Play frequency opinions?

[TN94z]

My goal is to get to a consistent ball striking level and get my handicap down to play in an amateur tour next year. I am currently in the process of some swing changes and I am working with a teacher about every 3 weeks. Since I have started doing this my playing frequency has fallen off while my driving range time has gone up (trying to get the changes engrained...which is taking longer than I thought). Also, my membership at a local course has run out. It seems that I now hit the range 2 or 3 times per week and then play once on the weekends. I have also been thinking about joining another club.

My question is this: Should I join the club or should I just continue to practice during the week and play (paying full price) with my buddies on the weekend? Will I hurt my chances of my handicap getting low (scratch is obviously my goal) by not joining a club and following the routine that I am currently on? The tour next year will consist of a tournament at least once per month.

[ControlJunkie]

For me, it would depend on what the cost of membership is, and what the benefits are. I thought about joining the club that I play at the most. I'll usually play there 2-3 times per week, so you'd think it would make sense. The problem was that even if I got a membership there, it would still cost me the cart fee everytime I go out there. Once I figured the costs up, it didnt make sense for me to pay the membership fees.

With all that said, I think you should find some way to play and practice during the week. I'll practice a couple days at the range, and play at least 9 a couple days, usually Tuesday and Thursday. Then on the weekend, I try to play 18 at least one day, if not both. I think that working more playing time into my routine has helped a lot, and has given me more confidence on the couse. I would think the same idea would apply to you, it would give you more confidence in the changes you're working on, and make you much less likely to fall back to bad habits during pressure situations.

Does that make sense?

[TN94z]

For me, it would depend on what the cost of membership is, and what the benefits are. I thought about joining the club that I play at the most. I'll usually play there 2-3 times per week, so you'd think it would make sense. The problem was that even if I got a membership there, it would still cost me the cart fee everytime I go out there. Once I figured the costs up, it didnt make sense for me to pay the membership fees.

Yeah that makes sense. To be honest (and I know it's because of the lessons) my ball striking has gotten better since I stopped "playing" as much. A lot of this has to do with the fact that I have been going to the range more. There is a course on my way home that I was thinking of joining. It is pretty cheap honestly but would still cost more than what I am doing now. The only draw back to this course is the range is irons only. I would have to go to the driving range to get any driver and 3w time in. That's not really a problem, but still that is a small drawback.

[Elvisliveson]

My question is this: Should I join the club or should I just continue to practice during the week and play (paying full price) with my buddies on the weekend? Will I hurt my chances of my handicap getting low (scratch is obviously my goal) by not joining a club and following the routine that I am currently on? The tour next year will consist of a tournament at least once per month.

It's only my opinion, but I don't think it's a big deal if you can't get to the course that often, provided your fundamentals are good and you continue to work on them. I am an 8 and only play once a week and don't even go to the range. My key is that I have worked with pros in the past and they provided me with a good working knowledge of the golf swing, which I am sure you have. I swing a club in my house everyday during the season, constantly checking my fundamentals and that's it. You really can be a good-ball striker without getting to the course all that much.

The only problem is to really score, you need to set aside time to practice the short game, which I am unable to do. I putt in the office, but that's it. So, while my ball-striking is probably equivalent to a least a 3 handicapper, I fail too often to get up and down from 100 yards and in where they would. Anyway, I think you should take some range time andspend it on chipping and putting on real greens.

[bjw181]

If you want to play on any tour, you are going to need as much access as possible to golfing facilities. Go with the membership. You will be playing against people who play 9 holes a day and practice for hours upon hours. Seeing as you are a 5 handicap, im guessing you have a good grasp of the swing and need less range time. Focus on putting and actual course play.

If it were me in your shoes, I would get the membership solely for the reduced green fees. And I would, again, focus more on actual playing rather than range time. Play with friends who are better than you and wager something on your round to make it as close as possible to the level of competitiveness that you will experience on tour. The wager can be as simple as beers at the 19th or $5 a hole.

[Bump-n-MI]

Is the course you are thinking about a private country club or are you looking at a public course that has yearly passes? If it is private I'd jump all over that and get all my practicing done on the course instead of the range. If it is a public/yearly pass deal I'd forget about that. The only time I ever hit the range anymore will be for a few swings prior to tee-off. I practice by playing four balls and hitting from the worst shot over and over till the hole is complete. Real world practice will improve your scoring WAY quicker then hitting off a flat lie with range balls over and over. That is the 2nd best perk about being a member of a private course.

[TN94z]

It's only my opinion, but I don't think it's a big deal if you can't get to the course that often, provided your fundamentals are good and you continue to work on them. I am an 8 and only play once a week and don't even go to the range. My key is that I have worked with pros in the past and they provided me with a good working knowledge of the golf swing, which I am sure you have. I swing a club in my house everyday during the season, constantly checking my fundamentals and that's it. You really can be a good-ball striker without getting to the course all that much.

That has been my take on it too from experience. I have watched Phils' short game dvds and that has helped my chipping tremendously. My putting has always been there. I actually score descent...it has been my ball striking that has killed me in the past. That is why I have been working on that so much. I agree with you though...you can never practice the short game too much.

If you want to play on any tour, you are going to need as much access as possible to golfing facilities. Go with the membership. You will be playing against people who play 9 holes a day and practice for hours upon hours. Seeing as you are a 5 handicap, im guessing you have a good grasp of the swing and need less range time. Focus on putting and actual course play.

That makes sense. The main reason I went to the range was the swing changes. I wanted to really get them into muscle memory without having to worry about the lie at the same time. I agree that real world play would be better. Very good points!!!

Is the course you are thinking about a private country club or are you looking at a public course that has yearly passes? If it is private I'd jump all over that and get all my practicing done on the course instead of the range. If it is a public/yearly pass deal I'd forget about that. The only time I ever hit the range anymore will be for a few swings prior to tee-off. I practice by playing four balls and hitting from the worst shot over and over till the hole is complete. Real world practice will improve your scoring WAY quicker then hitting off a flat lie with range balls over and over. That is the 2nd best perk about being a member of a private course.

It is semi-private. It is a private country club with all of the perks, but you can pay and play without a membership.