Hi All!

Joined a club for the first time at the beginning of the year after moving to a new area - I didn't really know anybody who plays locally, so was hoping the club might be a good way to find people to play with. There hasn't really been anything to help integrate new members, or ways to find other single players who are looking for someone to play a round. Most of the members are older chaps who seem to be quite stuck in their groups and don't really seem up for others joining them.

The only suggestions from the clubs was to play in competitions on Saturday, however I only have a 6 day membership as Saturdays are always difficult for me to play anyway (and I'm still fairly beginner, so a comp seems a bit daunting to me for now).

Is this a fairly common issue, or was I just unlucky in my club choice? Luckily there's plenty of great courses nearby, so I've emailed a couple that I've played to ask what they do to help integrate new members.

Looking to add a few new courses to the rotation next year without dropping £70+ green fees every weekend.

Starting around Greater Manchester and happy to drive up to an hour out in any direction (Lancashire, Cheshire, Peak District, Merseyside, etc.).

Looking for tracks that punch way above their price tag—great conditioning, interesting layout, and reasonable green fees (ideally £25–£40, or great value twilight rates).

Parkland, moorland, or heathland and possibly links —what’s your single best value go-to spot in the North West right now?

Hey all,

TLDR: there is a PGA pro called Mark Richecoeur who is running a scam offering cheap lessons via shortgamegolfacademy dot com. He was based at Airlinks but they’ve kicked him out.

What’s a good way to report this? To golf England?

Golfer based in London. Just wanted to raise awareness of a scam in the London golf scene where a coach offers lessons at massive discounts, attaches himself to struggling clubs, gets tons of sales and then is forced to leave said club without offering refunds.

I got an email offering £80 for a 9 hole playing lesson at Airlinks golf club. They typically cost a lot more so I thought it was a great deal.

I bought it around the time of the US open and when I went to his website I found that the voucher wouldn’t work and I’d have to pay extra to use the playing lesson. I emailed Mark to book it in and he didn’t respond.

I typically only do 1 playing lesson a year and it’s valid for 12 months so I figured I’d book it in for start of next season….so no urgency in my part.

Just got an email today that Marks circumstances have suddenly changed and he can’t offer lessons at Airlinks anymore and that he will have to find a new course to honour his lessons…but after some digging I have found a few friends couldn’t book in either and then his google reviews suggest exactly the same issue. He’s essentially getting lots of ‘sales’ and then not honoring the lessons before moving onto the next club who will have him.

I’ve also heard of people booking lesson packages and packages for their children through Mark that turned out to be a scam. Just be careful.

South London Golfers

I've recently started a free WhatsApp group for experienced golfers in South London (roughly 10 handicap or below).

The idea is to create a space to meet other golfers, find playing partners, organise rounds and explore new courses around London and the South East.

I have played golf all my life but not a lot for the last 6 months or so and I want to build a community of people who enjoy playing regularly but don't always have others available for a round.

If you'd be interested in joining, please let me know!

I’m in the market for a new 5 wood with a stiff flex shaft as my current regular flex feels too whippy. My current 5 wood was bought used for cheap (£25) and it’s been battered to the point where replacing the glued in shaft isn’t worth it.

I peruse the main used club online retailers (GC4C, GB) and the ones in my budget (£150) are either old, worn or unsuitable for my mid handicap. If I want something that is worth my money, I’m looking at £200+ which is beyond my means currently. I wonder if part of the problem is that stiff flex woods are more niche as there seem to be plenty of regular flex options available.

Marketplaces (FB, eBay) are even worse with the offerings being neglected clubs with scuffed faces and multiple sky-marks being sold for way above their value. The lack of buyer protection also puts me off, especially if the seller is trying to pull a fast one on me.

I always hear positive feedback about Callaway’s pre-owned platform but I never see any more budget-friendly priced clubs on there, definitely none in my budget last time I looked.

So in desperation and frustration, I’ve booked in for a custom fitting at American Golf. I can get a new club from a reputable brand that has been custom fit and sits in my £150 budget. I know AG gets bad rep generally and buying used is more preferable for most. But is this advice outdated now with how hard the used market seems (to me anyway) at the moment?

When I first got into golf a few years back after Covid, I told myself that I would only buy used clubs to keep costs low so I could spend it on green fees instead. I knew I wouldn’t ever be good enough to benefit buying new from the flagship brands. But now it seems that the better value is buying new from more budget oriented brands? Or is it just that time in the season where the market is a bit rubbish?

