I am now a member: what next?
When you become a member (see How Do I Join Dungarvan Golf Club) you may get a playing handicap and enter competitions, or you may simply play social golf.

Lessons are available from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) club professional David Hayes. David has a well-equipped shop in the clubhouse, where he sells a comprehensive range of golf equipment – clubs, bags, caddycars, balls, clothing etc. David and his staff will advise on all aspects of the game, and carry out re-gripping and sundry repairs.

If you are interested in playing competitions you should put your name on the Competition Timesheet in the foyer or Pro shop.

Is there much to learn?
You should become familiar with the rules and etiquette of the game. Ask at the office for a free rule book

Don’t forget to look at the Local Rules and the ‘Conditions Of Matchplay, Stroke, Stableford And V Par Competitions’ notices.

When you get a handicap you will get a Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) smart card. This is used to enter your score on the computer in the locker room.

If you want to know about the handicap system ask around, or read the booklet which is available free of charge at the office. In a nutshell many newcomers are allocated a handicap of 18, based on previous golf experience and three signed scorecards submitted to the handicap Hon. Sec. After playing in singles competitions your handicap will fluctuate; when you have a good score you may be cut, and when you score badly you may get an increase in handicap.

Have a look at the dress code.

The club is owned by the members and is run democratically. There are several committees, elected at the AGMs in late October or early November. There is always room for new faces, especially as the success of the club depends on the contribution of volunteer members.

If you really want to become involved you may learn more about the committee structure from the ‘Rules and Constitution of Dungarvan Golf Club’, available at the office.

How will you get to know the members?
Most golfers love to see an unfamiliar name beside theirs on the timesheet.

You might look out for 9-hole ‘Social Scrambles’; this scramble is a fun way to meet the members, and you will be drawn with two or three other members, usually a mix of ladies and gents.

Or you might visit the bar/dining/snooker area upstairs. There is always a welcome, the food is good, the drink is cheap, the verandah on a summer’s day is just heaven; what more could you ask for!

Sixty.com
Over 60? On Wednesday afternoons at 2 p.m., throughout the year, there is a 9-hole social game – the Sixty.com group, followed, if you wish, by a coffee/tea – or whatever in the bar. Some play snooker or cards, while others just relax for a chat. All are welcome.

Only in your 50s? The ‘Fifty-something’ group also play a social 9-hole on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. All are welcome.

How often are competitions held?
The annual Fixtures Booklet shows that there are regular competitions throughout the year. Tuesday is Ladies’ Competition Day but they have competitions at weekends too. There are always competitions at weekends and on Thursday, but, if there are gaps on the timesheet on the day of the competition you may play social golf.

What types of competition are held?
The most common competition is handicap strokeplay – or a modification – whereby you play the holes shot by shot and keep a record on the official scorecard. To determine your nett score and your place on the results sheet your handicap is deducted. The most common modifications of strokeplay are Stableford and Versus Par (v Par), both easily explained and understood.

Stableford is one of the most popular ways of scoring. You score 2 for a par, 3 for a birdie, 4 for an eagle, and only 1 for a bogey (1 above par). Your handicap helps you here: for instance, if your handicap is 15, you may deduct a shot from your score on all holes of stroke index 15 or less to give you your nett score for the hole. Ask an experienced golfer to explain this to you by using a scorecard. [The 18 holes are ‘indexed’ according to their level of difficulty, with the most difficult hole at index 1]. A good Stableford score for a round would be 36 or better.

If you are playing against par (v par), on each hole you record a win (+), a loss (-) or a half (0) having deducted a shot if your handicap allows – again using the index for each hole. At the end you add up your wins and deduct your accumulated losses. A good score for a round would be to finish level or better.

Fourball: Usually played in a pair opposite another pair. A and B play together, recording their better score for each hole: this is why it is often referred to as a ‘Betterball Fourball’.

Matchplay is a head-to-head competition, often on a knockout basis; it may a singles match or a fourball.

Details of competition types are available in the booklet ‘Rules of Golf’.

There are several other competition types, including team events such as scrambles, rumbles and classics. There are also inter-club competitions locally, provincially and nationally, some organised by the GUI. Members with some experience should get involved in these.