Golf - The 2010 Season thread

[luminousmind08]

Hello golfers!

Decided to start a thread for golfers for the 2010 season. A chance to meet new people, organize games, talk golf and at some point organize the 2010 EF Golf tournament!

I'll kick it off,

I'm a lifetime golfer from Canada who arrived in Zürich last October. I'm looking to meet people who love the game, regardless of their handicap who want to join me on the course in Switzerland, day trips to Germany, etc.

Look forward to meeting you!

[Thalwiler]

Welcome

Have you got yourself into the Migro system yet?

We usually play mid week over at http://www.golfpark-holzhaeusern.ch/



Cheers

[scrambled]

I'm looking forward to playing here as well. I arrived here in Zug the other day, but I didn't bring my clubs with me. I've been playing for 14 years, can get my scores into the singles when I'm practicing but i 3 and 4 putt all the time because my touch on the greens is just awful.

i heard you need some kind of license to play here though. I didnt keep an official USGA handicap back in the states so I don't know how I'll go about this.

[ptuxford]

	Quote:	Thalwiler
	Welcome Have you got yourself into the Migro system yet? We usually play mid week over at http://www.golfpark-holzhaeusern.ch/ Cheers

Can you please explain the Migros system that you refer to above....

[luminousmind08]

	Quote:	Thalwiler
	Welcome Have you got yourself into the Migro system yet? We usually play mid week over at http://www.golfpark-holzhaeusern.ch/ Cheers

Thanks for that! I'm not in the Migro system, but I've joined a private club. Perhaps I can reciprocate the invitation to Migro and host you at my club as well!

[Miss-Lizzy]

Hi everyone.

I've started playing two years ago (mostly in the UK and Germany).

There's two things to consider for whoever is interested in playing golf over here. (Correct me if I'm wrong....)


1. In Switzerland and Germany you have to be part of a club to actually play 18 holes anywhere. There's no such thing as public golf courses.

2. And to make things even worse in both countries, you have to have the "Platzreife" which is indeed a "license" to play golf on 18 holes.


In Switzerland you have this is a test and you have to reach at least Handicap of 36 for women and 28 for men.

In Germany it's a different story, you still need a license and you need to do the test, but you can get the license with a handicap of 54 for both, men and women.

Also, if you were thinking of just joining a cheap online club, a lot of the courses in Germany or Switzerland do NOT accept them.

These are the official associations the club you join needs to be a member of that are usually accepted everywhere in CH and DE golf courses:

Swiss Golfing Association: ASG club membership with HC <36
Swiss Independant Golfing Association: ASGI-Club members with HC < 36
European Golfing Association: EGA-Club members with HC <36 (this includes German Golfing Association (DGV) club memberships)

Online/Cheap club memberships:
in CH: www.ASGI.ch
in DE: www.VCG.de


Not sure if any of the UK/US online club memberships will work over here, as I've never tried.

But anyway... without license and club membership you will only be able to play 9 holes or other short courses.


I'm playing just over 36, so I will only be able to play on short courses too, but I rather go to Germany or UK anyway as it's way cheaper. Even the Migros clubs won't let me play their 18 holes in CH. So why bother?

But hey, count me in, if you plan any trips to UK/Germany or anywhere in Europe.

Hey all. Thanks to luminousmind for starting this thread. Looking for some random games this season. I am just a student here so affording a memby somewhere is out of the question.

I live in Neuchatel and have played here 2 times. From experience I can say you don't technically need to be a member to play 18 holes. You just need to know someone at the club who can vouch for you. And also you don't need an official handicap to play. I used this approach both times and had no problems. I guess it might be different at a different club but that's how it was here. Given I did claim to have about a 4 handicap that probably helped but they didn't need anything official.

I believe there are different price levels based on if you know someone or not. I payed 100chf per round here (weekend rate) but if I didn't know anyone it would've been 180chf.

I'd love to play a few different courses around Europe and maybe take a golf trip in the summer. I'd be willing to travel for a day trip to play somewhere.

I've been playing since I was about 10 and love it. I've never really competed in serious tournaments or anything just fun ones. But last year I found this pretty awesome website http://www.oobgolf.com/ and it pretty much tracks everything you could want to keep track of. And if you have an iPhone (the reason I found the site) there is an app that you can use that will upload all the info to the site. It's pretty handy.

Anyways that really the only measure I ever had for my handicap. I only ended up getting 17 rounds in last year cause I moved here at the end of August. But not too bad for half a summer in Saskatchewan!

If someone wants to play let me know I'd be in! Plus it already feels like it's getting nice out so hopefully the season starts soon!

[TDM999]

Yes, great idea promoting some golfing on the forum. I am a member of the Migros club and play regularly at their courses in Zug and Zurich.

Does anyone know any driving ranges near to Zurich?

[luminousmind08]

	Quote:	TDM999
	Yes, great idea promoting some golfing on the forum. I am a member of the Migros club and play regularly at their courses in Zug and Zurich. Does anyone know any driving ranges near to Zurich?

I'd start over in this thread [golf] Driving ranges in or around Zurich

[Terry]

Would be good to play a few different courses together. I am off to Kandern (Germany) this weekend to discuss the possibility of a temporary membership (€1200). Sounds like a good deal but the travelling from Zürich could prove to be a bit tiresome. I played there a few times last year and enjoyed the course and the general environment (very friendly towards "foreigners" etc.) and another advantage is that although located in Germany they are also aligned to Swiss Golf Network.

