The pandemic is 100% the reason I ended my 15 year hiatus with golf, after binge watching RS, PF, Tubes & Ange and Bad Golf during lockdowns. There’s nothing better on a Sunday morning than zig-zagging my way down numerous fairways and shouting fore every other tee-shot….
V interesting show. Can't believe cost wasn't mentioned though. I'm a social golfer. If I play 10 rounds a year I'll have had a good year. Pointless joining a golf club as financially not viable. Don't see many courses catering for the likes of me. If anything some are taking liberties of this boom and charging more. If they brought prices of memberships down then it might be a consideration.
Here in NSW Australia we have been in lock down twice. Both times golf was the only sport you were allowed to play. Football was cancelled the first time so I started to play golf. This is the story of hundreds of people here. Some stuck with golf some didn’t but the older guys at the golf club have said it’s been amazing for the club. Probably won’t go back to football.
I love that you do a video of your podcast as I would never hear it. I just like watching videos and even though it's just people sitting at a table for me it's so much more engaging. Please make sure you always keep your podcast in video form and thank you
Another great podcast lads, I started playing golf start of March last year from the 1st lockdown, since being a kid a played football every weekend up until then. I’ve now quit football and play golf each weekend instead playing local comps etc, handicap was 28 now down to 16.2 since joining a golf club and having a few lessons. Deffo have the golfing bug!
HI, One reason I have not rejoined a golf club is because of the cost. One course I was looking at was around £1600, with no joining fee. (2019) Last 18 months it is now £2000 for the year and a £2,000 joining fee. So as a seasoned golfer I have to go to courses more applicable to a newby.
Thank you for a Very informative show. I currently play every 2 weeks 9 holes with my son and friends. This is something that we got back into started back in 2019. It was my sons first introduction to golf. We all have a good time and we're getting better as we go. It's just for the enjoyment of getting out. As well as getting better as we play. Thanks again. Keep up the great work Rick, and Guy. Cheers!
I play as a nomad. I work 9-5 and therefore can only play twilight or weekends. I cannot play enough golf in a year to justify a £1000+ membership fee. Membership is for the retired and the rich until prices go down
Same here. In the South East it’s basically impossible to get a membership for less than £1500. Even if you’re paying £40 green fee you need to be at nearly 40 rounds a year to “break even”.
In Ontario Canada I'd say more courses are public or semi public than are members only. But membership at those clubs is very out of reach for most mortals. One club closest to me has $10K entrance and at minimum about $5K / year fees for a full membership. It's insane
When the pandemic canceled my 8 yr old son's spring baseball season he decided to try golf. Now me and him are out every weekend doing 9 holes at least. I've never been great but with him pushing me to play more I've finally broke 90 and now play in the 80s. My son loves the game now and is his new favorite sport baseball is now in the backseat lol.
Love the podcast, Igolf is great (I'm not a club member) but why is it not UK Golf! I'm one hour from Wales and have just played all three courses at Celtic manor and cant register a score🤔. Got another trip to Swansea in 3 weeks, very frustrating!
Interesting stuff. I am a new golfer since the release of the first lockdown. I am still playing hockey in my fifties and when lockdown one was relaxed a group of us went to the driving range as it was the first thing that opened up. After a couple of visits, 8 of us started playing the local six hole course, then other 9 holes courses and soon we were playing three times a week through the summer and eventually 18 holes. Fast forward a year and I have recently joined a local club and am about to get my handicap. I even broke 100 for the first time on Friday.
Some driving ranges near me have jumped right up in price!! On the flip side I've met some interesting people queuing up, at the places with reasonable prices, who are oh so busy 🙂
Very interesting how important it is to them to have someone verify the scores being entered. For your USGA handicap there is no such thing, you could put in whatever you want whenever you want with no attest. Now some tourneys/qualifiers will only accept handicaps made from official competition scores, but for the average golfer there is way less oversight. Interesting
I have recently been recommended to your podcast, your video channel and Peter Finch's. What a shame I didn't find this sooner. Absolutely love this stuff, keep it up. Thanks a lot!
Great show and good to see the focus is on keeping the new players. That being said I love golf and convinced my wife to play. First couple rounds she loved and we join a club. But sadly we have played a few courses where new people were just seen as a hindrance. The older members (not only by age) believe they own the course. I have been told that I have no standing in a club I was a full paying member at. I wish your mentality would come over to some of these clubs. My wife and I after alot of these types of experiences will not become a member at any club in Northern Ireland. We love golf but don't want anymore experiences like that. When we just go to hotels with golf courses because we have had great experiences at these courses. Just wanted to our experiences after listening to your podcast.
