New Club Membership

[evershady]

I have a little bit of a rant/dilemma. Here is the story. I just moved to Wisconsin in January from Minnesota not a huge change or so I thought. I had a club membership for 6 years and loved it the people were great there were monthly tournament where the club house picked the teams so you would get teamed up with other member and it was an excellent way to meet every one and play golf.  When we moved I did some research because we don't have country club money, but it is cheaper to get a membership so i can play everyday. The new club is a nice course only 6000 yards but has a good layout and is fun and challenging. Also the membership for player under 40 is cheaper than 9 hole course in the area. The issue is the other members. I asked about tournament when i joined the pro said they do a club championship but that is all because the members are pretty clichey and don't like to play with other member not in their group.   I have been play here on a regular basis at least 2 or 3 times a week since April and have played with exactly zero other members. I have only met one person who even said we should go out and play. Just yesterday i went out playing by myself walking a quick pace because needed to be off the course by 5 for an event. I'm coming up hole 9 and the Club Pro and his opponent for a league match are teeing off on 10. When i get over there he said hope you don't mind we jumped in front of you to get the match in. I figure not problem they have a group in front of them finally get to play with someone out here. So i hurry up go hit my chip and 2 putt for par head to the tee they were in the fairway waiting so i wait, Keep this going for a few hole just finishing just slow enough to not join. on hole 13 a par 5 they are waiting on the tee when I get there. I just sit down waiting for the invite that never happens so i sit and wait a good 10 12 minutes before I can tee up and and get going i did par the hole but with a 3 putt so i was pretty much done after that and just got tired of all the waiting that easily could have been sped up just with an invite. Now the dilemma is  there is a 15% discount on next years membership is it worth playing a decent course with nobody else or should find somewhere else that has people that are open and inviting to new members. Or is this how most clubs are you had to be there for years before you make new friends? Did I just luck out with the first club? I find that hard to believe because I have met other Minnesota golfers at Twin Cities Golf events.

[fozcycle]

Sorry for your dilemma evershady.  Do they have a pub?  or a bar or joint or watering hole where you can get a beverage of your choice after a round?  If so, then I suggest that is where you start to meet and develop relationships.  If not, then possibly you can meet other members at your work or church or local watering hole.  I do not understand playing there since april and not meeting other members.  

 

When I changed clubs about 6 years ago, i started a weekly points game on Saturday.  I had to recruit new members so i got the Pro Shop to direct new members to our group.  I also encouraged the few old guys to invite their friends.......Now we have over 100 players and average 40 golfers each week.

 

I know it's difficult when you're the new guy, but sometimes you just have to exert yourself.   Maybe you should have suggested that you play with the others when they "cut" in front of you and you waited for the invite.

[evershady]

There is a bar onsite. I'm confused to i my old club I met all kinds of people just by showing up. I thought about asking to play later on but then ji was already out of it. 

[Jmikecpa]

I personally would look somewhere else since I generally join a club for the people and not really the golf course. I am looking to join my first club since moving to NY and had it narrowed down to three clubs. One has a fantastic course, great amenities but juniors are not a focus and the people are not my crowd. The other two have decent golf courses but a great membership and are more family inclusive. Now it is a matter of choice between those two.

[Bogey in The Woods]

There are times when I would love to get a round in alone. But that long at what is supposed to be MY club and haven't played with ANYONE???? Bro, I don't have the patience I guess to try after that long. Down here, I frequent about 6 different courses, but dont have a membership at any; YET. But at each of the courses I play, I have met multiple people who have ended up being people i call up to go and play with at times. Just hardheaded old Bogey taking here, but I would be looking around. 15% be damned. 

[Kenny B]

That doesn't sound like much fun; sounds like my practice course where my wife and I play alone, or I play by myself when she is working.  It's OK for practice but a club is for socializing.  Some clubs are pretty snobbish and the guys only want to play with their usual buddies.  It's hard to break into that circle, and from the sound of things, I am not sure I would want to even try.  I would look elsewhere too.

[sp0rtsfan86]

I know the feeling. My home course in NJ was public, but there were a few guys that got together. However, most everyone else were on their own. I usually play alone although I do play in league events. If thye have something like that I'd join up with that. If you are ok with playing alone, then there's no problem. If you want to join with someone, than I'd look elsewhere or see if they have a newbie program.

[Kanoito]

I would have asked if I could join them.

 

On the other hand, I don't mind playing alone. I play alone most of the time anyways since I usually tee off around 6am. The course is pretty empty.

