Annual subs up again this year

Out of all of the local clubs, Blackwood is the course which I can see having the hardest time. I hope they do well as I know they have had a hard time recently.
I was looking through the agm minutes (freely available on the internet) and have to say there are quite a few winners from 2010/11 that are familiar names in our place now. BTW is Rab Vance still there? Used to be in the same fourball at royal gilnahirk back in the late 90's.

Phil2511 said:
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.
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I guess it all comes down to perceived value and personal preference. I joined my place many years ago, as being a junior (and therefore no car) it had to be local. Its a fantastic place but recently they have been letting everyone in and rounds taking 4 1/2 hours are getting common. Plus the practice facilities are not as I would like (they do have practice facilities but on a small scale). So I thought - am I getting value for money here, playing once a week max and paying around £1,700pa?

I have looked around at alternatives and have to say that I havent come up with anything that I would call a real alternative as yet.
 
I'm not in the over 30's so no longer eligible for intermediate rates. My fees were going to jump from £299 to somewhere over £500. I had an email from another club who I'd enquired with earlier this year and I'm got next years subs at £191 as part of there centenary offers (first 10 new members to sign up and cough up). happy days
 
My opinion, for what its worth.........
Is that in this current climate that golf clubs would be wise to keep any rises in fees to around the inflation mark
My fees have rose every year, in last 4 years, £500, £520, £540, £570..........next April.........£???..........but already rumoured at 600+ mark, which to me is NOT acceptable
There have been NO significant changes to course in 4 years, just maintaining what we have
But there is major drainage work currently taking place..........and I can just guess who will foot the Bill.......!!!

I agree utilities have gone up, for EVERYBODY, but golf clubs need to tighten their belts too
Fees go up every year, and every year I get the finance reports/Balance sheets, and everybody on the Payroll has had an Increase in Salaries............Well, my question is WHY.......??
Thousands of people, ( Myself Included ) have had to endure numerous Pay Freezes ( NO such thing - its a Cut in reality), or even actual Pay CUTS over the last few years, so why MY club continues to give out raises every year, I dont know

They need to be realistic, there is plenty competition out there, and deals to be had, especially in my area, where u would actually benefit from moving clubs Every year, ( which I DONT want to do ) as the ''New Member'' deals being offered currently at some clubs are outstanding ( some say Mad and short sighted )

There is a figure in MY head, which if My renewal fees go OVER, then I think I will be moving on.........
 
My Club Greenacres has been fixed at £595 for the last 3 years, so will not be surprised if it goes up this year. I haven't heard yet though.
 
brendy said:
Out of all of the local clubs, Blackwood is the course which I can see having the hardest time. I hope they do well as I know they have had a hard time recently.
I was looking through the agm minutes (freely available on the internet) and have to say there are quite a few winners from 2010/11 that are familiar names in our place now. BTW is Rab Vance still there? Used to be in the same fourball at royal gilnahirk back in the late 90's.
Click to expand...

Yeah you guys got about 6 that i knew personally last year and Carnalea got about 20-25. Rab Vance and about a dozen others went to Clandeboye with about a dozen more scattered between Scrabo (yes I said it), Shandon, D'Dee, Castlereagh Hills and a few travellers went to courses closer to their homes like Spa etc.

Those guys all left around this time last year.
Almost 1/2 the ladies left once the fees were made the same for them as us.

Don't know what's going to happen tbh, had heard that the reason it was bad for us was tax problems with the Estate, which were supposed to be sorted and all paid by this month.

Haven't seen anything to confirm this and they were pulling out old 2 inch drainage pipe cleaning it out and relaying it over past few weeks. Even though green keepers recommended replacing with 6 inch or larger.

Perhaps it's too early to see improvement with lack of cash coming in recently. But will certainly be interesting to see how things progress next year. April/May should be long enough to see changes.
 
Ours have gone up£30 for next year, I was expecting more. So it's about £820 plus £20 bar tab plus £12 union fees. It has risen by this much each year for the last few.
 
the hammer said:
excuse my ignorance, but whats the bar levy all about.?
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It is a sum of food/drink credit that you must prepay. It simply means that the bar/restaurant at the club get a turn and the club benefits. It certainly beats just charging an extra say, 30 quid straight to the club as you get value out of it and it encourages more spends in the clubhouse.
 
Dodger said:
Something that should be compulsory at every golf club.
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Totally disagree

Im DEFO NOT a car park member, and make regular use of the Bar and Catering facilities at My Club, often take family to Club for sunday lunches too, Not just good food, but great value also

But I do this out of CHOICE, and on the other hand DONT LIKE being told I have to/or how to spend MY MONEY

Bar Levys scare people away, they dont really exist in my county, and the last I heard of that was introduced a few years ago, was at Whickham, and the year after they LOST many many members

I think Members discount cards are Good.............Levy , BAD ( IMO )
 
AGM in two weeks so I suspect we'll find out then. I think I'm leaving it as my first course but retaining it as a second.
 
moogie said:
My opinion, for what its worth.........
Is that in this current climate that golf clubs would be wise to keep any rises in fees to around the inflation mark
My fees have rose every year, in last 4 years, £500, £520, £540, £570..........next April.........£???..........but already rumoured at 600+ mark, which to me is NOT acceptable
There have been NO significant changes to course in 4 years, just maintaining what we have
But there is major drainage work currently taking place..........and I can just guess who will foot the Bill.......!!!

I agree utilities have gone up, for EVERYBODY, but golf clubs need to tighten their belts too
Fees go up every year, and every year I get the finance reports/Balance sheets, and everybody on the Payroll has had an Increase in Salaries............Well, my question is WHY.......??
Thousands of people, ( Myself Included ) have had to endure numerous Pay Freezes ( NO such thing - its a Cut in reality), or even actual Pay CUTS over the last few years, so why MY club continues to give out raises every year, I dont know

They need to be realistic, there is plenty competition out there, and deals to be had, especially in my area, where u would actually benefit from moving clubs Every year, ( which I DONT want to do ) as the ''New Member'' deals being offered currently at some clubs are outstanding ( some say Mad and short sighted )

There is a figure in MY head, which if My renewal fees go OVER, then I think I will be moving on.........
Click to expand...


what club you looking to go to?
 
moogie said:
Totally disagree

Im DEFO NOT a car park member, and make regular use of the Bar and Catering facilities at My Club, often take family to Club for sunday lunches too, Not just good food, but great value also

But I do this out of CHOICE, and on the other hand DONT LIKE being told I have to/or how to spend MY MONEY

Bar Levys scare people away, they dont really exist in my county, and the last I heard of that was introduced a few years ago, was at Whickham, and the year after they LOST many many members

I think Members discount cards are Good.............Levy , BAD ( IMO )
Click to expand...

So lets get this right,you use the bar but wouldn't wish to load it with say £30 of your money that you will spend there anyway?

I could understand if you were one of those that never step inside.:confused:
 
As above, would you rather pay £30 to the club and get no extra value for money or load £30-£50 onto a card that gives you another 10-15% discount on drinks/food which then sees the same £30 heading back to the club anyway but at least you are getting £50 worth of food and drink that you would have paid anyway.
For me, even the fact I can turn up without having to remember to go to a cash machine first, is a bonus.
 
brendy said:
As above, would you rather pay £30 to the club and get no extra value for money or load £30-£50 onto a card that gives you another 10-15% discount on drinks/food which then sees the same £30 heading back to the club anyway but at least you are getting £50 worth of food and drink that you would have paid anyway.
For me, even the fact I can turn up without having to remember to go to a cash machine first, is a bonus.
Click to expand...



Whats to say there would be an extra 10-15% discount......??
 
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