I'm a 31 year who played as a Junior and have just started getting back into the game. Absolutely been loving getting back into it, watching your channels Rick, and other RUclipsrs like Peter Finch. Been doing pay and play at the moment with the goal in mind to join a club as a member and start competing ! Hoping I'm not too old to get to a level where I can compete again ! I've also been looking a becoming a PGA affiliate and go down that path, maybe you could do a video or podcast on that? Thanks for the content !
My local course offers a month to month membership vs paying for an entire year. It doesn’t hold the exact same benefits as a full membership, but it does give you unlimited range balls for the month, discounted greens fees, the ability to book a tee time a week in advance, and preferred tee time availability. A full membership gives you just a fraction more as you wouldn’t have to pay greens fees or rent a cart. The monthly membership is $45 vs $2500 for the full year. You’d have to play ~40-50 rounds to make your money back on the yearly.
The pandemic got me back into playing regularly last year, bringing my 6 year old son for the first time. I wasn't sure how he would do over 18 holes, but he loved it! He now has his own 4 club set and goes with me almost every week. If everything else hadn't shut down in Spring 2020, I'm not sure I would have started playing as much as I have.
In the year since this episode my private club in the US has added 100 new members! And we now have a waiting list again, which is so different from the past few years of The Great Recession when we were just about begging on street corners for members.
The issue I currently have is I would like to play at least twice a week to improve maintain my level of golf. My local clubs are all full in my age category 26-30 and I can only join if I pay full whack for a membership which can be 2/3 times more plus joining fee. And then when you pay 2 green fees a week that soon adds up. So I’m at the stage where I’d like to improve but I just can’t get in a club to be able to play more regularly
I think they are missing a trick with the location services needed in order to enter a score. I am a member but only just had my CDH number, so have multiple rounds to input but I can’t because I am not in proximity, likewise with other courses I have played cannot be entered.
England golf sounds well behind, all of these ideas have been implemented in the US for ages. Just played a quick 9 today with two holes (one bigger than the other) just like Rick suggested lol
12 years not playing golf until my son rang me last year and asked if I still played, we went to the range, following week my other son joined us.. a year later I've joined my local club, spent way too much on equipment and both sons have their own clubs and join me when they can... 👍👍
In Scotland if you’re not a member of a Golf Club you can use the Scottish Golf App + a subscription to get and maintain an official WHS handicap. Scottishgolf.org
Finch and Fryer with Rick and Guy. Would love to hear all of you talk shop. I am from the states and have listened to every Podcast. Guy, you have grown on me a lot. I have not always agreed with you, but you are a great sidekick host with Rick in this setting. Looking forward to seeing Finch on here again with no "controversy" to have to talk about. More of how the second hour was!
Big facts Rick me and about 6 friends have just started playing about 3 month ago, since then we’ve played 23 18 holes and bought so much gear and we are never looking back 😂😂
Good morning guys. Thanks for yet another great episode. It’s currently just passed midnight here in Utah, USA. Got a tee time setup for 8:15am. Yep Hope y’all have a fantastic week.
I started playing in may last year and am still hooked even though for six months I shanked the ball, I’m now close to breaking 100 and have started using my driver way more as it stayed in the bag for the first year 😂 your content among others has helped my game improve 🙌
Same development here also. All the tee-times go like honey. Before you’d have multiple twoballs,where you’d be able to book your tee time, but now itis like threeballs and fourballs all the way during the daytime.
The easiest way to get more people to be part of the community is for all courses to drop their prices, as a father of 2 that isn't on a top top wage I couldn't afford the cheapest membership near me if I wanted to. some courses by me are also nearly a days wage to play and I just cant justify playing .
