Topic: Golf Talk / Moving to melbourne east, need a new home course??

Thanks Bio

Woodlands has just popped up again on the radar with me receiving a reply today on my membership enquiry (3 months it took though).
Offering the possibility of a 6 day membership. They will even try work around the situation of not having proposers.
So I will check both of them out (Heritage & Woodlands) and make a decision from it all first hand.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Going to the next level.

Hi Jenni

Like Guru says, there is a wealth of information in the Golf School area that goes into detail each area of the game.
A possible quick fix would be to dedicate your time to practicing and improving your short game (chipping and putting).
Will be amazed at the strokes you can shave from your scores by really improving in this area. Maybe worth getting some dedicated lessons in that area so you make sure you go away and practice wisely.
Sometimes it’s not just the hours you put in, but the quality of practice that makes the difference.

Topic: Golf Talk / Back Pain and Your Score

Cinmba,
When you get to melbourne look me up and come see me, I’ll sort your back out, I have a team of specialist who will sort you out
bio

Bio – Already marked your contact details down from earlier posts.
Look forward to working with you in January when I arrive.

Topic: Golf Talk / Moving to melbourne east, need a new home course??

Hey Jonno38

Be great if you could keep us posted on your decisions.
I will be going through the same process in January.

Hope to become a member somewhere immediately though to take advantage of my free time whilst I consider finding employment.
Heritage I feel is the top of my list given my situation.

Woodlands was tops, but with membership intake only twice a year and the whole process taking 3 months according to their website, I feel I must rule it out,

Slightly off topic and a bit of a hijack, but can anyone recommend a nice set of suburbs to live in which would allow easy access to say Heritage and not too far from Central Melbourne (20 -30 mins drive from CBD).
Am flying into this city to live pretty much blindly having just spent 1 day in it. Given I have no job, I might as well base my living decision on where I will play golf.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Sunningdale

No problems Northerner. Thought you might have been doing a tour of these classics.
A course which is a little lighter on the wallets but I find enjoyable is Hindhead. So if you have any spare time, it might be worth trying out.

I am a client of the London Stock Exchange but from an IT standpoint, will speak to my account manager in case there is any spots available he knows about, but it sounds like a pretty set and pre organized event.

Let us know how you enjoy it.

Yet to play Wentworth, but as you mention everyone says don’t bother for the price.
I think it has the highest greenfee in the UK – £285 for a round!!
Yes Sunningdale has a magical feel about it, and is on a special bit of land – would be sacroligious to have anything but a golf course on such land.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Sunningdale

Hi Northerner

Played both the Old and New at Sunningdale thanks to an Artisan member I know. He even invited me to be an artisan member last year. However I had to pack up and move to within 2 miles of the course in order to be warranted.
Trust me I was very tempted to sell my house and buy in the Sunningdale region just to take up his offer.
I have yet to play Walton or Swinley, however they are on my list I would love to try out. Just hard to find fellow golfing partners willing to tackle it with me.
So if by chance you are needing / wanting anyone to knock it around with on those days, feel free to let me know as I would love to try them out.

Topic: Golf Talk / Mens Golf Apparel

Not sure if you can get it in OZ, but there is an excellent brand called Galvin Green I buy in the UK. Top notch stuff that has a very European feel to it, hence slimmish and stylish cut clothing.
They also produce what I believe is the best shirts and pants for playing in hot weather. It’s pricey but I feel the quality is worth it.

Topic: Golf Talk / Back Pain and Your Score

I am in the category. Had epidural injections into L4 and L5 around 10 months ago, which only temporarily hid my problem.
Following an MRI the surgeon said I have degeneration of the discs.
I love my golf, but battle with constant back pain which of course flares up even worse when I do play.
I am hoping by leaving London (desk bound all day) and with my move to Melbourne (hopefully no desk in sight) that I will be able to make the turn coupled with extensive fitness rehab work.
Reading Bio’s battle gave me some inspriration.
I love sport in general and being in my mid 30’s it just does not seem right that I am limited to what I can do thanks to my poor back.

Topic: Ask Golf Guru - Golf Instruction / Bio Moved to Melbounre looking for playing partners

Hey Bio

My ETA from the UK is now looking like early January.
Will touch base around that time to see if your keen to play, as I plan on doing as much golf and as little work as possible.

Curiously, are you planning on joining a club based on the move to Melbourne?

Topic: ISG Feedback / NEW: Latest Posts Page Feedback

If I have read page 9, I always then go to page 8 and so on.
Seems a more logical place to go rather than back to one. At least for me and the way I read them.

