Annual subs up again this year

[brendy]

Got an email from the club today saying that committee have approved an increase of 2.3% (real world £20, taking subs from 850 to 870 quid)

If subs need to go up, I understand that but I cant help thinking they should have heaped 20-30 on top our existing £50 social levy so at least the money still gives us some extra value rather than it just disappearing into the club funds.

Anyone else having an increase in subscription fees this year? and at what point or percentage of your wage do you decide enough is enough and look elsewhere?

 

[chris661]

Got an email from the club today saying that committee have approved an increase of 2.3% (real world £20, taking subs from 850 to 870 quid)

If subs need to go up, I understand that but I cant help thinking they should have heaped 20-30 on top our existing £50 social levy so at least the money still gives us some extra value rather than it just disappearing into the club funds.

Anyone else having an increase in subscription fees this year? and at what point or percentage of your wage do you decide enough is enough and look elsewhere?

Our subs are going up I believe €10 this year taking it upto €490 which will make this the second increase in 4 years IMO thats great all things considered.

 

[richart]

Sounds fair to me, less than inflation isn't it. Ours went up £40 to cover new staff. then someone had the bright idea to add to bar levy for those that paid subs on time. Club therefore makes a relatively small profit on £40, rather than having the full amount available.

 

[Hobbit]

Not been approved at the AGM but I believe our Treasurer's recommendation is to hold them the same as last year. No increase for 4 out of the last 5 years if it gets the nod.

 

[GreiginFife]

Everything is going up. The cost to light and heat the clubhouse will have gone up, insurances I have no doubt will have gone up. The cost of maintenance, up.
If it was just a case of heaping it on the social members, how many are there? What return on action would that give. What is the cost of not adding the increase? What would have to be sacrificed to keep your subs as is?

Personally I don't mind that our subs went up £30 as I still think it's value for money, is less of a % increase than most other things that have gone up (insurance, cost of heating oil/electric, car tax etc) and I get enjoyment out of my membership.

 

[pbrown7582]

Ours are up 5% this year and a reintroduction of compulsory bar levy, it was made optional last year but obviously didn't work.

 

[Imurg]

It will be interesting at APGC this time round.
We've had no increases for 2 or 3 years now but the threat of HS2 means that there will be little or no investment in the course so it may be difficult to throw an increase more than the rate of inflation.
Don't think we get to find out until Feb/March..

 

[SamQuirkePGA]

If subs need to go up, I understand that but I cant help thinking they should have heaped 20-30 on top our existing £50 social levy so at least the money still gives us some extra value rather than it just disappearing into the club funds.

I understand what you're saying the problem with this, there is a cost i.e. F&B and in order to achieve the same margin the price would have to be increased by the same amount again.
Costs have gone up for the Golf Clubs and my guess would be this isn't a profit excersise but the increase is needed to break even yoy.

 

[Birchy]

No idea about ours but they are expensive enough as they are imo . I reckon if they put them up we will lose a fair few members. If it gets to silly money i would consider joining a cheap club and playing mostly opens through the summer. Ours are £899 + £50 bar levy iirc, if they get to over £1000 base fee i would consider my options.

 

[brendy]

We got a refund from the tax man last year, profits were made and a fair amount of work was done to the course. I think they must be expecting a few resignations from members to justify this.
I would prefer to load another 30 quid onto the card and have the £20 or so go back to the club than them just take another 20 with no real value added.

Everything is going up. The cost to light and heat the clubhouse will have gone up, insurances I have no doubt will have gone up. The cost of maintenance, up.
If it was just a case of heaping it on the social members, how many are there? What return on action would that give. What is the cost of not adding the increase? What would have to be sacrificed to keep your subs as is?

Personally I don't mind that our subs went up £30 as I still think it's value for money, is less of a % increase than most other things that have gone up (insurance, cost of heating oil/electric, car tax etc) and I get enjoyment out of my membership.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Waiting to find out the news. My money on £30-50 increase

 

[GB72]

I am hoping that our fees will stay the same or only have a nominal increase. The club fought hard last year to halt falling numbers and to take members from other clubs and this has been a massive success with the membership now being pretty much full (there may even be a waiting list). I suspect that the club may not want to risk damaging this success with any large increase in fees that could send members to the competition

 

[fundy]

Ours went up a £1 a month, so £12 in total, remains excellent value for what is on offer

 

[Siren]

Expecting ours to go up around £10 a month

 

[brendy]

Expecting ours to go up around £10 a month

Holy cow, that is pretty bad. how are the members taking it?

 

[smange]

No increase at my place for next year, staying at £600.

But as im seriously considering moving clubs im looking at a drop in cost to 550 Euros approx £440 if I move so win/win for me

 

[chris661]

No increase at my place for next year, staying at £600.

But as im seriously considering moving clubs im looking at a drop in cost to 550 Euros approx £440 if I move so win/win for me

Still considering? I had a chat with my prospective new place last week hmmm....... A fraction more expensive

 

[brendy]

No increase at my place for next year, staying at £600.

But as im seriously considering moving clubs im looking at a drop in cost to 550 Euros approx £440 if I move so win/win for me

Where you are is pretty fortunate Steve, you have such a choice of clubs within a reasonable drive, a lot of them links too. Id love to join a links club as it is golf all year round, at my place there are some weeks in the winter, I would just not contemplate going out.

 

[gregbwfc]

Ours are going up by £20 again.
There's a "financial forum" tonight though to which we are all invited.
Sounds ominous

 

[Phil2511]

Our place gave out "Xmas Gift Boxes" 2 years ago consisting of a £15 range credit, 4x par 3 green fees and 4x main course green fees, a 30 min lesson with the resident lady pro and discount vouchers for the pro shop. Then in January 2011 they put the fees up £25. In all honesty now, the free green fee vouchers were to try and get friends to join, but the rough was so long nobody wanted to even try the course out. The vouchers for the shop were literally £5 off if you spend over £100 that month. So no real value. The lesson was not used by many as was likely expected in its offering. I only know of 1 person who did use it and was for bunkers, the lady pro said hit a few balls to let me see, the guy hit 3 balls and she said "yeah that's fine just keep doing that" then walked away. He then paid £20 to another pro a week later. So in reality the only extra was the range card, but in reality the place knows that only 10% of actual members use the range and so know that worst case scenario only 50% of the free cards will be used(giving away to other members or non members filtered in). Subsequently they put the price of those £15 cards to £18. Last year we got no "Gift Pack" and fees stayed the same as 2011. In a recent newsletter it was announced that members Xmas gift packs will be coming Mid December. So I would not be surprised if the green fees go up. Currently £725.00 to golf centre and then Club has been £50 for a long time but heard mention they may need to make it at least £60. So could see overall fees go up to over £800 this year. That will make our place 3rd most expensive in the area and it is only a Pay and Play public golf course. 2011 saw over 50 leave so 2013 could be an interesting year.