Since May 2020, Golf has experienced a marked increased in popularity. Ever since the end of the first lockdown, Golf has continued relatively restriction free and has been able to demonstrate it is a great way to keep fit, enjoy the outdoors as well as a great way to socialise with your friends.

You may have returned to the game after a few years, or only picked up the clubs for the first time this year, but you now have the bug!

Perhaps it’s time to join a club?

Here are some of the benefits of becoming a member of a golf club…

Regular competitive golf

One of the big attractions to being a member of a golf club is the competitive side of golf. This isn’t something that’s always available for the casual golfer.

Golf clubs will usually host one or two competitions that you can enter each week as a member.

Occasionally you will have to pay a small entry fee into each club competition but this does mean that you will play for prizes. Depending on the number of entrants, most clubs will give prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd – which makes a good round even sweeter.

There may also be additional competitions held throughout the season such as matchplay knock outs or leagues.

As well as making your round of a little more competitive, regular competitions can help you improve your golf quicker.

Team events

As a member of a golf club, you may have the opportunity to try your hand at some team events. Not only do these provide a great opportunity to play competitive golf, it is also a great way to play some new courses (usually for free) in a competitive manner.

Get an official handicap

If you’re playing in competitions regularly as a member of a golf club, you’ll usually have an official handicap.

This opens a world of other opportunities.

Most of the better courses over the globe will ask for a handicap certificate to prove that you are at least at a decent level to get around the course. With an official handicap, you’re going to be free to play most of them.

Play in open competitions

Once you have a handicap, you can enter other competitions away from your home golf club. The majority of golf clubs in the UK offer open competitions which you can usually enter on your own or with a group of mates. These offer the chance to play the courses for a fraction of the regular green fee with the chance to win some prizes.

They are a great way of ticking off some courses on your wishlist. The courses are usually in their best condition as clubs look to show off their courses to potential future members.

If that wasn’t enough you can also enter regional or national knockout competitions such as the Daily Mail Foursomes knockout. They come in all types of formats but are usually played as singles or doubles over the course of the season with a finals weekend held at a venue in the UK or abroad.

Usually subsidised by a big sponsor, these types of knockouts provide further opportunity to play new courses whilst also giving you the chance to win some decent prizes.

Social side & Networking

One of the other best things about joining a golf club is the social aspect.

Lots of us have made lifelong friends from their golf club. Clubs are great places to meet like-minded people but it also provides a great way to network.

If you own your own business, are a freelancer or a salesman then you’re likely to meet potential new customers or there’s always the potential for a step up the career ladder through networking.

 

There are a number of golf clubs which have playing rights across South Ayrshire Council courses.

We’ll be shining a light on a few of them over the coming days….