Joining a Golf League

[ColinMB]

Some noobish questions.

Hello,

I'm not sure where to put this question but I've put a lot of time in trying to improve my game in the past 12 months. Basically I started this awesome game as an adult, and have been horridly addicted for 3 years.

So I don't have an official 'handicap' or anything of the sort. I was thinking of sticking my neck out a bit and joining a local league which consists of so many games per season at such and such a price.

What I'm wondering is if you think this is a bad idea for a newer golfer. Are most of these leagues for well established, skilled players? Are they fairly cliche?

I imagine that a league is a league, but maybe that isn't true. I suppose where I am could make a difference, or maybe they are all considered 'leisure' leagues.

I would be going it alone in this league because most of my golf playing buddies are actually too intimidated by so called 'organized play'. I told most of my buddies that it's a negative way to think and it's hard to bad mouth something we've never tried. I'm not sure that's the best way to think of league play, but I don't want to find myself way over my head either.

Any advice?

[Coach]

Definitely depends on the league. I played with a group of friends last summer that stage a tournament that I assumed was a beerfest. It was not. Every, and I mean every stroke counted, very serious golf, until the 19th hole and the beer came flying. However many of the leagues are mainly social, so enjoy.

[lefty92]

A good way to start getting into the more competitive golf is to just start playing in your local courses mens night. You meet new people, have a chance to improve your game, and you play with a little bit of competitiveness.

[stasek]

I also started playing relatively late (1.5 years ago while 31 y. o.). My friend signed me up for a local mens club. I didn't have a handicap, but that didn't matter. I got my handicap established at that course, however until my 10th game on the card, they docked me 10%, which obviously sucked, but I can see their point - they don't want sandbaggers taking their money. Our club is also 100% business - EVERY stroke counts and EVERYBODY is watching. Everyone contributes $20 to the pot (sometimes couple hundred people), so the payouts can be quite nice. In addition to the "regular" game, we usually play 5 point Scotch among ourselves, which makes the round that much more competitive.

[ColinMB]

Thanks for the feedback. I called the course pro and he told me it was a fairly large mix of handicaps, with most of them being quite high. He used the term 'leisure' so I would hope that while you don't want to be cheating, that it isn't the end of the world if you're playing poorly or whatever.

 

It does sound like there's a lot of disparity though as far as competitiveness. Thanks for the heads up. I'll look into it a bit more and probably join this one, just to spite my friends. lol

[divebreck]

Go join the league and get one of your buddies to play with you. Our mens league is count each stroke and is serious, but a he** of a lot of fun. My partner is a 19 or 20 handicap and we have a blast. I would say that out of 160 some odd guys there are 10-15 under a 10 handicap, so go out have some fun and it will make you a better golfer.