Hello from Victoria, BC, Canada!
I've been playing off and on for 20 years, since turning 30, with no experience at all before that. No handicap, but I generally score 82-87 at my home course (Cedar Hill Golf Course, which is par 67: never broken 80, very rarely go over 90 anymore).
For me, golf's a chance at exercise, at indulging my obsessiveness, and at getting away from work and other obligations. Clears my head (even if it fills it, often, with frustration!).
I've been reading MGS for a long time, especially for gear reviews, and thought I should finally sign up. I don't know other Spies, and my golf circles are pretty small: I've got about a dozen guys I play with on occasion, mostly through my brother-in-law.
There are quite a few courses here, but there's not much variation: Cedar Hill is just under $50/round, but most are $90 or above. Drainage is a real issue here due to the amount of rain, but most courses have put a lot of effort into that over the last few years. The worst thing, this year, is that there are virtually no practice facilities for putting, which isn't something I'd realized before my home course closed their practice green.
Looking forward to the community here, and always looking for ways to putt less horrifyingly.