up with playing our crappy public courses, and also got tired of playing by myself all the time.  I don't have a lot of golfer friends so I often have to play by myself.  Which brings me to my first question:

What is the best way to start making golfing buddies and get into a regular group?  I only know one other guy who belongs and he has a regular Sunday group.  He told me he'll play with me on Saturdays when he can and if there is ever an open spot in his Sunday group I'm welcome to fill in.  I appreciate that, but I would like to find some regular playing partners.

Hang around the clubhouse and wait for other singles?  Talk to the pro and see if he knows of any groups he can hook me up with?

This is my first "country club experience" so I am not real familiar with normal protocol in country clubs.  I would appeciate any advice and tips some of you veterans can give me.  BTW, I am 30 years old so I am probably in one of the younger age groups at the club.

Talk to the pro and chat up the starter.  The starter will know all the groups that play and hook you up with one of them.

[HackerDave]

 UnderPar18, on 08 May 2012 - 07:29 PM, said:

Not to thread jack, but I saw a comment above about pro's should be glad to play with you and introduce you to other members. I wish this was the case. I am 22 years old and just joined a Country Club. The women in charge of your membership where you pay and what not were very rude and unwelcoming and when I introduced myself to the pro and mentioned how I just paid for my membership he put me into the handicap system and then turned around went back to the counter and just talked on the phone. It was very dissapointing since I have worked at a golf course since I was 16 and helped out since I was 14. We never treated new members this way. I am glad to see some clubs that welcome members and make the golf course a place of kindness and enjoyable.

I know you guys might bash me for going through and paying for the membership, but I am moving to my first apartment and starting my first job. This was the only course nearby that had a student membership and it also is only 15 minutes away from my apartment so the price and distance is perfect. The course is nice and well maintained, just the employees were unwelcoming.

Again, talk up the starter and maybe the assistant pros.  They know everybody from tourneys and lessons.  If there is a mens league, join it.   Also sign up for tournaments.  You will meet new members there.  If you put yourself out there, it won't take long to find a group.  Our club has several Sat morning groups, a Thursday afternoon group and mens league on Tuesday.   Between these and regularly scheduled tourneys, you will meet a LOT of new faces.   Don't let a crappy pro get you to down.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

So I take it from your question there are no regularly scheduled games open to all comers. My own club and most others I'm familiar with have a couple (or more) tee times set aside all or most days of the week for dogfights or whatever they call them, either individual games or random-draw team games. Usually for low stakes. No better way to meet people and integrate yourself into the golf side of the club (which in many cases overlaps with but is different from the social side).

Absent that sort of opportunity I think the suggestion to put a word in with the pro and his staff is your best bet. They will be very familiar (probably more familiar than they'd like ) with all the regular golf-playing members and will be your best bet for finding suitable players for a game once in a while.

[peat24]

I second hacker dave. Join the league and as many tournaments as you can. My first year i did none of that and I kind of "wasted" the first year. The second year I joined up with a ton of groups and met a lot of players. The pro put me into tournaments that needed one or two players and those guys invited me to their weekend games.  It'll pick up. Be patient and buy a few beers at the bar. You'll make golf buddies in no time.

-a.

[BrianMcG]

Most clubs will have a choose up of some kind.

At the club where I worked there could be as many as three in one day.

We had the senior choose up early every morning. They let anyone play but only the retired folks are teeing off at 9:00am on weekdays.

Then there was the regular choose up every day at 12:00 for all the guys skipping out of work early.

On Wednesdays, there was the Gold Tee choose up, which was made up mostly the low handicappers all playing from the tips.

What it was is say you had 20 people sign up, we put their names in the handicap computer and it draws up teams based on their handicap. So each team is supposedly equal in ability. Then they have a little $5 bet each side. There were tons of side bets you can make and if you made them all and didn't play well you could lose a bundle.

If you want to make friends in one of these groups you just neede to make lots of birdies. Then everyone wants to play with you.

