Part 1. Why I Decided to Rebuild My Golf Handicap
Firstly – Why Have I Taken So Long?
After a few years of social golf with friends I am now super keen to get back into some “competitive” golf.
When I started teeing it up again a few years ago now (when I turned 50), I thought returning to competition golf would be an easy and natural progression. How hard could it be? All I had to do was:
I did the first four tasks BUT never got to the highly anticipated return to regular competitive golf, with the aim of getting and working on my handicap.
Four years later I am determined to address this (it is one of my goals for this year).
I will do my best to capture my return to competitive golf via this blog, so stay tuned over upcoming weeks to see how I progress!
First of all lets set the scene a little…
Why Is Playing Competitive Golf Important For Everyday Golfers?
There are so many advantages for playing competitive golf and whilst everyone has their own reasons, ultimately it is all the same. Let me share with you what I think they are.
The Benefits of Playing Competitive Golf
First Advantage of Competitive Golf
Well this one can be summed up so easily, IT MAKES YOU A BETTER PLAYER!
When it is all said and done we all want to improve our golf no matter where we are on the journey. While all those things I shared in the list above will improve your golf nothing will improve your skills better than been tested under pressure. Week in week out exposure to golf competition rules and conditions makes us stronger mentally and allows us to grow as golfers.
Second Advantage of Competitive Golf
Another reason why we can improve so much once we have our handicap and regular playing commitment is that it gives us something to measure against. NEVER, ever underestimate the value of having a quantitative measure of your golf game. Once you have an established handicap and make the commitment to play regularly your handicap will head down overtime “almost” guaranteed!
What Are The Options Available for Playing Competitive Golf?
Join a Golf Club
Joining a golf club where you don’t really know anyone can be hard. So firstly, I did some research on some local golf clubs that were both private and public. I asked people I knew who were members or who had played at different clubs. This was really helpful and in mid 2024, I decided to do a trial membership at one of the more prestigious golf clubs, Royal Fremantle Golf Club.
While the club was amazing and I really enjoyed playing the course, some things stood out to me as not ideal for my situation at the time.
- First and foremost, it was a big commitment both financially and time wise.
- I would be compelled to play predominantly at the one course.
- I wanted to ensure my game had improved sufficiently before making such a large commitment.
So back to social golf and the driving range it was!
Join a Golf Network
Fast Forward to February 2026 and I have made the decision to join the “Perth Golf Network“, and I have my first round tomorrow…
A Golf Network can be best explained as competitive golf, but offered in a more relaxed and social atmosphere. More importantly, it is offered across a number of courses on any given day of the week.
