Annual Membership - What would you like thrown in?

[Jake O'Reilly]

Dodger's post on 'Annual Membership? Do you get anything free thrown in with it? got me thinking as a current non-member, what would I (realistically) want thrown in for the year at no extra cost? For me it'd be:

- Guest green fees, maybe a tee time every quarter.
- A discount on range balls and bar/food prices.
- A free or discounted lesson with the club pro.

Each of these things would encourage me and my guests to potentially spend more money within the club, by buying a block of lessons for example, or my guests joining the club and so to me seem like viable options. What would you (again being realistic) want?

 

[GreiginFife]

Question for me is; should you expect anything "thrown in" - or is this just symptomatic of todays "gimme, gimme, gimme" attitude?

For my fees, I get to play golf as many times as I want without worrying about green fees, I can turn up every day, every week if I wanted to. I get a clean and comfiortable clubhouse to sit in which serves excellent food at a reasonable price. I get unlimited access to the practice area and I get to sign guests on at a quarter of the standard rate. I get access toa good teaching Pro, Ok so members get cheaper rates but if the guests join and stop being guests then they would too. I also get a voice in the running of the club, have met lots of people that I wouldn't normally meet elsewhere.

When people are crying out for their club to give them this, that and the next thing "thrown in" are they asking the most important question? In these austere times with businesses closing left right and centre, can the club afford to give stuff away on the prospect of maybe getting more in return? Can they take that risk?

 

[CMAC]

18 or 9 holes playing with the Pro, good for making contacts and finding out the do's and don'ts of the club.

a free 4 ball so I can bring along my friends to 'show off' my new club- potentially new members also

A 'voucher' from the club for my first pint/beverage.

Discount at the pro shop and bar for the first month- to kick start my spending

small things but could have mutual benefit.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

18 or 9 holes playing with the Pro, good for making contacts and finding out the do's and don'ts of the club.

a free 4 ball so I can bring along my friends to 'show off' my new club- potentially new members also

A 'voucher' from the club for my first pint/beverage.

Discount at the pro shop and bar for the first month- to kick start my spending

small things but could have mutual benefit.

All that would happen is the fees would be raised to pay for this, Nothing is free anymore.

 

[louise_a]

I joined a club to play golf cheaply and to get and maintain a handicap, I didn't even consider asking what else was thrown in.

 

[spongebob59]

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

 

[Imurg]

Rather than give me a cheap this or half price that, I'd have £50 off my membership. Might end up "costing" me more over the year but the Finance Department only see the bottom line...

 

[Jake O'Reilly]

Question for me is; should you expect anything "thrown in" - or is this just symptomatic of todays "gimme, gimme, gimme" attitude?

When people are crying out for their club to give them this, that and the next thing "thrown in" are they asking the most important question? In these austere times with businesses closing left right and centre, can the club afford to give stuff away on the prospect of maybe getting more in return? Can they take that risk?

Mobile operators often offer free tablets with contracts, and banks sometimes offer cash incentives to switch current accounts, so perhaps this is symptomatic of modern culture.

Is that a bad thing though? While I don't want to see the corner shop vs Tesco effect, the best modern memberships certainly go beyond offering rights to a game on the course alone.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Mobile operators often offer free tablets with contracts, and banks sometimes offer cash incentives to switch current accounts, so perhaps this is symptomatic of modern culture.

Is that a bad thing though? While I don't want to see the corner shop vs Tesco effect, the best modern memberships certainly go beyond offering rights to a game on the course alone.

Then you got to ask the question why are you joining in the 1st place, Are you joining because you like the course or the fact you get a load of freebies, If its the freebies then is your heart going to be enjoying the course and would you sooner rather be playing somewhere else?

 

[bladeplayer]

I dont expect anything free , i do expect the course to be in good condition , the bar to be open as often as possible but understand it will be based around competition & busier times (ie weekends , societies etc) .. i dont even drink but i do support the bar and think it creates a better envoiroment around the club when its open & busy

As Imug said something off the membership would be helpful , but i understand im paying for a service & facility to be there all (most) of the year round for me to use and pay accordingly ,

This is the 1st year ever i will be considering my membership , i get good value for my €800 but the spare €800's are harder to come by now .. time will tell ..

I WOULD LIKE membership to be due by end of March not January tho ..

 

[Jake O'Reilly]

Then you got to ask the question why are you joining in the 1st place, Are you joining because you like the course or the fact you get a load of freebies, If its the freebies then is your heart going to be enjoying the course and would you sooner rather be playing somewhere else?

The OP was only asking in an ideal world what would you realistically like on top. While of course the club, its course and the membership are top of anyone's list, I think being reminded annually that you are a valued member is only a good thing, which helps build the club's profile through word of mouth.

 

[Birchy]

I think four free guest vouchers wont break the bank of a club and might get them see a return.

 

[Matty]

I get the option of a free lesson, or a free guest voucher for the course or a free month in the gym. I think that's more than adequate.

 

[Rooter]

I would like something like a golf MOT thrown in maybe? 20 minutes with the pro kind of thing.. im not "not" going to resign because this isnt on offer, my pro would prob do it anyway!

Plus, we get quite a lot of good stuff anyway, reciprocals, and free Members badge for the races at Newbury (thats prob worth well over £200 if you went to every race)

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Green shield stamps and luncheon vouchers perhaps.

Now tell me why did they fail?
[Probably for older members only]

 

[cookelad]

Always like the idea of a reciprocal arrangement with a fairly local similarly priced club (I mean I know the members of Augusta National are just dying to get on at SHGC but they're not exactly local)

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well I'm sure we would all like lots thrown in for free but it's not very realistic


For my membership fees I get to play three of the top 100 courses in the country , % at the bar , and I'm able to sign guests in at a cheap rate. I don't expect anything else

 

[Fish]

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

Most reciprocal deals are 50% of the normal green fee or member guest rates, I find my County Card is of equal value so I have a huge amount of reciprocal courses nationwide available to me, do you not have County Cards in Kent?

 

[super hans]

For my membership fees I get six free guests passes, 15% off bar prices, and reduced green fees at all James Braid designed courses all over the country (around 200 in total I believe) Not sure what more I could reasonably expect without getting greedy

 

[GB72]

I think that there are freebies that could help the club and the member. I have lessons elsewhere but a freebie with the pro on joining could have changed that. I know members at other local clubs so a freebie round when the course is at its best could encourage them to join. My wife does not come to the club but a buy one get one free lunch for my other half may encourage her to come up for lunch. Nothing here would really sway my membership choice but it could get me or others spending more at the club.