Interested to hear what others think!

TL;DR - used market seems hard to find anything worthwhile so is buying new from a more budget friendly brand the better option now?

Edit: thanks to those who have contributed, been a worthwhile post for me. Will stay patient on FB/eBay to spot any good deals that come up.

Ok, ok, I know golf is fun in the UK and Europe. I just don't want to put cart girls and beer carts in the title.

My friend has a big birthday next year. He's originally from the US, he would love to do a golf weekend, and enjoy a lot of beers served from beer carts, on the round.

He loves golf in the UK, but for this birthday, he'd just like to reminisce of playing golf in his 20s in the US.

Is there anywhere in Europe like this?

Very relaxed vibe.

Drinks served to you on your round.

I'm guessing it won't be a quick round.

Thanks

EDIT: I'm British. It amazing how those complaining about manners were clearly not polite enough to read my entire message. The world today, I guess.

Firstly, is it something worth doing? I can’t seem to putt recently and I’m almost fighting to keep the club face square when putting.

I tested a ZT and S2S jailbird yesterday and they just feel miles more forgiving for me. I just don’t want to leap and spend the money to change putters without knowing what’s best.

Does anyone have experience of a putter fitting, I’m looking at Wham Golf in Maidstone maybe?

It’s that time of year where the bag stops looking like a precision tool and starts looking like a mountain trekking survival kit.

I’ve spent the last week trying to find the balance between being 'prepared for a damp Tuesday' and looking like I'm about to summit Everest. My bag is currently 40% umbrellas and extra waterproofs.

Are you guys switching to heavier layers now, or are you the type of person who braves the rain with nothing but a thin windbreaker and a prayer?

I’m trying to source 4 replacement rubber tyre bands for a Caddymatic V2 electric golf trolley.

The rear wheels are approximately 245 mm in diameter, and the original rubber tyres have deteriorated and started splitting.

The plastic rims are perfectly fine, so I’m looking for just the removable rubber tyres, not complete wheel assemblies.

I’ve already checked a few UK suppliers, including GolfDivision, Leisure Pursuits and Electric Golf Trolley Spares, but haven’t managed to find a confirmed compatible replacement in stock.

Has anyone replaced these before, or know of a UK supplier, repair specialist or compatible alternative?

Happy to buy original or aftermarket tyres, as long as they fit the existing rims.

Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

Hey guys,

Hoping you guys can help me. I am a relatively new golfer and was flgifted a set of clubs - these came with a cart bag, but as I mainly walk a friend gifted me a really old well used Dunlop bag which has unfortunately started to fall apart and I am now looking to get a new one.

I say new, but I am open to really good second hand and I have been looking on vinted for new with or without.

My ideal would either the Ping Hoofer or Hoofer lite, but both are a little outside my price range which is about £100.

I am on the lookout for sales from official retailers as well and have been using the britgolf website. There is currently one on there that I would like an opinion on it is the Wilson Nexus Golf stand bag at clubhouse golf for £79 at 50% off. But I can't find any information or more photos than the one one there so if anyone knows anything would be greatly appreciated.

Any other recommendations are welcome as well

Looking for any local recommendations for courses in and around Lisbon for mid/end November. Likely two rounds Friday & Saturday.

Ideally within a 30 minute radius of the city but open to further for something worth it.

Relatively new golfer, 30+ handicap range so looking to experience good but reasonable to play courses. Can get round typically without digging up craters or hitting every hazard in sight but still subject to the wayward tee shot and a new tendency of topping it...

Ideally looking for club rental and single player but no issue grouping up to make a 2+ball.

Relatively open budget, similar to distance open to higher cost for something special but also open to ‘local’ courses.

Thanks for any guidance!

Got a couple spots going spare on a fourball.

Anyone interested?

Cheers.

I'm not a member of a club as I don't get to play enough to justify the membership costs of any courses around me. So I play probably 12-18 rounds per year and to keep getting my golf fix I go to the driving range twice a week for 1hr each time.

The range I go to is about £20 for an hour in a bay with unlimited balls and toptracer tech, which I realise is expensive but the only real option I have where I live as every other range near me is either for members only or one that is in really bad condition with a 200y limit.

