New Members Introduction and Information
UPDATED JANUARY 2026 by RB. (Seniors Secretary)
New Members Introduction and information
Welcome to Birchwood Seniors, This note is to give you an overview of the Seniors section and an indication of what is where and what you can expect.
The joining fee is £15. Payment can be made online to Birchwood Park Seniors sort code 400707 acc number 41482645 with your name as a reference
You need to register at www.birchwoodgolf.net Go to this page and you will see “Click here to register”
You then need to register at www.howdidido.com to be able to register for the Monday competitions, you can do this if you have a CDH number. If not then once you have put 3 cards into the Handicap Secretary you will be issued with one. To register for a Monday competition before then you will need to contact the Vice Captain to get him to enter you on the list, this can be done 2 weeks in advance. You will also be added to the “Birchwood Seniors Information” whatsapp group which is a message board and not for chat or banter.
All Seniors are members of the main club and subject to the Constitution and rules of the club. As a section however, we operate on an autonomous basis having our own Committee. We also have our own Operational document and Competitions document which governs the way we play and our handicap adjustments. Copies of these are readily available on our website, and Members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the contents. Also there is a list of Members and contact details to which your name and details will be added, this is updated frequently.
We are self-financing and cover the costs of our internal competitions, also providing a meaningful subsidy to the external matches we play. Our AGM is held in February.
All our competitions require you to have a current handicap. You will need to play in three official competitions before you can win. If you don't have a handicap you can play with a Member or, in a Monday competition to complete three cards to get your handicap and then play three qualifying competitions.
We have a Hole in One fund, membership of which is included in your joining fee. This pays out if you get a Hole in One in any official Seniors competition.
Our notice board, which carries all the Seniors competition information, is located opposite the changing room in the lobby. The Seniors have a competition every Monday played to R&A rules mostly from the yellow tees. On Bank Holidays there may be a swindle. These include:-
The Masters tournament consists of alternative Medal and Stableford matches, 8 in all, these are played from the white tees.
The Challenge Cup, a one day medal competition.
The Captain’s Cup, a one day medal competition
In April we commence our Pairs and Singles tournaments (Match play)
In October we start our match play Winter Greensomes.
These competitions do have playing requirements, basically to hand in four competition cards in three months.
On some Mondays "fun" competitions are played such as a Texas Scramble.
The fee for all Monday competitions is £5 and the four balls are randomly drawn.
There is a “swindle” every Wednesday and Friday, organised by members, not the Competitions Committee. If you wish to take part please ensure you know your handicap and be at the club at 07.30 The current entry fee is £1
We play a variety of external competitions against other clubs:-
The Kent Vets Golf League is a prestigious competition for the over 60's, organised by the KVGL Captain.
Friendly matches with local clubs on a Home and Away basis open to all Members. These matches are organised by our Senior Captain.
The Super 70's competition is for Members aged 70 plus and also has its own Captain.
The Kent Vets KO competition, which is a knock out competition for Kent based clubs.
Club Functions.
The Seniors hold two club functions every year. The Captain's away day is played at a course chosen by the current year's Captain, usually in July. This is a subsidised competition, open to all Members, when we can enjoy courses we would not normally play.
The Christmas Lunch is a competition and lunch held at the club in early December, which also includes our annual prize giving.
Birchwood Golf Club Website address is http://birchwoodgolf.net/and use the drop down Seniors menu. You will find a lot of Seniors information as well as tee times, fixture lists and results.
Course Etiquette
If your group has lost more than one hole from the group in front & you have a group behind waiting please speed up your play or let them through.
Repair pitch marks, replace divots & rake bunkers after use.
Treat the course marshals with respect.
Attend the tee at least 15 minutes before your allotted time.
All putts
must be holed out, no gimmies