99% sure I'm going to quit my membership

[JustOne]

Still a 1% chance I might not but I'm fighting to justify paying £1050 per year to play as little as I do.
I keep telling myself that I could play more but I just don't think that's going to happen.

If I play every week somewhere else with either a 2-for-1 voucher and some nice person off the forum or a members guest rate it'll cost probably about £20-£25, if I did that for the 20 weeks per year that the sun is out then that's a total outlay of £400/500 and probably a whole lot more fun that playing round the 18 temps we have out at the moment and (probably) doing that alone. I doubt if I could even manage to arrange a game every single week so it would probably be more like 10-15 rounds.

It's not about the money... it's about wasting it.

To an extent I think that places like teetimes.co.uk and 2-for-1 vouchers are really going to change the way that golf clubs SHOULD think about their members, their fees and the conditions of the courses that they expect the members to put up with.

Played at Tilgate in Crawley with Foxholer 2 months ago... it cost £1 and I really enjoyed being there even though the course is one that I hate and it was in awful condition. The company is becoming far more important than actually playing.

I kick myself for not writing down every round I played in 2013 at my club (and 2012 for that matter), I'd like to know just how much 'value for money' I actually got, especially seeing as a lot of them were comps which I had to pay a further £5 to play in anyway.

 

[KJT123]

Completely agree.

Membership cannot be justified at £1050

 

[bluewolf]

Don't blame you. If you're not making the most of you're membership, then you need to explore other options.. Is there a Muni nearby that allows you to pay a one off (small) payment, then reduced fees when you do play? At least you'll be able to keep your handicap.

 

[USER1999]

I don't think you have ever really bought into the golf club experience though. You don't seem to know many people, play in any roll ups, etc. May be membership just doesn't do it for you.

 

[London mike 61]

It's your sort of experience that keeps putting me off joining a club, I like the idea but the reality is that for 6 months of the year you have to put up with less than perfect golf if you can get out at all!!

 

[JustOne]

I don't think you have ever really bought into the golf club experience though. You don't seem to know many people, play in any roll ups, etc. May be membership just doesn't do it for you.

Oddly it's because most people can't play without some intake of alcohol afterwards and as a non drinker I feel like a prat propping up the bar with a tea pot. I could try and befriend some other tea drinkers but they're either nearly dead or they aren't in the bar in the first place! (just like me)

I think I'm just the wrong age.... when I'm 55+ and have nothing better to do every single morning other than going to the course for 9 holes and having a tea and scone afterwards I think membership might suit me down to the ground.

 

[JustOne]

It's your sort of experience that keeps putting me off joining a club, I like the idea but the reality is that for 6 months of the year you have to put up with less than perfect golf if you can get out at all!!

If you have good company (regular playing partner?) then it could well be worth every penny.
I know a lot of people but they have to WORK for a living..... then at weekends they actually seem to spend time with their families too... i don't know how they can even justify their own memberships!!!!

 

[fundy]

Oddly it's because most people can't play without some intake of alcohol afterwards and as a non drinker I feel like a prat propping up the bar with a tea pot. I could try and befriend some other tea drinkers but they're either nearly dead or they aren't in the bar in the first place! (just like me)

I think I'm just the wrong age.... when I'm 55+ and have nothing better to do every single morning other than going to the course for 9 holes and having a tea and scone afterwards I think membership might suit me down to the ground.

A fair bit must depend on the club. I play a lot in the week, and 9 times out of ten I will have coffee after the game. Majority in the clubhouse early afternoon midweek are drinking tea or coffee, maybe have a late lunch. Yes a fair chunk are seniors but certainly not all and I certainly have no qualms having a coffee even if other guys are having a drink

 

[Alex1975]

If it does not stop raining soon I shall be leaving too....

 

[fundy]

Completely agree.

Membership cannot be justified at £1050

Nice blanket statement, for many people it can be justified and at far higher levels imo

 

[fundy]

If it does not stop raining soon I shall be leaving too....

Hardly the clubs fault that, thats the joys of an English winter lol (course was actually open this am amazingly albeit cant see how it should have been or still will be by the weekend)

 

[In_The_Rough]

If your not getting your moneys worth it is not worth it. It is that simple really. £1050 is a fair chunk of money for something you are not using much. To get your moneys worth I would say you have to be playing about 50 rounds of golf a year there making it just over £20 a round.