Hm, thanks for the interesting discussions. Since I started some 10 years ago, I have had played tournaments regularly and improved, with some ups and downs, my handicap. This year, the WHS was introduced also in Germany, where I play mostly and were my official handicap is tracked. What I experienced is, with mostly 9 holes tournaments, it is not so easy to keep your handicap, let alone improve it. For instance, last week, I played over 9 holes a net stableford score of 19, however, I had a day score that equaled my handicap. On top, having coincidentally a nicer result in the one tournament dropping out of the list of 20 (and being one of the 8 good results), my handicap even got worse after that round. I almost prefer not to look at the handicap anymore since the WHS was introduced. I would love to see an improvement in your handicap, to see you did play a good round, but now most of us regular tournament players just face the opposite. I hope this is getting better in the future, either with another formula to get from 9 holes scoring the handicap (when you get already one netto point deducted or one stroke added in bruto scoring in according to the playing handicap.)
Should of asked them, why in such a booming time we’re members being asked at certain clubs to help them survive and our membership fees going up, cause thats what happened we didn’t get anything to staying loyal for the clubs we were at when the lockdown started and we couldn’t play.
The biggest thing they could do for golf is to find a way to get rid of the membership model and make it financially viable for the golf courses. Top Golf and driving ranges have shown how popular golf can be when you let people play golf without the commitment of a £700-£3000 annual membership. People will happily pay £10/h for their entertainment but that yearly outlay, combined with some of the "traditions" some golf clubs hold, are by far and away the biggest deterrent and that's what's going to be what causes the stagnation of the sport when there isn't this "boom". The membership model just perpetuates the "old white retired male" stereotype To make a membership financially viable for people, you basically have to play every single weekend even in winter, or be able to play 2-3 times a week during nicer weather, so it's basically only people who are relatively well off and retired to be able to make enough rounds during the year to make it worth it.
PODCAST QUESTION -- Have always been interested in Golf RUclips. Watch a lot of Rick, Finch, Robinson etc from the uk. However I also watch a lot of US such as Good Good and GM Golf. My question is, the courses they seem to play look as if they have fairways as wide as a football pitch and the hazards in general don't seem as penalising as in the UK (not many trees eg). Do you think they would find it much harder playing in the UK?
Wow, we have had something similar to this here for a few years. Its worked well for those that can't afford $1500+ a year to join a club. We are able to use it to play in club open days or tournaments. We dont all want to be 'Club Champions' 😂😂
A lot of casual players don't have an official handicap. If you don't play competitively or aren't a member of your local courses men's or ladies league there isn't much point in having one.
If you sign up to England Golf as a non-member and get a handicap, what happens when/if you later become a member of a golf club? Do your entered scores carry over?
I've been searching the channel to find Emma's earlier appearance when she covered the WHS to no avail. Could you possibly include a link to that episode? Love the regular channel and only recently discovered the podcast. Not in the clubhouse yet, but I'm working on it!
Great show. I would love a membership at a golf course, just can’t get there enough because I have 3 young children. With the “I” handicap could you play in comps at local golf courses?
I know there are a few courses that are not as strict with dress code, but I think it would be a good idea if some courses tried 'Mufti Days' to measure if it makes a difference.
I feel like a good transition from driving range to playing a full round is going to par 3 courses and going with friends and playing a scramble. Maybe it’s cause I’m from the US but I’ve never heard of a 6 hole round..
I've been playing golf for 5 weeks, I'm improving, I'm not sure how to calculate a handicap. I broke my left elbow years ago, i keep fading the ball with longer clubs as i only have 80% bend in the elbow, what can i do to stop that???
Started playing last year. A buddy called me randomly and asked if I wanted to play cause the other two guys cancelled. It was his first time, and my first time. Told me to call our other friend to fill in the foursome, knowing he played a little bit in the past. I was terrible, but wanted to play again. And played a bunch toward the end of the season. This year, ive played once a week, expect twice, but still went to the range. I’m fucking addicted. Watching the tournaments on tv and all of ricks stuff and plenty other youtubers. One of my earlier rounds this season was 135(worst) My score the last round I played was 105 (best). On a par 62. Is that good? No. But fuck am I having fun, getting outside for the afternoon, crackin a couple of beers and smoking a couple of doobies with my buddy every week. I’m 24 and hope this is the beginning of a long journey. Cheers.
My friend used to play off 16 stopped playing, came back and did 3 cards... averaged 22 over for all rounds, put him off a handicap of 14, the other day he shot 27 points and got cut to 13.5 😂 terrible system, I was scratch way before all this new rubbish and will stay that way, turn up to a golf club and try to beat par, far more simple
Please invite the guys from the African Caribbean Golf Association (ACGA) on to the podcast to get a perspective on the history of ACGA, the journey and the growing number of black golfers right across the country.