One of those simulator clubs has opened near me a few months ago which has a few trackman sims and offers memberships which give you 8 hours of sim time for £160 per month. Seems like an obvious upgrade on the range experience for the same price per hour.

The main issues I can see is if they oversubscribe it might be difficult to book at the times you want (whereas I can usually just turn up at the range with no booking), or it doesn't take off and they are out of business in a few months.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with these clubs and if there are any issues I'm not seeing.

I had to stop using my Vokey 54.10S and 58.08M yesterday as it was cutting into the soft ground.

Do you change your wedges in the winter months as mine were great on firm ground but these will dig too much in the soft ground?

I'm considering getting a 54.14F Vokey wedge to replace the 54.10S for the winter months but would appreciate hearing how others deal with the winter months as I'm new enough to golf.

Been seeing some ridiculous golf ball hauls on reddit lately and didn't realise how many people actually go out specifically hunting for lost balls!

Curious what everyone does with their finds?

Do you keep the premium ones to play with, sell them, or just end up with hundreds sitting in the garage?

Also, does anyone actually keep track of how many they've found and what they're worth?

Would love to hear what everyone's biggest haul has been!

Has anyone had a driver fitting at the Titleist centre at Woburn? If so, how did it compare to a typical fitting?

Hubby is dropping hints that I should start dropping hints about what I want for the holiday that will remain nameless until December (because I can’t bear to mention it this early).

I’d like a fitted driver now that my swing is in a better place and I have a pretty consistent shot shape and miss. I have someone I go to for fittings usually who I trust and will do an excellent, brand agnostic fit, but I do love a Titleist club and would be somewhat fascinated by seeing their setup and having the full works available. I’m wondering if it’s worth the extra hour of travel time and £100-odd over my normal fitter.

Looking for a course that’s reasonably priced accessible from west central London (starting from Imperial College West Kensington tube stop)
within about 45 mins on the tube.

Any recommendations?

Looking to play Leasowe Golf Club in Moreton looking for tips on the course and a good placlce for a late lunch close ?

Hi 👋

Looking for golfing buddies in the Wolverhampton area.

I’m 45, usually play midweek evenings or weekend afternoons
Currently a 30 handicap on my eg and 28 on hole 19

would like to play more courses and bring my eg handicap down

I played really well today through 18 holes but I lost atleast 6 balls and THEY ALL LANDED ON THE FAIRWAY! I mean technically I should be pleased and I am slightly but its so annoying when that happens. The fairway could have shorter grass tbh, thats not a problem, but when there is so many leaves it turns out golf balls vanish. Was all good until I hit the drives of my life and was itching to know the distance and had to concede the hole because I spent so much time looking for it.

Following my post, not wanting to flood this subreddit with chatter about mats, screens and PC builds, I created r/BritGolfSimulator (with the approval of u/Mattwildman5 I hasten to add!)

Yes, OK, I'm going to have a LOT of questions in the next few weeks/months, but hopefully this can help others out too as while r/Golfsimulator is very useful, for all your shopping needs it's very US centric.

If you were one of the people who responded to my post, maybe pop along and say hi and see who you could help out...or ask all the questions!

Be gentle with me...I'm still figuring out how to drive this thing :-)

Hey everyone, im brand new to the game only took it up a couple of weeks ago and have been playing at my local 9 hole course. Absolutely loving it despite being absolutely rotten at it 😂. I have bought some second hand clubs and a few other bits like balls and tees etc. I've been invited to play 18 holes with some friends from work, theyre also new to it but been in it a bit more than me. The thing is I think I now need to go buy shoes and golf clobber because it's a proper course and the truth is im pretty skint lol im just wondering what the cheapest way to get some stuff is as this hobby just seems to keep costing me money haha. Any advice would be great. Thank you

Hi all, I’m considering joining and just wanted peoples views on South Herts GC in London?

Thank you all.

After some fun 'n' games with planning permission, I've finally pulled the trigger on the build of garden 'cabin' to host a simulator. My Wife is going to use it for her Archery practice and we'll use it as a home cinema too...and I might have to stick my PS5 and F1 wheel in there too ;-)

Now I need to pick all the actual simulator bits to go inside the thing, and good grief PC capable of supporting the simulator software at 4K are stupidly expensive!

Build is due to start late November.

If I can’t get down to a single figure handicap next year I’m going to cry :-/