I guess people who start at the most recent and work through, would always want the latest post.

Not sure if you can code it where it works out what type of user you are. Hence if on 9, take him to 8.
If on 1 leave him at 1 as he goes through all the pages.

Not a major, just a thought :)

Topic: ISG Feedback / NEW: Latest Posts Page Feedback

Hey Admin

Not a major just a minor suggestion.

Not sure if this is intentional, maybe I work in reverse to everyone else.

I am a bit behind in my latest posts reading after my travels.
I always read it in date order, hence the highest paged number.
After reading the page I hit, Mark as Read, and look to go to the next page.
However it always takes me back to Page 1. Hence I always have to go back to the highest number.
As stated just a thought if others found a preference in working this way

Topic: Golf Talk / Melbourne Membership Lease

Thanks Beaker

Will add Cranbourne to the ever growing list of ones to trial out.
Read the review from ttitheridge and comments from others so have a bit of an idea. However it seems obvious that one really needs to trial these out in person.

Have also just received a friendly reply from Southern Golf Club, which whilst it may not be high on my current list, I will still check out and look to sample with an open mind.

Topic: Golf Talk / this is weird..

jr

I used to have a driver / 4 wood combo and the distance difference did not really add up for me either. I called it my sneaky long 4 wood rather than naming my driver a short ass slapper.
I put it down to timing, where with the shorter shaft of the 4 wood meant a more balanced and timed swing. Not sure if that is relevant in your case given you are hitting both at 80% and thus one would expect on balance both times.
Is the ball flight similar in both cases curiously??

Topic: Golf Talk / Melbourne Membership Lease

Come and play a round at Royal Box Hill any time…

Did Box Hill become a royal course once you had joined Muntz??

Will definitely take you up for a game when I arrive, and return the favour on where ever I end up.

Topic: Golf Talk / Your level of addictivness to golf

ps i once played 54 holes in one day! anyone beat that?

Smoothbooth I played 63 one time in America, course in the Carolinas that offered all day golf with cart, but as it was all in a cart one might say I was cheating.

I have a Finnnish mate and once a year they have Marathon golf which he participates in. 72 holes in the 1 day over 4 courses.
Finns are a little crazy into these sort of extreme type things, but the long daylight hours of being able to play at midnight (how cool would that be) helps.

Topic: Golf Talk / Melbourne Membership Lease

Marnic
Thanks for the feedback, will be definitely in touch if it’s looking like Heritage. The 36 holes of quality could sway my decision.
I guess a sandbelt course would be my priority, but as you would expect the flexibility around these setups is not there, which possibly means having to rule them out.

Muntz
I popped down in January and played New South Wales (obviously whilst in Sydney), St Andrews Beach, The Dunes, and both courses at Monnah Links. Loved them all (except was amazed at the number of flys that attacked me on the peninsular ) and could easily be a member of any of them. Done a lot of research from your helpful forum and therefore have a pretty good idea. True without playing a course in person it seems ludicrous to stump up the cash and the commitment, and it will likely be a whirlwind tour in the first few weeks of arrival to cement my final choice. Even if I become a member, I will want to travel around playing all the best courses, so at some point will sample hopefully nearly all. I am coming to Melbourne for golf, I could not care what job I end up with.

JP_MEL
Definitely will try that option of approaching for temporary memberships, am more than happy to pay a premium given my uncertain circumstances.
However, I am not sure whether I would have more luck in trying to be a normal member and paying both membership and joining fee based on installments. Not sure if that is then frowned upon, should I need to leave after 6 months given the girlfriend hates it, and thus stop payments.

Topic: Golf Talk / Your level of addictivness to golf

if i may ask…what country might that be ?

.

KycGolfer – I am currently based in London, England. But need a sunnier climate and a change of pace in life.
Was going to head to Sydney until I saw the debacle in relation to golf clubs and memberships.
So Melbourne is where I am going to have a try at living, and ideally South Melbourne given the quality of golf courses

Topic: Golf Talk / Melbourne Membership Lease

Thanks guys for the information. I really hope to rock up and be able to just start playing golf, even though I understand a club not wanting to accept a membership until they at least meet me.
Not wanting a stand down period in relation to membership, as I plan on arriving with no job, which will mean plenty of time to play. So at least some initial enquiries will be warranted.

JohnQGA – I fall in the 30-40 age range, are you able to advise me which club this might be that is open to members with a few referrals?
Possibly a direct approach explaining my situation may warrant some leniency.