I also wonder if the golf clubs are going to up their game given the increase in participation. To many local clubs are badly taken care of, patchy greens, poor drainage, poor facilities. In the past this has been blamed on declining numbers, do they still have that excuse now?
I've had too many rounds without people on the app. Need to be able to get scorecards signed by clubs and non-app owners, otherwise it's not a true reflection as they claim.
6 holes would have people finishing in the middle of most golf courses. Then the H&S issue of people walking back to the clubhouse through other people still playing. Solution?
Dress codes tick me off. This is a sport. We're playing in weather at times that leaves us drenched in sweat. Dress codes turn us away faster than any other aspect of the game. I generally dress nice when I play, but when it's 95 with 80% humidity, or trying to get 18 in before the hurricane gets here, I'd rather be wearing something that's not going to get ruined. And when Tiger can wear a mock collar on Sunday at the best courses in the world, I should certainly be allowed to wear them on ANY course. That one really ticks me off. My home course is like that. I'd strike it from my list if I didn't get to play here free.
What’s wrong with wearing a collared shirt and slacks? I live in Texas and it doesn’t bother me one bit to have to wear a polo. Plus, I’ve found pants that look nice while also being cool in the 100+ degree weather here (also 100% humidity). They make super light weight, stretchy, and breathable polos these days.
@@serenityinsilence what's wrong with playing in sweats? Or a t-shirt. Or whatever you feel comfortable in? Most courses around here will allow you to play in pretty much whatever you want. And the courses that don't aren't any better than the ones that do. I'll take my money elsewhere if not allowed to dress as I please. Can any course truly afford to turn away customers today? I think not. There's a course here in town that I dressed nicely to play in the summer last year that required shirts to be tucked in. What's up with that? Why should it make a difference? Dress codes are barriers to more people golfing. Period.
Woodhall Spa is a very expensive golf course compared to other courses in Lincolnshire - But Golf England talk about inclusion? £110 and £57 a round for the respective courses. Very contradictory!
Whs, not working! Scotland can't access your handicap if you live in England and vice versa, especially if enter an open comp ! World handicap?. P.s. I'm a club member in Scotland.
The pandemic is 100% the reason I ended my 15 year hiatus with golf, after binge watching RS, PF, Tubes & Ange and Bad Golf during lockdowns.
There’s nothing better on a Sunday morning than zig-zagging my way down numerous fairways and shouting fore every other tee-shot….
Would love the Golf Mates podcast! Liam and the team have a great story, and they are brilliant for making golf feel accesible to the everyday bloke.
In the US, many public courses offer a "handicap membership" which for a very small annual fee (usually
V interesting show. Can't believe cost wasn't mentioned though. I'm a social golfer. If I play 10 rounds a year I'll have had a good year. Pointless joining a golf club as financially not viable. Don't see many courses catering for the likes of me. If anything some are taking liberties of this boom and charging more. If they brought prices of memberships down then it might be a consideration.
Here in NSW Australia we have been in lock down twice. Both times golf was the only sport you were allowed to play. Football was cancelled the first time so I started to play golf. This is the story of hundreds of people here. Some stuck with golf some didn’t but the older guys at the golf club have said it’s been amazing for the club. Probably won’t go back to football.
I love that you do a video of your podcast as I would never hear it. I just like watching videos and even though it's just people sitting at a table for me it's so much more engaging. Please make sure you always keep your podcast in video form and thank you
Thanks so much
Mmlolllllmmp
Totally agree as I likes to have the choice to either listen while on holiday or watch the video 👍
Another great podcast lads, I started playing golf start of March last year from the 1st lockdown, since being a kid a played football every weekend up until then. I’ve now quit football and play golf each weekend instead playing local comps etc, handicap was 28 now down to 16.2 since joining a golf club and having a few lessons. Deffo have the golfing bug!
HI, One reason I have not rejoined a golf club is because of the cost. One course I was looking at was around £1600, with no joining fee. (2019) Last 18 months it is now £2000 for the year and a £2,000 joining fee. So as a seasoned golfer I have to go to courses more applicable to a newby.
Golf Mates is legend for taking a shot, then running back to the camera to zoom in on it.
England Golf is doing great things! Fascinating insight into the way they work!
