One more thing I guess could be mentioned, if your new club is in any way considered "exclusive" and has a high number of members, then they may have comp entrant number limits in force...
But that said, you should certainly be told if that is the case.
If not, then I see no problem whatsoever in your playing in a club comp as a handicapping round only. Certainly you will not be eligible to win the comp, but that's the point isn't it...
Eventually you would want to win one...!!!
Hang in there mate, and don't be frightened to be a little "forward"...
"Hi, my name is Tiger Woods, I'm a new member here, would you mind if I joined your group......"
Cheers
