Welcome to Dorking Golf Club - Getting Started and Tips

Firstly, a very warm welcome to your club, Dorking Golf Club (DGC).

This section provides some useful information to help you get started and get the most out of your membership. Dorking is a friendly club and you will enjoy it most when you start to join in and play a few holes with other members.

The club was founded in 1897. It is a 9-hole course, where every hole is different with its own set of challenges and the views are outstanding.

It is a "members" not-for-profit club, run by the members for the members. Our income comes from membership fees, green fees, food and beverage sales at the bar, events, sponsorship and donations. Any profit is reinvested in course and clubhouse improvements. 

Golf can be a difficult game when you first start. There are a lot of rules to understand, etiquette to be observed, different types of scoring and competitions, completing a scorecard as well as trying to master the physical aspects of the golf swing and actually hitting the ball. 

As a member, you can book a tee time within the times relevant to your membership category and no additional green fees apply  (apart from usage of points for those on the Lifestyle Membership).  

The ethos of the club is to encourage members to meet and play with others and make new friends.  

Our aim is to make golf affordable for all and we try to keep the annual membership fees as low as possible. The more members we have the more we can maintain low fees. As a member, you can help in a number of ways :-

1. Introduce your family and friends as new members to sign up - you will each receive a referral bonus on your bar account
2. Bring along family and friends as guests to golfing and social events
3. Support the social events
4. Use the bar
5. Volunteer for any work parties . 

Getting Started

Dorking Golf Club is a very friendly and welcoming club and we encourage you to get involved as early as possible, whatever your level - whether a complete beginner or a seasoned professional. It can be quite daunting joining any new club. This can be especially so with golf where it takes a lot of confidence to start joining others out on the course but there are just a few basic requirements :-

• Get to know the rules of etiquette - we can help you to understand these and it is mostly common sense
• Avoid slow play - if you have had too many shots, pick up your ball and move onto the next hole
• Always book a tee time and check-in at the bar, be ready on the tee just ahead of your booked time, all guests must be paid for. If you cannot make the tee time, please remember to cancel it so that it can be reallocated . 
• Respect the course - replace divots, repair pitch marks, keep trolleys off the tees and greens, rake the bunkers
• Always remember your good shots - those are what brings you back next time .....
• ...... and keep a sense of humour - a golf club is a place that thrives on friendly "banter" 

With these things in place, you will be welcomed on most golf courses in the country and especially so here at Dorking 

We have introduced a number of initiatives to help anyone new to the club to come and meet other members and start to become involved and integrate into the club. 

Take a look at the Golden Rules and the Tips section, book a lesson with Allan, our professional and then get out on the course and start to understand the satisfaction which comes when you first hit a good shot (or two) on the course.

Roll-Ups

• Thursday 9-Hole Casual Rollup - every Thursday with tee times between 12:00 and 13:00
• Saturday 9-Hole Casual Rollup - every Saturday with tee times between 14:00 and 15:00 (between 13:00 and 14:00 in the Winter period - 1st October to 31st March)

These are an ideal way to get started within the club. There are two Whatsapp groups used to arrange partners and tee times. Each week on a Monday, a message is sent asking who wants to play that week - ignore it if you are unavailable or do not wish to play. A further message is sent later in the week confirming playing partners and a tee time. It is a very friendly, casual 9 hole round and an ideal opportunity to get your scorecards signed towards your handicap.Join up as soon as possible - you do not need to worry about whether you are good enough - you are ! Contact the Membership Secretary to be added to the Whatsapp Groups.   

Social Events - We usually have four major social events throughout the year plus additional summer barbecues, fun competitions, Sunday lunches, a Christmas party etc. etc. There is also a regular monthly quiz which is both light-hearted and good fun usually held on the last Friday of each month. Sign up on the notice boards.

Dress Code - please be aware of the dress code - no jeans, football shirts etc. but instead recognised golf or smart casual wear. Shirts with collars and sleeves, trousers or tailored shorts, no cargo shorts or sports shorts. 

Golfing Sections (Full Members) 

Mens Section - play peak time on Saturday and Sunday mornings - a rollup and / or a competition each weekend on alternate Saturdays / Sundays  with tee times between 8 and 9am. We'd like as many members as possible playing in the weekend competitions. There are also a number of summer knockout trophy competitions to enter and weekend matches against other clubs.

Ladies Section - a competition every Wednesday morning for those ladies who have a handicap. The Ladies also have a roll-up on a Monday, play matches against other clubs, and have a variety of weekday social events. 

Elders Section - for those Men over 55 who are Full Members, we have a very active Elders section who play a variety of competitions and matches. They meet regularly on a Monday morning, have activities on other weekdays and also play a number of matches against other clubs. If you're not yet a Full Member, come along at 8 a.m. on a couple of Monday mornings and give it a try to see if you like it and decide to upgrade. 

Handicaps - we can help you get your scorecards signed in order that you can gain a handicap.This is the key to starting to join in with some fun competitions. You need to submit six 9-hole scorecards or three 18-hole scorecards (or any combination). The scorecards must be signed by a playing partner who has marked your card and they must be a DGC member who already has a handicap. Be sure to include the date and time; your name; in the Competition section, write "For Handicap Purposes" and record each score on each hole with the card signed by both yourself and your marker. Place the completed card in the box in the clubhouse hallway. Maximum handicap is 54 so get your handicap straight away and it gives you a target to aim for. 

Once you have a handicap, it may be adjusted each time you submit a new scorecard. You can look on the DGC members website for your current handicap or look under MyGolf / Handicap Certificate to print out your certificate or to confirm your unique CDH (Central Database of Handicaps) number. 

Bar Account

As a member you have a  bar account. You can collect a bar card from behind the bar. If you pay via your bar account (either by handing over your card or if you've forgotten your card, just tell the team behind the bar your name) you automatically receive discounts on food and drink, guest green fees, buggy hire, event bookings. You can top up by debit / credit card at the bar or online on the website or you can set up an automatic top up when your account drops below a specified amount. 

Reciprocal Clubs

Look at the section on reciprocal clubs where you have details about paying reduced green fees at other clubs or a free round at any or all of the clubs in the Southern 9 Network. 

Notices and Emails - keep an eye open for the notices in the entrance hallway, and in the Men's and Ladies' changing rooms. Also look out for the regular emails and updates. If you are not receiving these emails, let me know and I'll make sure you are added to the distribution list. Also let me know if there is anything else you'd like covered in these emails. 

The key to progressing is to play regularly. Book a regular golf slot in your weekly diary and stick to it. 

I look forward to seeing you out on the course or up at the clubhouse very soon. If you have any questions, just ask. 

Enjoy your Golf !

Kind regards, 

Dave Langford

Membership Secretary, Dorking Golf Club
membership@dorkinggolfclub.co.uk
0780 279 4173