Thank you for a Very informative show. I currently play every 2 weeks 9 holes with my son and friends. This is something that we got back into started back in 2019. It was my sons first introduction to golf. We all have a good time and we're getting better as we go. It's just for the enjoyment of getting out. As well as getting better as we play. Thanks again. Keep up the great work Rick, and Guy. Cheers!
I play as a nomad. I work 9-5 and therefore can only play twilight or weekends. I cannot play enough golf in a year to justify a £1000+ membership fee. Membership is for the retired and the rich until prices go down
Same here. In the South East it’s basically impossible to get a membership for less than £1500. Even if you’re paying £40 green fee you need to be at nearly 40 rounds a year to “break even”.
In Ontario Canada I'd say more courses are public or semi public than are members only. But membership at those clubs is very out of reach for most mortals. One club closest to me has $10K entrance and at minimum about $5K / year fees for a full membership. It's insane
I agree the course closest to me is 900 for weekdays only
Totally 100% agree with you
When the pandemic canceled my 8 yr old son's spring baseball season he decided to try golf. Now me and him are out every weekend doing 9 holes at least. I've never been great but with him pushing me to play more I've finally broke 90 and now play in the 80s. My son loves the game now and is his new favorite sport baseball is now in the backseat lol.
great addition ive recently paid for the igolf membership and already have a 23 handicap, feels great to be finally official
Finch, Fryer and Carter if he’s back. Would be a right giggle
Love the podcast, Igolf is great (I'm not a club member) but why is it not UK Golf! I'm one hour from Wales and have just played all three courses at Celtic manor and cant register a score🤔. Got another trip to Swansea in 3 weeks, very frustrating!
Interesting stuff. I am a new golfer since the release of the first lockdown. I am still playing hockey in my fifties and when lockdown one was relaxed a group of us went to the driving range as it was the first thing that opened up. After a couple of visits, 8 of us started playing the local six hole course, then other 9 holes courses and soon we were playing three times a week through the summer and eventually 18 holes. Fast forward a year and I have recently joined a local club and am about to get my handicap. I even broke 100 for the first time on Friday.
Well done mate. Enjoy the game
Peter Finch as a co-host,for sure!
Then I’d love to see you arguing with BeBetterGolf also.
Some driving ranges near me have jumped right up in price!! On the flip side I've met some interesting people queuing up, at the places with reasonable prices, who are oh so busy 🙂
Very interesting how important it is to them to have someone verify the scores being entered. For your USGA handicap there is no such thing, you could put in whatever you want whenever you want with no attest. Now some tourneys/qualifiers will only accept handicaps made from official competition scores, but for the average golfer there is way less oversight. Interesting
Excellent discussion with both guests and Guy setting up the account while it was all taking place was genius.
Thanks haha!!
I have recently been recommended to your podcast, your video channel and Peter Finch's. What a shame I didn't find this sooner. Absolutely love this stuff, keep it up. Thanks a lot!
Great show and good to see the focus is on keeping the new players. That being said I love golf and convinced my wife to play. First couple rounds she loved and we join a club. But sadly we have played a few courses where new people were just seen as a hindrance. The older members (not only by age) believe they own the course. I have been told that I have no standing in a club I was a full paying member at. I wish your mentality would come over to some of these clubs. My wife and I after alot of these types of experiences will not become a member at any club in Northern Ireland. We love golf but don't want anymore experiences like that. When we just go to hotels with golf courses because we have had great experiences at these courses. Just wanted to our experiences after listening to your podcast.
I'm a 31 year who played as a Junior and have just started getting back into the game. Absolutely been loving getting back into it, watching your channels Rick, and other RUclipsrs like Peter Finch. Been doing pay and play at the moment with the goal in mind to join a club as a member and start competing ! Hoping I'm not too old to get to a level where I can compete again ! I've also been looking a becoming a PGA affiliate and go down that path, maybe you could do a video or podcast on that?
Thanks for the content !
Love the podcast, great content. Would it be possible to chapter the videos for when we’re short on time and want to listen to specific topics?
That's a great idea!
My local course offers a month to month membership vs paying for an entire year. It doesn’t hold the exact same benefits as a full membership, but it does give you unlimited range balls for the month, discounted greens fees, the ability to book a tee time a week in advance, and preferred tee time availability. A full membership gives you just a fraction more as you wouldn’t have to pay greens fees or rent a cart. The monthly membership is $45 vs $2500 for the full year. You’d have to play ~40-50 rounds to make your money back on the yearly.