If you made lots of bogeys then buy your team some beers after.

Edited by BrianMcG, 10 May 2012 - 08:33 AM.

[bcp]

This thread contains lots of good advice.  I would second talking to the pros and membership director.  Also, inquire about any golf associations (Men's, Seniors, etc.).

Finally, I would add to hang out in the bar.  Introduce yourself as a new member and chat with the regulars.  Let them know you are looking for a regular weekend game.  Odds are, you will find a group that way.

[spoonhead]

Do not estimate the value of someones hat/cap in relation to "bowls of soup" in the pro shop.  

[kuslamb]

I seem to meet someone new on the driving range weekly.  I grew up at the club at which I am now a member, so I already had a head start.  I workout M-W-F and try to practice T-Th.  Towards the end of my practice session I go to the putting clock which is just across from the #1 tee.  There are always other guys like me out there in ones and twos that are going to play and we just naturally join up, exchange numbers, and get set for the weekend.

[mdgboxx]

Went through the thread, did not see any mention of the first obvious question when you're new at any club: What's your HDCP?

If you can't break 100 to save your life, be prepared to play by yourself--alot--! If you lie about it, someone will volonteer to check you out. Then, you'll end up playing with anyone feeling sorry for you or worse, the club instigator/trouble maker (You don't want to give this one ANY details of your personal life)


If you play 85 or better regularly, you'll be fine in most groups.

You'll hear alot of rumors/gossips about such & such, ...... Keep it ALL to yourself, don't share any!



Don't waste your money on anyone unless it was earned on the course that day.



Don't go online ranting about a group that you can't integrate. Don't be THAT guy! (The instigator)



Simple personal rules to live by in ANY private group. (Membership, Work, etc.)



Enjoy your stay, as they say in ANY Hotel in the world!

[glfpunk]

 mdgboxx, on 10 May 2012 - 02:17 PM, said:

Went through the thread, did not see any mention of the first obvious question when you're new at any club: What's your HDCP?

If you can't break 100 to save your life, be prepared to play by yourself--alot--! If you lie about it, someone will volonteer to check you out. Then, you'll end up playing with anyone feeling sorry for you or worse, the club instigator/trouble maker (You don't want to give this one ANY details of your personal life)


If you play 85 or better regularly, you'll be fine in most groups.

This has not been my experience in Country Club golf at all.  Sure there are some players but plenty of hackers as well.  It's been my experience that there's a small group of better players, a small group of hackers, a handful of high single digit to 13 or so handicaps, and most fall between that and just south of 100.  

It is absolutely NOT about what you score out there.  It's more about pace of play.  My club prides itself on getting around in 4 hours or less and I've never played a round of golf longer than that there.  Nobody cares what you shoot if they don't have to wait on you constantly.

[Keg0brew]

Most of the good stuff has already been covered, (join mens golf association, play in tournaments, talk up the club pro(s), etc.), however one other thing to do that has not been covered, is this....just show up first thing Saturday morning and look to get fit in.  

All the private clubs I've ever been to or belonged to have standing Saturday morning games and odds are you can get in on them most times, (as long as your not guy #9 or #13, etc.)  At most places its not an exact set group of guys every week, its more like there are 30+ guys that play in the game regularly, but only 16 or so usually show up any given Saturday, and the groups and teams and what not change every week.  Most places let the regular groups go off prior to the first official tee time or set aside the first few tee times for these regular games.  I've only seen a few places where the guys in these morning games were discriminatory if they had room for an extra man.  They may not let you play in the betting game the first time just to judge your game and handicap (hate sandbaggers) but most are always open for more guys to join in the fun if they can keep up with the group in terms of pace of play and general skill level.  

My regular Saturday morning group is guys from age 30 - 70 and handicaps from +2 to 20 or so, and everything is handicapped base so everyone has a good time and equal chance to win.

