Golf Associate Membership (GVB)

[Stapel]

It has pleased the Dutch Golf Federation that mr. Stapel has passed both the theory exam and the practical exams of the honourable game of golf.

Dutch 'GVB-exams' are a pain in the arse.
First you need a golf-pro to allow you to go to an exam (too many disciples failing the tests will screw his rep).
You need to pass a 20 question test by answering 15 of them correctly. This is actually quite a test! Dozens of bored housewifes, whose children have left home and who are frustrated by their husbands whereabouts (not at home, but at whatever blond young hotty), try to make as many useless rules as possible. An example: under what circumstances are you allowed to pick up a new club, when you break one in anger on a tree? There are dozens more of these silly questions, regarding unlikely events that have very little to do with the actual game.

Anyway, after a quiet discussion (not really allowed, but the examinator knows about the shittyness of some questions) with other disciples, I got 17 out of 20.
A great releive! You have to pay 60 euros for both exams, but are not allowed to continu when you fail the theory. No refund!

The exam afterwards was in the pocket. I had to walk 4 holes (3 par 4, 1 par 5). The worst hole is neutralised. On the other 3, a plus of 10 is allowed.
I had:
6 (+2)
7 (+3)
9 (+4) (that was the par 5)
7 (+3)

So totally regardless of what was my worst hole, I got through. And on the third, where I really sucked, I even had one ball left.

[Matrix]

Congratulations!

I must say I'm really attracted to golf, but it'll be too expensive for me for the next years to come. And reading this stuff about having to pass exams really disappoints me. I thought socialists were rule-madmen, while golf players are usually right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snobs.

[barbu1977]

Is this exam required for something?

[Stapel]

quote:Originally posted by barbu1977

Is this exam required for something?

Yes, to enter a golf course.
Dutch Golf Clubs are strict about it.

[Shabbaman]

In de pocket,

Anyway, congratulations. Sounds like a good reason for celebrations

[Rik Meleet]

quote:Originally posted by Matrix

Congratulations!
(..)I thought socialists were rule-madmen, while golf players are usually right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snobs.

You can distinguish between socialist rules and right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules: the socialist rules make sense, the right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules don't.

BTW: just call right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules: "right wing rules" as they mean exactly the same ...

@Stapel: what a hassle to be allowed to play "knikkeren voor mensen die te lui zijn om te bukken ....".

[grahamiam]

it's important to keep proper form

[barbu1977]

quote:Originally posted by Stapel

Yes, to enter a golf course.
Dutch Golf Clubs are strict about it.

They are indeed. Here the only thing required, is that you do not slow down the players behind you, and that you stop playing after 10 strokes per hole. But again, we have too many golf courses for the population, so they do not want to turn anybody down.

[Matrix]

Well, that's the biggest problem here, barbu. The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in the world (except for city-states). Golf courses are much too expensive here.
Although lately agriculture is under pressure here and some farmers turn their land into golf courses.

[Stapel]

quote:Originally posted by Rik Meleet

You can distinguish between socialist rules and right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules: the socialist rules make sense, the right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules don't.

BTW: just call right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules: "right wing rules" as they mean exactly the same ...

@Stapel: what a hassle to be allowed to play "knikkeren voor mensen die te lui zijn om te bukken ....".

There is a place for those who want to combine "right winged toffee-nosed hoity-toity snob rules" and "socialist rules":

[u]GROENLYNX</u>

@Rik:
Golf is extremely addictive!