The pandemic got me back into playing regularly last year, bringing my 6 year old son for the first time. I wasn't sure how he would do over 18 holes, but he loved it! He now has his own 4 club set and goes with me almost every week. If everything else hadn't shut down in Spring 2020, I'm not sure I would have started playing as much as I have.
In the year since this episode my private club in the US has added 100 new members! And we now have a waiting list again, which is so different from the past few years of The Great Recession when we were just about begging on street corners for members.
Loving the guest list Rick! What brilliant season your having !!!
The issue I currently have is I would like to play at least twice a week to improve maintain my level of golf. My local clubs are all full in my age category 26-30 and I can only join if I pay full whack for a membership which can be 2/3 times more plus joining fee. And then when you pay 2 green fees a week that soon adds up. So I’m at the stage where I’d like to improve but I just can’t get in a club to be able to play more regularly
I’m a new golfer this year
I’ve got the Cobra package set
I’ve quit “11 man team” football
I’ve subscribed to both Rick Shiels channels
I think they are missing a trick with the location services needed in order to enter a score. I am a member but only just had my CDH number, so have multiple rounds to input but I can’t because I am not in proximity, likewise with other courses I have played cannot be entered.
Love this conversation. Great stuff Rick and Guy
I am a marathon runner who plays golf as their second sport. I do it mostly for the walking to keeps the legs conditioned.
Hey Rick, love the content keep it up. 💪🏽
Would be handy to have time stamps on your videos to make sections easier to find.
Why not go worldwide? Entering your addjusted score and CR AND SLOPE would be enough?
England golf sounds well behind, all of these ideas have been implemented in the US for ages. Just played a quick 9 today with two holes (one bigger than the other) just like Rick suggested lol
12 years not playing golf until my son rang me last year and asked if I still played, we went to the range, following week my other son joined us.. a year later I've joined my local club, spent way too much on equipment and both sons have their own clubs and join me when they can... 👍👍
Love how the guy from England golf sounds like Justin Rose
I love playing 18 holes. But one of the most interesting golf courses I played had 9 fairways with 1 tee box for 2 greens or 2 tee boxs for 1 green.
In Scotland if you’re not a member of a Golf Club you can use the Scottish Golf App + a subscription to get and maintain an official WHS handicap.
Scottishgolf.org
Finch and Fryer with Rick and Guy. Would love to hear all of you talk shop. I am from the states and have listened to every Podcast. Guy, you have grown on me a lot. I have not always agreed with you, but you are a great sidekick host with Rick in this setting. Looking forward to seeing Finch on here again with no "controversy" to have to talk about. More of how the second hour was!
Thank you my friend! (Guy)
Big facts Rick me and about 6 friends have just started playing about 3 month ago, since then we’ve played 23 18 holes and bought so much gear and we are never looking back 😂😂
Good morning guys. Thanks for yet another great episode. It’s currently just passed midnight here in Utah, USA. Got a tee time setup for 8:15am. Yep Hope y’all have a fantastic week.
Why dont you guys do a podcast on the USGA/R&A equipment changes in the pipeline for 2022'. (rolling back the distance problem.)
Love you Pete, keep chasing your dreams
Rick - you need to get the guys from tropicana golf and definitely manolo!! Dassit!!
Great pod. Super insightful.
Thank you!!!
Great idea about the quick 6 for the likes of me with family commitments this would encourage more demand.
I started playing in may last year and am still hooked even though for six months I shanked the ball, I’m now close to breaking 100 and have started using my driver way more as it stayed in the bag for the first year 😂 your content among others has helped my game improve 🙌
Same development here also. All the tee-times go like honey.
Before you’d have multiple twoballs,where you’d be able to book your tee time, but now itis like threeballs and fourballs all the way during the daytime.
Love the episode. Hope we can get more of Gemma and Jeremy in future episodes!
Brilliantly informative podcast, without doubt my favourite.
Thank you!
It is funny hearing different accents from people in different parts of the UK...Just like traveling through different part of the US.
Really interesting podcast. Thanks.
Great video Rick, really insightful and the questions you asked were spot on!
Thanks!
The easiest way to get more people to be part of the community is for all courses to drop their prices, as a father of 2 that isn't on a top top wage I couldn't afford the cheapest membership near me if I wanted to. some courses by me are also nearly a days wage to play and I just cant justify playing .