I definitely am considering Spring Lakes, and dropping Southern from the equation after reading more reviews on it from you guys.
Spring Lakes will be my second choice following a more direct approach to Woodlands.

Sanctuary Lakes sounds like a pretty good course in the reviews, however if I was going down that path I think I would try for the “Heritage” and it’s two very good sounding courses, if the numbers worked out.

Yes, it’s a pity when a golf club cannot even be bothered to write back a standard reply to what is a genuine enquiry into joining.
I find it rather rude and unprofessional.

Topic: Golf Talk / Your level of addictivness to golf

I am moving country, and the city I am choosing is purely related to the quality of courses in that city.

My boss just terminated my contract and asked curiously why I was smiling so much at the news. I told him that thanks to him firing me, meant I now had free time to play golf whenever I like.

I build example golf trips from work, in the hope that one day I can travel and play those courses.

I have seriously considered taking 1 year off and travelling the world and trying to play as many of the top 100 courses possible.

Topic: Golf Talk / Melbourne Membership Lease

Hi all

Hopefully you guys can help me out with what is the best option for me given the slightly unusual situation.

Am currently living in the UK, but I have managed to convince the girlfriend to try and live in Melbourne (6 month minimum trial).
Have only spent 1 day there and 3 days in Mornington purely playing golf, but I know I want to come and try it out purely given the quality of golf on offer.

Ideally live South of Melbourne (not too far south though) as then I can pop down and play some of the other courses in the area, but south is not necessarily essential if the right club is available..

In reading all the past forums I have a pretty good idea on memberships, clubs, and a little understanding on leasing. I really want to play at as good a course as possible, so quality of golf is probably my number 1 priority.

I emailed some clubs to see if they would be interested in taking me on as a member, even when I know zippo people (Southern, Woodlands). Nearly a week later and no response, so I guess these clubs are not having $$ issues, or not wanting people who cannot be forwarded for recommendation.

I have seen an advert on Trading Post, that is offering a biweekly lease of a membership at the moment.
This is a possibility for an extended period, however I am not due to arrive until the end of the year, so am thinking it will not be still on offer.

My questions then if it’s not too much trouble:

1) Are leased memberships pretty much always on offer? Or am I purely reliant on a member willing to temprarily offset his costs.

2) Can I join a quality club in the hope I end up remaining, but in reality it may be only 6 months and not throw away too much money in trying to do this process?

I guess membership in some context is important to me, as I will not know any other golfers in Melbourne. In addition I plan to try and play as much golf as possible and green fees become expensive in that scenario.

Thanks for any advice

e people just play in small groupds with their own mates.

Topic: Golf Talk / Golfing around Omaha, New Zealand

racinfarmer

Another vote for Mangawhai Heads GC, played it back in January and always enjoy the course.
Good challenge and not so much like the basic rural courses that are unfortunately dotted around most of the country.
Another one possibly worth looking into is Muriwai, which is as close to a links course you will get up around that way.

Played Omaha after the changes, and they have created some pretty nice holes, unfortunately it is mixed in with the pretty poor original 9 hole layout, so really hit and miss in terms of course quality.

Topic: The Lounge / Movies

Impressed with the Bourne Series

I like my Asian Kung Fu – So Crouching Tiger, House of Flying Daggers, Heroes, Ong Bak, Zatoichi, Fighter in the Wind and of course Bruce Lee stuff.

Other favourites that I like to crank up on the surround sound system are Gladiator, Ronin, and Heat.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / The Dunes

Played it the once in January this year, and found it very enjoyable.
Some tough holes out there, and it is exposed too the wind.
Value for money it is hard to beat.
Not what I would term “classic links” though, more of a manufactured links which has been done naturally very well.
Maybe it’s not seeing the ocean from the course, or having played a lot of the UK and Irish links courses that stops me calling it a classic.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Woodlands - membership question

I might move to Melbourne in 6 months or so. Likely for a few years, not sure it will be permanent.

Was checking out the woodlands course and it’s membership options.
Am I correct in reading that this option would be joining for free and mearly paying double the subs per year???

I have never heard of something like this.
Is it common for clubs to offer this sort of membership??

“Category” = Temporary
“Entrace Fee” = n/a
“Subs” $200% of category Seven days – Available to persons temporarily residing in Melbourne for a period up to 2 years.

Topic: The Lounge / Where are you?

I’m in London, England.
Not a member of a club, just enjoy travelling around the UK and Europe playing lots of quality golf courses.