Also played a bit in the Czech Republic last year and they have some really good courses so a long weekend there could also be considered.

Will keep a eye on the posts and see what develops.

[Big Mac #24]

If anyone needs to obtain the Platzreifer qualification, a good friend of mine can assess your ability and take you on course to obtain the Platzreifer which you generally need to play golf over here - Once you have it, you can join the ASGI for a relatively small fee, and pay and play a fair few courses without membership. (If I'm not wrong, this includes all Migros courses which are the cheapest in Switzerland - as low as 70 francs during off peak times for 18 holes ((Can I bracket within brackets, "for as low as 70 francs per round off peak makes me wanna vomit as I write it")) ) If anything has changed in the last couple of years, please correct me, but as far as I know this is still the case.

He's a golf pro since a long while, and runs a driving range within 45 mins drive from Zurich, Luzern or Basel (Härkingen)

He's a great teacher, has experience in abundance, is a really nice guy and is above all in Switzerland very reasonable.

PM me for contact details, had a few guys take me up on the link last summer.

[luminousmind08]

Well folks, Here is how my golf season has started.

I am down at a conference in San Diego @ Torrey Pines with a room overlooking one of the great golf courses in the world and will not have the opportunity to play. Alas, not the start of the season I was looking for!

At least there is still some ski time left...

Hey I'm probably going to Austria in over the easter weekend. Has anyone golfed there and do you think any courses will be open by then? I'm used to Canadian winters where courses are garbage until mid May. My brother golfed there last year in July and said it was nice.

[axman]

	Quote:	Miss-Lizzy
	Hi everyone. 1. In Switzerland and Germany you have to be part of a club to actually play 18 holes anywhere. There's no such thing as public golf courses. 2. And to make things even worse in both countries, you have to have the "Platzreife" which is indeed a "license" to play golf on 18 holes. In Switzerland you have this is a test and you have to reach at least Handicap of 36 for women and 28 for men. Also, if you were thinking of just joining a cheap online club, a lot of the courses in Germany or Switzerland do NOT accept them. These are the official associations the club you join needs to be a member of that are usually accepted everywhere in CH and DE golf courses:

Thanks for your post, Miss-Lizzy.

I would like to clarify a few points from my experience, although I am not the expert:

All the Migros ones are public. They also offer membership. The difference is that members get priority booking times (eg, 9am-noon on weekends). If there are still tee times available on Thursday, it will be open to the public. You can usually get a tee-off time on the weekend before 9am or in the afternoon if you book by Monday or Tuesday.

If you get a platzreife (licence) from Migros itself, you can play on their golf course, i.e., you do not need to be a 36 handicap.

Most of the Swiss clubs accept foreign membership cards (they have never asked me if it is online or not) on weekdays. Weekends is usually as members guests only. Some clubs do charge more though.... All you have to do is call in advance and ask when you can play. I have been able to play in the top Zurich clubs (such as Breitenloo, Sonenberg) without problems on weekdays.

[axman]

	Quote:	Thalwiler
	Welcome Have you got yourself into the Migro system yet? We usually play mid week over at http://www.golfpark-holzhaeusern.ch/ Cheers

If you need a fourth to join you... I have a 12 handicap

Have you played the computer golf at the Sedartis?

[monkeynut]

"1. In Switzerland and Germany you have to be part of a club to actually play 18 holes anywhere. There's no such thing as public golf courses. "

this isnt true - anyone can play on any golf course if they want - usually only at specific times though

im a member at a course in geneva but have played several over switzerland and france

[ZurichTim]

I'm interested and play off 16. Looking at the potential to play here in Zurich its not looking likely that I will be playing much golf as there aren't many courses and if you can get a certificate they are expensive.

Let me know if there are other options as the Migros, who seem to own alot of things, is going to be busy.

[Danieluk]

	Quote:	axman
	If you need a fourth to join you... I have a 12 handicap Have you played the computer golf at the Sedartis?

I thought that was my nearest driving range til someone set me straight!!

Am too interested in playing as much as possible this season, just gotta sort my membership as I do not have a card from anywhere...I play to 16...mostly

[Terry]

As mentioned earlier I am off to Kandern, Germany on Saturday to discuss their temporary membership deal (€1200 per year). When making my appointment they warned me that they are still likely to be using "winter greens" probably until mid-march, so I guess that will be the case for most courses in CH unless anyone knows any more definite information.

[axman]

	Quote:	Danieluk
	I thought that was my nearest driving range til someone set me straight!! Am too interested in playing as much as possible this season, just gotta sort my membership as I do not have a card from anywhere...I play to 16...mostly

A friend of mine, usually a 10 handicapper, walked up to the counter at Holzheusern one day and handed in his application for the Migros/ASGI handicap card. He left the bit about his handicap blank so they had a discussion. He said "I used to be a member in the US and had a 10. But I have lived here for 5 years and am not a member there anymore and don't play so much anymore". They asked, "well, what do you feel your handicap is now?". He said 16, the b*stard. They wrote down on the form 16, and sent him a card with 16 on it. They didn't even ask to see his card from his old club... so it is worth a try.

Sedartis thing is better than I thought it would be. It is good enough to keep your swing loose over the winter. Best part is that they can serve you beer and munchies while you play...