Hm, thanks for the interesting discussions. Since I started some 10 years ago, I have had played tournaments regularly and improved, with some ups and downs, my handicap. This year, the WHS was introduced also in Germany, where I play mostly and were my official handicap is tracked. What I experienced is, with mostly 9 holes tournaments, it is not so easy to keep your handicap, let alone improve it. For instance, last week, I played over 9 holes a net stableford score of 19, however, I had a day score that equaled my handicap. On top, having coincidentally a nicer result in the one tournament dropping out of the list of 20 (and being one of the 8 good results), my handicap even got worse after that round. I almost prefer not to look at the handicap anymore since the WHS was introduced. I would love to see an improvement in your handicap, to see you did play a good round, but now most of us regular tournament players just face the opposite. I hope this is getting better in the future, either with another formula to get from 9 holes scoring the handicap (when you get already one netto point deducted or one stroke added in bruto scoring in according to the playing handicap.)
Why has the latest podcast been removed, just tried to watch the saved episode, what's the go.
I just started playing golf and I’m addicted. Unfortunately I can’t practice as much now because I just started my last semester of nursing school
Sadly at least here in Ireland, golf is too expensive now. €750-€900 membership fees a year and that’s besides the joining fee’s :(
You can also listen to podcast here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rick-shiels-golf-show/id1406443091?i=1000532212135
Should of asked them, why in such a booming time we’re members being asked at certain clubs to help them survive and our membership fees going up, cause thats what happened we didn’t get anything to staying loyal for the clubs we were at when the lockdown started and we couldn’t play.
Is this worth doing if I’m already a member at a club but don’t feel ready to shoot a round with a stranger at a club to get my handicap ?
The biggest thing they could do for golf is to find a way to get rid of the membership model and make it financially viable for the golf courses. Top Golf and driving ranges have shown how popular golf can be when you let people play golf without the commitment of a £700-£3000 annual membership. People will happily pay £10/h for their entertainment but that yearly outlay, combined with some of the "traditions" some golf clubs hold, are by far and away the biggest deterrent and that's what's going to be what causes the stagnation of the sport when there isn't this "boom". The membership model just perpetuates the "old white retired male" stereotype
To make a membership financially viable for people, you basically have to play every single weekend even in winter, or be able to play 2-3 times a week during nicer weather, so it's basically only people who are relatively well off and retired to be able to make enough rounds during the year to make it worth it.
PODCAST QUESTION -- Have always been interested in Golf RUclips. Watch a lot of Rick, Finch, Robinson etc from the uk. However I also watch a lot of US such as Good Good and GM Golf. My question is, the courses they seem to play look as if they have fairways as wide as a football pitch and the hazards in general don't seem as penalising as in the UK (not many trees eg). Do you think they would find it much harder playing in the UK?
My guess is either Faldo or Furyk for next week. Can't wait nevertheless!
Wow, we have had something similar to this here for a few years. Its worked well for those that can't afford $1500+ a year to join a club. We are able to use it to play in club open days or tournaments. We dont all want to be 'Club Champions' 😂😂
A lot of casual players don't have an official handicap. If you don't play competitively or aren't a member of your local courses men's or ladies league there isn't much point in having one.
Good Morning from Germany, my fellow Golf enthusiasts
When I play courses away from home club I cannot enter scores on Ig. Any suggestions?
If you sign up to England Golf as a non-member and get a handicap, what happens when/if you later become a member of a golf club? Do your entered scores carry over?
I've been searching the channel to find Emma's earlier appearance when she covered the WHS to no avail. Could you possibly include a link to that episode? Love the regular channel and only recently discovered the podcast. Not in the clubhouse yet, but I'm working on it!
Great show. I would love a membership at a golf course, just can’t get there enough because I have 3 young children. With the “I” handicap could you play in comps at local golf courses?
They've been doing this in New Zealand for years, pay $100 get an official handicap plus affiliated cheaper rounds at private courses
South Africa has the same thing here, even a monthly membership format with a handicap.
It would be great to see a stat on growth of both Ricks channels. This would show how many members are introduced to golf
I have been tracking my golfing scores on Hole19 for the past two years. Is it possible to transfer these scores across to get my handicap?
Can you play opens with igolf and can someone from outside England sign up like Scotland?