[iiiput]

Agree with the advice above. When I joined my clib, I found myself getting into weekend games by meeting other guys in clubs tourneys. My experience is that one or two guys head up each group with regards to getting tee times each week, so the pro shop will know who these guys are and can  probably forward you to them.

[Swisstrader98]

Good suggestion already is to let the starter know youre looking for a game and show up every Sat and Sun and let him know your handicap. Also hang out at the range and start up a conversation with just about everyone. I was in a similar situation about 20 years ago...knew absolutely no one at the club, but it's amazing how quckly people warmed up to me and the toughest thing then was quickly getting into a group that I was most comfortable with (very easy to get locked into a group that becomes your regular 4-some and tough to undo if you're not loving your group).

I also personally avoid the politics of the club, meaning club president, being on the board, etc. Some guys love it , but i have Enough pressure on my job without turning my enjoyable weekend hearing ppl gripe at me when I'm trying to tee it up.

[MadGolfer76]

Save your best shots for the holes within sight of the pro shop and clubhouse...then wait.

[golfnut-2X]

* volunteer for the mens golf committees; great way to meet the playing leadership of the club;  they can then get you pointed to the right groups or have you join theirs

* ask proshop and/or mgc are there any large groups that play together / throw balls on a regular basis and find out who coordinates them;  ask coordinator if they are open for new players.  understand if they play net or scratch and if what they bet.  some of our better groups play two person random teams better ball at scratch and bet.  we have another large group that goes out and does the same but plays net from the mens tees.  each club will have different group dynamics.  if you are not comfortable betting and playing scratch good to play in the other group.


some ideas that other will respect at the club:
* play fast (not on time).

* no mobiles

* play right tees for your driver distance / hcp unless playing in a weekly group match

* be prepared to bet with the groups

* fix and fill all divots and fix your ptich mark on the green plus one other

* if you are the first one in the hole grab the pole and be the one to putt it back quickly as soon as the last putt drops

* no talking on the tee box (we even hear you wisperers that think you are being quite) - not just tee box but any shot

[StevenF]

Show up wearing jeans and a white belt.

[nitram]

Park on the back row so you don't take Walter's spot he's had for thirty years.

If you're unsure what fork to use, eat with the spoon.

Buy a round for everyone in the bar on Saturday afternoon and introduce yourself.

Don't take all of your pocket money into the poker game.

Don't stare at the hot chick laying out at the pool.

[Man In The Miura]

For me, it is amazing how one's social circle is so dependent on schedules.  I probably see 15 faces regularly because of the similar hours we keep.  Try mixing up you times at the club.  You'll meet a lot more people.

[Thrillhouse]

 HackerDave, on 10 May 2012 - 07:58 AM, said:

chat up the starter.

Agreed, old men working as starters at country clubs are sexy. You can get yourself a date!

[farmer]

Help look for balls, play quickly and cheerfully.  Do not be the guy who bitches about every bad bounce and bad swing.

[ChipDriver]

 Jeepguy1981, on 08 May 2012 - 06:28 PM, said:

I have mulled this decision for a year now and today I finally pulled the trigger and joined my local country club.  I live in a fairly small town and just got fed up with playing our crappy public courses, and also got tired of playing by myself all the time.  I don't have a lot of golfer friends so I often have to play by myself.  Which brings me to my first question:

What is the best way to start making golfing buddies and get into a regular group?  I only know one other guy who belongs and he has a regular Sunday group.  He told me he'll play with me on Saturdays when he can and if there is ever an open spot in his Sunday group I'm welcome to fill in.  I appreciate that, but I would like to find some regular playing partners.

Hang around the clubhouse and wait for other singles?  Talk to the pro and see if he knows of any groups he can hook me up with?

This is my first "country club experience" so I am not real familiar with normal protocol in country clubs.  I would appeciate any advice and tips some of you veterans can give me.  BTW, I am 30 years old so I am probably in one of the younger age groups at the club.

Simple - tell the starter/pro shop that you're new and ask to be put into a group.  You'll have a regular group probably within a month.

Congrats.