Your first lesson
The very first time
Golf is a game for members. As a new member to the club it may be difficult to get into the ways and means of those who have been part of the club for years. You probably feel that there are many things you do not know. And you do not even know how and whom to ask.
This is normal. It takes time to get acquainted to the clubhouse. In fact it is not so difficult and as long as the club and its members are happy to greet new players, they will welcome you.
There are three areas of the clubhouse I want to introduce you to:
The reception
If you want to play at the club as a green-fee player or to reserve a starting time, you have to call the reception and make a reservation. If there are many who want to play you can expect to be teamed up with others so that your flight has up to 4 players. If you do not like this idea of playing with strangers you had better bring some friends to your game.
But do not worry about it. Golf is a very social sport and being teamed up with others during a game or during a tournament is a good way of finding new golf friends.
As you arrive to the club you should report at the reception to let them know that you are ready to play at the given time and to pay your greenfee for those who are not members.
The Proshop
The Proshop is a golf shop operated by the Pros (golf professionals of the club) or someone designated to do the job. It usually contains some golf equipment that you may need: golf clubs, balls, tees, gloves and often you can find golfbags and clothes.
Instead of the reception, the Proshop may be the place to reserve and get your starting time.
The Restaurant
When I wrote about how awkward it may be to enter the clubhouse the first time, I was mainly thinking about the restaurant. The reason is that the restaurant seems to be full of people knowing each other and you are not sure whether to sit by yourself or join a group. It helps to think of the restaurant as just any other - until you get to know other players.
It is custom to stop by the restaurant or bar in the clubhouse - often referred to as Hole 19 - when your golf game is over. There you sit with the others from your flight and share a drink that is paid for by the one(s) who shot a "lady". It is also the place to compare scorecards and tell everyone about your wonderful putt at hole 7 or the slice that almost killed to members of the flight ahead of you. And then you all laugh.
And the next time you come into the restaurant you wave and greet the former flight members and join them or find a table for the flight you played with this time.
So now you know the clubhouse. In addition there are probably also areas where you can change before and after your game and lockers you can rent to store your equipment if you are a regular player at the club.
The Clubhause
