Annual Membership - What would you like thrown in?

[richart]

We get reciprocals (free rounds) at Ferndown, Stoneham, Ham Manor, Brokenhurst. Ferndown is normally £70 a round so a good 'perk'.We also get reduced rates at other courses like Hayling and West Byfleet. Amazingly very few of our members take advantage.

I am happy with my membership, as what I want is a good course, and a good members club. Also guest rates at £20 are a bonus, as it is nice to show off your club.

 

[medwayjon]

Some things I thought of

1) a free guest round or 4-ball
2) a club polo shirt/jumper
3) a locker! Some clubs have more members than lockers.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Where do clubs get the money to pay for the "freebies" ?

Increased subs possibly ? Reduce the greens budget ?

 

[rickg]

This is an interesting one having just moved clubs......

I thought my last club was pretty generous...reciprocal free golf at 9 Burhill courses included 2 free rounds at Burhill.
2 free guest green fees, a free buggy voucher. 10% discount at the bar.......

I joined the new club primarily for the quality of the golf course, but have been nicely surprised at the amount of "benefits".

Free logo'd polo shirt, pitch mark repairer and ball marker kit on joining
Met in the car park on arrival and clubs unloaded
Courtesy premium range balls
Met on the 18th fairway to take your drinks order
Clubs cleaned and put away
New clubhouse is going to have Sky TV and a bar in the changing room
Events arranged for members & partners,
Eg; night out at the Met Bar in London with the food and drinks bill picked up by the club
Xmas comp coming up for members while partners are taken on a shopping trip then live music, drinks & food for all after
Brewery trip coming up to Fullers :cheers:
Wine & coffee tasting mornings for members/partners
Concert tickets & top restaurant booking service
Partner deals with overseas golf courses in Spain, Dubai etc

Clearly the new club is based on an entirely different business model and I know these things come at a price, but they're still nice and very much appreciated.

 

[moogie]

This is an interesting one having just moved clubs......

I thought my last club was pretty generous...reciprocal free golf at 9 Burhill courses included 2 free rounds at Burhill.
2 free guest green fees, a free buggy voucher. 10% discount at the bar.......

I joined the new club primarily for the quality of the golf course, but have been nicely surprised at the amount of "benefits".

Free logo'd polo shirt, pitch mark repairer and ball marker kit on joining
Met in the car park on arrival and clubs unloaded
Courtesy premium range balls
Met on the 18th fairway to take your drinks order
Clubs cleaned and put away
New clubhouse is going to have Sky TV and a bar in the changing room
Events arranged for members & partners,
Eg; night out at the Met Bar in London with the food and drinks bill picked up by the club
Xmas comp coming up for members while partners are taken on a shopping trip then live music, drinks & food for all after
Brewery trip coming up to Fullers :cheers:
Wine & coffee tasting mornings for members/partners
Concert tickets & top restaurant booking service
Partner deals with overseas golf courses in Spain, Dubai etc

Clearly the new club is based on an entirely different business model and I know these things come at a price, but they're still nice and very much appreciated.

I DONT suppose , by any chance , you get all that for £600 per year Rick.........do you.....??

 

[Biggleswade Blue]

This is an interesting one having just moved clubs......

I thought my last club was pretty generous...reciprocal free golf at 9 Burhill courses included 2 free rounds at Burhill.
2 free guest green fees, a free buggy voucher. 10% discount at the bar.......

I joined the new club primarily for the quality of the golf course, but have been nicely surprised at the amount of "benefits".

Free logo'd polo shirt, pitch mark repairer and ball marker kit on joining
Met in the car park on arrival and clubs unloaded
Courtesy premium range balls
Met on the 18th fairway to take your drinks order
Clubs cleaned and put away
New clubhouse is going to have Sky TV and a bar in the changing room
Events arranged for members & partners,
Eg; night out at the Met Bar in London with the food and drinks bill picked up by the club
Xmas comp coming up for members while partners are taken on a shopping trip then live music, drinks & food for all after
Brewery trip coming up to Fullers :cheers:
Wine & coffee tasting mornings for members/partners
Concert tickets & top restaurant booking service
Partner deals with overseas golf courses in Spain, Dubai etc

Clearly the new club is based on an entirely different business model and I know these things come at a price, but they're still nice and very much appreciated.

The point is that these things are not "thrown in", ie for free. You pay for them. At a club with high fees to maintain a better quality course, the proportional cost of some of these things is small, whereas at a less top end club these things would be a significant proportion of the cost. If it costs, say £50 to have the extras, on a £3000 club it's nothing, but it's 10% on a £500 club.