I know there are a few courses that are not as strict with dress code, but I think it would be a good idea if some courses tried 'Mufti Days' to measure if it makes a difference.
I feel like a good transition from driving range to playing a full round is going to par 3 courses and going with friends and playing a scramble. Maybe it’s cause I’m from the US but I’ve never heard of a 6 hole round..
Agree, not enough decent par 3 courses out there though.
Content is so good on all of Rick’s show on RUclips
Thank you!
Sure must be easy to join golf clubs in England, one near my house is 25k US to join and min $700 a month.
I've been playing golf for 5 weeks, I'm improving, I'm not sure how to calculate a handicap.
I broke my left elbow years ago, i keep fading the ball with longer clubs as i only have 80% bend in the elbow, what can i do to stop that???
Never realized, Rick is a bold bloke!
Started playing last year. A buddy called me randomly and asked if I wanted to play cause the other two guys cancelled. It was his first time, and my first time. Told me to call our other friend to fill in the foursome, knowing he played a little bit in the past. I was terrible, but wanted to play again. And played a bunch toward the end of the season. This year, ive played once a week, expect twice, but still went to the range. I’m fucking addicted. Watching the tournaments on tv and all of ricks stuff and plenty other youtubers. One of my earlier rounds this season was 135(worst) My score the last round I played was 105 (best). On a par 62. Is that good? No. But fuck am I having fun, getting outside for the afternoon, crackin a couple of beers and smoking a couple of doobies with my buddy every week. I’m 24 and hope this is the beginning of a long journey. Cheers.
My friend used to play off 16 stopped playing, came back and did 3 cards... averaged 22 over for all rounds, put him off a handicap of 14, the other day he shot 27 points and got cut to 13.5 😂 terrible system, I was scratch way before all this new rubbish and will stay that way, turn up to a golf club and try to beat par, far more simple
Please invite the guys from the African Caribbean Golf Association (ACGA) on to the podcast to get a perspective on the history of ACGA, the journey and the growing number of black golfers right across the country.
He's a legend
I also wonder if the golf clubs are going to up their game given the increase in participation. To many local clubs are badly taken care of, patchy greens, poor drainage, poor facilities. In the past this has been blamed on declining numbers, do they still have that excuse now?
Where’s the link to it? The Igolf !
good video, be nice to have all the home nations bodies on the pod cast.
I've had too many rounds without people on the app. Need to be able to get scorecards signed by clubs and non-app owners, otherwise it's not a true reflection as they claim.
Where is the link to England golf and igolf??
6 holes would have people finishing in the middle of most golf courses. Then the H&S issue of people walking back to the clubhouse through other people still playing. Solution?
Dress codes tick me off. This is a sport. We're playing in weather at times that leaves us drenched in sweat. Dress codes turn us away faster than any other aspect of the game. I generally dress nice when I play, but when it's 95 with 80% humidity, or trying to get 18 in before the hurricane gets here, I'd rather be wearing something that's not going to get ruined.
And when Tiger can wear a mock collar on Sunday at the best courses in the world, I should certainly be allowed to wear them on ANY course. That one really ticks me off. My home course is like that. I'd strike it from my list if I didn't get to play here free.
What’s wrong with wearing a collared shirt and slacks? I live in Texas and it doesn’t bother me one bit to have to wear a polo. Plus, I’ve found pants that look nice while also being cool in the 100+ degree weather here (also 100% humidity). They make super light weight, stretchy, and breathable polos these days.
@@serenityinsilence what's wrong with playing in sweats? Or a t-shirt. Or whatever you feel comfortable in? Most courses around here will allow you to play in pretty much whatever you want. And the courses that don't aren't any better than the ones that do. I'll take my money elsewhere if not allowed to dress as I please. Can any course truly afford to turn away customers today? I think not. There's a course here in town that I dressed nicely to play in the summer last year that required shirts to be tucked in. What's up with that? Why should it make a difference? Dress codes are barriers to more people golfing. Period.
This episode is top quality.
Thank you!
No mention of how handicaps have been effected, up down, a bit of analysis of that would have been interesting
Woodhall Spa is a very expensive golf course compared to other courses in Lincolnshire - But Golf England talk about inclusion? £110 and £57 a round for the respective courses. Very contradictory!
Whs, not working! Scotland can't access your handicap if you live in England and vice versa, especially if enter an open comp ! World handicap?. P.s. I'm a club member in Scotland.