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You’ve seen it on TV and decided that golf looks more than a game which spoils a good walk! Friends who play the game seem totally absorbed by it and the social life doesn’t look bad either. But how do you go about learning and joining a local club near you.

There are a lot of good tips on the English Golf Union website to help you understand what’s involved and how to go about it. They say:

Joining a Club:

There are 1920 affiliated golf courses throughout England that will suit all abilities. They are divided into different categories.

Proprietary Clubs: These clubs are owned by a proprietor or company welcome both members and non-members.

Municiple Clubs: These courses are usually owned by the council and are ideal for golfers of all abilities.

Pay and Play: These courses are ideal for flexible golfers who do not wish to be committed to any one course.

Private Members: These are some of the more established golf clubs of which many offer opportunities for member and non-members.

The website has an easy-to-use search facility to enable you to find your nearest golf club.

Getting a Handicap:

Golf has developed an ingenious way of allowing people of different abilities to play with and against each other. It involves applying a handicap to your gross score – the score after the removal of your handicap then becomes your nett score.

For example, in a stroke play competition on an 18 hole course with the par being 70, a player with a handicap of 10 must have 80 strokes to achieve a nett par, while a 20 handicap must have 90.

As your golfing ability develops, you may wish to obtain official recognition of this.

If you are a member of an EGU/EWGA affiliated golf club you will be able to achieve a golf club (CONGU) handicap, which is maintained by the individual golf club.

Your local PGA professional coach is the best person to teach you, regardless of your ability. Thorpeness Golf Club offers Suffolk golf breaks that include intensive and detailed golf lessons under playing professional Frank Hill. These cover all aspects of the game from bunker play to putting. With the added bonus of video teaching and the analysis facility of the Thorpeness Golf Academy, you can impress your fellow golfers with your improved game.

Round off your day with a relaxed dinner, talking about your lesson, your experiences on the Suffolk golf course or just the gorgeous surroundings of wonderful Suffolk coast.

For young enthusiasts there is junior coaching and also competitions to test their skill and progress. Suffolk golf events are organised throughout the year and more information can be obtained by either calling the golf office on 01728 454351 or visiting the website.

Kris Smith has been living and writing about Suffolk for several years, So if you are looking for a golf club in Suffolk, either to learn, improve or play, take a look at Thorpeness Golf Club or Telephone 01728 454351.