 

[Junior]

Shame, but I agree its about VFM. Im fortunate I play at a club with a number of swindles , a couple of weekend comps a month, a midweek comp in the summer plus a number of teams that play at various courses.

in short- the club is superb and you can be as involved as much or as little as you want. The key thing for me is that you rarely go without a game and im yet to play with a member who I wouldnt play with again !!

Also, the food is great and after most rounds, i actually have a coffee or tea as im trying to reign in the booze. Lots of people do the same anyway !!

I think your approach is the right one, if you can play a couple of times a week 9sometimes mor ein teh Summer) then keep it going, if not, nomadic golf is the way forward.

 

[Alex1975]

Hardly the clubs fault that, thats the joys of an English winter lol (course was actually open this am amazingly albeit cant see how it should have been or still will be by the weekend)

Totally not, and I am not going anywhere... I am just bouncing off the walls!!!

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Completely agree.

Membership cannot be justified at £1050

Of course it can be justified at that cost, you simply need to play regularly at a course you enjoy, that's in good condition with people you like. Add in plenty of comps, a good social side, practice facilities and the ability to play when you choose and IMO £1000+ is extremely good value for money.

 

[Fader]

Don't blame you. If you're not making the most of you're membership, then you need to explore other options.. Is there a Muni nearby that allows you to pay a one off (small) payment, then reduced fees when you do play? At least you'll be able to keep your handicap

I've decided to bin my full club membership this year and this option is the exact one i'm taking up. £75 for membership to the club and maintain a CONGU handicap, means I get discounted green fees there and can pay to play in comps. But it works for as with my work and family and other commitments full membership for the foreseable is going to be a waste of cash

Oddly it's because most people can't play without some intake of alcohol afterwards and as a non drinker I feel like a prat propping up the bar with a tea pot. I could try and befriend some other tea drinkers but they're either nearly dead or they aren't in the bar in the first place! (just like me).

Those 2 statements sum me up as well JO, I don't drink anymore and haven't for a while now and theres only so many softdrinks you can have or cups of tea! Maybe you and I should find a club and form a tea drinking better ball partnership.

If you have good company (regular playing partner?) then it could well be worth every penny.
I know a lot of people but they have to WORK for a living..... then at weekends they actually seem to spend time with their families too... i don't know how they can even justify their own memberships!!!!

Again exactly the same here, I did have a group that I could play with but they were at the club every Saturday and Sunday for upto 8hours each day, now thats ok now and again but I work until 9pm most days and then justfiying to HID and the kids I can't take them out because I'll be spending the large share of the waking hours at the golf club would just mean I have no family life.

So for the next couple/few years at least its cheap muni membership to maintain handicap and the odd away days, not what I ideally want but I can't play more golf due to my commitments so I can't justify £1100 membership:angry:

 

[chrisd]

Oddly it's because most people can't play without some intake of alcohol afterwards and as a non drinker I feel like a prat propping up the bar with a tea pot. I could try and befriend some other tea drinkers but they're either nearly dead or they aren't in the bar in the first place! (just like me)

I think I'm just the wrong age.... when I'm 55+ and have nothing better to do every single morning other than going to the course for 9 holes and having a tea and scone afterwards I think membership might suit me down to the ground.

Oi JO!

I'm a tea drinker and have a sandwich after and I'm only ............... 61 ok I get your point!

 

[Rooter]

Exactly what put me off membership james, however my place launched an associate membership, basically the same as full member bar a few things... I cant enter board comps (well i can, but i cant win or get a prize) and i am limited to 20 free rounds a year, after that i pay a discounted green fee. apart from that i get the usual member stuff... for 40% of the cost of full membership!!!

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Oddly it's because most people can't play without some intake of alcohol afterwards and as a non drinker I feel like a prat propping up the bar with a tea pot.

I rarely drink and have never had a problem if my playing partners do, its hardly the prime reason for being there.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Completely agree.

Membership cannot be justified at £1050

I'm going to make the wild assumption that you don't live anywhere me here on the Surrey\Berkshire\Hampshire border?