 

And when my wife is able to wake up that early, she'll join me.

 

But we do have at least 1 tournament per month where the flights are assembled randomly.

[mizuno_lover]

Evershady personally if it was me I would be looking for some where else.  Cheap membership not withstanding in some cases you get what you pay for.  Sounds to me like you are getting snobby, cliquey, and the unfriendly cold shoulder.  Certainly not what I would want in a membership.  I am a member of a Wednesday Social Club and also a full blown "Golf Club" and from day one in both I was made to feel welcome and was sought out by members asking me to join in in their groups and play.  I have made some great friends that I now expect the friendships to last the rest of my life they are that good.  Sometimes we just have to look a bit harder and ask a few more questions to get what we want.

[PlaidJacket]

I'd walk away from that place... no wait. I'd run. If you already have a bad taste/vibe I'd go with that feeling. I belong to a golf club. Not a so called Country Club. Been there done that a few times. I've had good experiences and not so good experiences with them. All depends on the members. Now that I'm older I have no interest in paying for all the amenities most "country clubs" offer. If I lived in a larger metropolitan area I might not even belong to a "golf club" since there would be so many other courses available on a daily fee basis. Best of luck in your quest and decision.

[revkev]

Wow is all that I can say - I've never had this experience anywhere I've played.  Like others have said I'd be gone in 60 seconds, there must be other options somewhere in the area - While it's fun to go out and play by yourself it gets old if that's all that you do.

 

Best of luck.

[rickkimbrell]

Let me preface this by saying that I grew up in the South and most of us do not meet strangers.  We are going to look you square in the eye, even in just passing, and say "Hi".  I have been all over the US and I know in some parts of the country, I can say Hi to total stranger and they look at me like I had 3 eyes and a wart on the end of my nose.  So, not sure how it is where you live.  I know my in-laws live in Ohio and I experience "that look" often when I visit them.  Even my son picked up on it..."why will these folks not say Hi back?".  Dunno Son...just the way they are

That said...I don't like to play golf these days by myself.  Used to...was ok.  Now...no  I will walk up to a total stranger on the tee box or a group that is not full on the tee box and simply ask.  "Hey, can I join you?  I don't want to play by myself."  I have had guys tell me, you are by yourself, do you want to play ahead of us or play thru us and my answer is usually ...Can I just join you so I don't have to play alone?

It works...you need to open up and try it.  

I moved and joined a new club couple of years ago.  First thing I did was join the MGA so I could play in their events.  You meet guys by doing that.  

You just have to put yourself out there and don't want wait on the other guy to invite you.  

 

Sorry, reread few days later and caught my mistake.  Meant to say wait on them to invite.  Not want.  Geez and I yell because people don't proofread. 

[wbealsd]

What's been weird for me this season is finding the muni I joined is more "clique-y" than the local CC I was a member of last year.  Of course, as a muni there are also a lot more "players" that really don't know the rules of golf, don't fix divots, areas of the course are in disrepair, etc.

 

There are some groups (one in particular) that I've played rounds with individual members when they're playing solo, I'm a member of the Course Committee, etc., and folks are friendly enough but when they play their regular "group time" it's always the same 5-6 players in their group.

 

I play as much social golf with members from the CC when the play the muni on "Ladies Day" at the CC!

 

I've already decided to re-join the CC next season.  I'm even going to find out if I can just pay next year's membership when I get back from a mid-September trip and finish out my season there.

[westy]

Yep run away quick.

 

I have experienced that to a lesser extent in the past and frankly it's lead me to investigate the members more than the course when looking for a course. I can tolerate a course that's rough around the edges - but never members who aren't welcoming and fun.

 

To an extent it's disappointing to see the club not making an effort to make the club - more of a club!

 

At the muni I play at, 2 comps a month are drawn so you don't choose who you play with. Then there are two Wednesday comps a month done as roll ups. Handicaps from scratch to 20+, juniors, adults and seniors. It makes you forgive the odd scruffy patch on the course.

[evershady]

On Monday I went to the course close to work they have a weekly scramble. It was a lot of fun these guys were way more welcoming than the members I've ran across at the other course.  It probably didn't hurt that we won the scramble for the evening. 

[sp0rtsfan86]

On Monday I went to the course close to work they have a weekly scramble. It was a lot of fun these guys were way more welcoming than the members I've ran across at the other course.  It probably didn't hurt that we won the scramble for the evening. 

There you go. That always helps.