 

[Evesdad]

After reading this ours isn't too bad. We have a trial membership with x amount of free rounds then £15 a round, a lesson with the pro. Full membership also gets 15% off the bar bill plus we have reciprocal with about 6 clubs, £5 a round. Not bad as freebies go. These had no sway for me as I joined to play my course but will try and take advantage of the reciprocally next year as not used them yet.

 

[BTatHome]

I must say having seen some of the replies here I'm surprised to see that things I take for granted are actually what other people are looking for. As part of my membership I get ...
- discount on range tokens
- discounted bar food/drinks
- reciprocal at 8 other courses that offer us free rounds.

 

[GB72]

Where do clubs get the money to pay for the "freebies" ?

Increased subs possibly ? Reduce the greens budget ?

Freebies do not need to cost the club. Many suggestions on here are ones that could make the club money. Maybe these should be looked at as marketing and promotion and not freebies

 

[Fish]

Everything that I've read on here that some of you get for free, be thankful, I have to pay for them.....

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Freebies do not need to cost the club. Many suggestions on here are ones that could make the club money. Maybe these should be looked at as marketing and promotion and not freebies

Nothing is free - everything comes at a cost to someone.

 

[GB72]

Nothing is free - everything comes at a cost to someone.

True but if the pro gives a free lesson and the person takes half a dozen more that year then both parties gain. The club may lose out giving members a free 4 ball each year but if it gains a few new members then everyone gains.yes every marketing initiative costs but it should be judged on the net gain not on the initial outlay.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

True but if the pro gives a free lesson and the person takes half a dozen more that year then both parties gain. The club may lose out giving members a free 4 ball each year but if it gains a few new members then everyone gains.yes every marketing initiative costs but it should be judged on the net gain not on the initial outlay.

You're dealing with "IF's"

What if the person doesn't take any more lessons and just has the free one - the pro has lost out

Giving out free rounds will have a cost effect.

People should join because of the course not because of free lessons or free 4 balls.

 

[Fish]

You're dealing with "IF's"

What if the person doesn't take any more lessons and just has the free one - the pro has lost out

Giving out free rounds will have a cost effect.

People should join because of the course not because of free lessons or free 4 balls.

Is the right answer

 

[Imurg]

But a choice of 2 or 3 similar courses in your area is going to be tricky if all costs are virtually the same.
Some form of incentive will probably persuade you to one rather than the others.
So money is spent to get money in - it's a tried and trusted method......

 

[chellie]

We got 3 free lessons with the pro when we joined. I was already having lessons with him so this was a nice bonus. We don't pay for balls, get bar and food discount plus cheaper guests rates. Also like super hans we get reduced green fees at all James Braid designed courses plus cheap green fees at some other courses as well. To be honest all of this is just a bonus and would have made no difference to us deciding to join.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

But a choice of 2 or 3 similar courses in your area is going to be tricky if all costs are virtually the same.
Some form of incentive will probably persuade you to one rather than the others.
So money is spent to get money in - it's a tried and trusted method......

Again - pick the best course as opposed to "incentives" - if you're picking a course on what "incentives" are given then what happens when they run out ? You're left with possibly not the best choice of course

But it is the state of the current climate where people are looking to get as much as they can for free

A quality golf club will sell itself without the need for any incentives or freebies

 

[Imurg]

Again - pick the best course as opposed to "incentives" - if you're picking a course on what "incentives" are given then what happens when they run out ? You're left with possibly not the best choice of course

But it is the state of the current climate where people are looking to get as much as they can for free

A quality golf club will sell itself without the need for any incentives or freebies

Point missed....

You have 2 course of equal stature, both of which you like, both are quality courses that you can't split.
Both are the same price, both the same distance from your door.

The one that gives you more "freebies" is going to get the business isn't it...?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a number of reciprocal deals in place which I guess is nice. There is a discount card for food and drink but the prices are pretty steep to start with so I guess it is just a carrot to make you feel better about the amount you are spending.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Reciprocal arrangements at other clubs would be nice, we get f-all. :angry:

Be careful what you wish for; mine has recently restarted the reciprocals with 2 clubs. We previously had a reciprocal with one of these clubs, which was the one I moved from to join my current one. When I left, all my mates told me that I'd be back because theirs was the better course. When the reciprocal was closed last time because of the high number of members from "the club with the better course" coming to ours with little traffic in the opposite direction....