Pub 2610 p20-21 roland golf 21/10/09 17:17 Page 20
20 Monday 26/10/09 thePublican www.thepublican.com
This Week Pub Golf Societies
Join the club
LOVE IT or hate it, golf is The great advantage it has over most
hugely popular in the UK. other sports is that, through handicap-
According to Sport ping, it is possible for people of all
England’s Active People 2 levels to play against each other
Survey 2007/08, almost a and compete, and it’s possible to
million people in England play with almost any number of
participate in golf at least people.
once a week, with 1.54
million adults having played So what’s in it for your
at least once in the past four pub?
weeks. The answer lies in the pub golf
And pubs have all to play society. Pubs are perfectly
for when it comes to taking placed to get a group of other-
advantage of that. The survey wise disparate hackers to
found a marked increase in traipse around a golf course
participation among lower together, all for the good name of
socio-economic groups, those their local.
with limiting disabilities, the over- As with an affiliation to any sports
65s, and women. Once the domain of team, by establishing a golf society, you
stuffy old duffers with rules about what help build a strong community feel around
sort of tie or shoes you had to wear in the your pub, guaranteeing a decent number of
clubhouse, golf clubs have transformed them- people into the pub on a regular basis.
selves over recent years to become more inclusive Most people who play golf will usually have at
and provide a more friendly service – some clubs least one or two friends living locally who they
even allow women into the clubhouse these days! regularly play with.
And, with 2,300 courses in the UK, you should is because it is such a social game. In fact, for many, These people might not be familiar with your pub,
never really be more than half-an-hour’s drive from the highlight of the day is getting back to the pub but get them back for a slap-up meal after a round
the nearest 18 holes. after a round, having a few beers and talking of golf, and they may soon come back again, bring-
One of the main reasons for the sport’s popularity through the shots and shockers of the day. ing partners and friends with them. And what value
Golf day betting
No golf round is complete without a generous this are usually available from the pro shop. Agree can pick up the marker and take it back to the
sprinkling of side bets to keep everyone a hole with a nice long, wide fairway at the clubhouse.
interested. Here, The Publican’s resident golf- beginning of the round, and have players write
betting geek, news editor Matt Eley, offers his their name on the marker as they place it where Snakes
guide to keeping the stragglers interested their ball ended up – provided of course that it The dreaded three-putt (taking three putts on the
throughout the round. landed on the fairway. The last group to play can green) is what all golfers hope to avoid.
then pick up the marker and bring the winner’s Whenever a player three-putts on a hole, they
Pound a hole/skins name back to the pub for the announcement of hold the ‘snakes’ – price to be agreed at the
As you will probably be playing by standard the winner. beginning of the round. The ‘snakes’ then
Stableford rules as individuals in accordance with accumulate as you go round the course until one
your handicap, groups can also play a little match- Nearest the pin player is left holding them – and he has to pay
play competition of their own (lowest gross score This works in the same way as longest drive, but for the lot. This is enough to make even the
on each hole wins). Each hole is worth a pound to this time it’s for short par-three holes where you most confident of putters get the yips on the
the winner. If you draw a hole, the money is have the chance to land on the green from your 18th hole.
carried forward to the next hole. tee shot. The player whose shot lands nearest
the pin – it has to be on the green – signs his Camels and frogs
Longest drive name on the marker, and leaves it on the spot Similarly to snakes, financial penalties can be
Always a favourite with the big hitters. Markers for where it landed. The last group to play the hole accrued for going into the hazards. The last one in
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