SteveW86
Head Pro
To be fair, I’m not sure I’d want a massage from Gordon Ramsey
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To be fair, I’m not sure I’d want a massage from Gordon Ramsey
Old Colner
Club Champion
My club did this about 40 years ago and there were quiet a few that tok it up, some geting more value than others, as far as i am aware there are only 3 left two older gents (twins) and the other now lives in Australia.
sunshine
Well-known member
Brocket Hall offered lifetime memberships to boost cash flow when struggling, still went bust, everyone who took up the offer lost their money. When the business established itself again as a new company they had no obligation to honour the agreement with former members. I think they may have done this twice.
sunshine
Well-known member
My club used to have a levy, abandoned it, now has brought it back and increased it significantly this year. Personally, I don't care either way, I will spend the levy during the year.
If a levy guarantees a certainty of cash flow, which allows the club to employ a good team, put on events etc, then I am supportive of it. When it works well, it's a virtuous circle: the clarity of budget means the team can offer the best product they can, which increases demand, which leads to more discretionary spend, which further improves the offering.
It's not just about planning how much ham and eggs to buy. It's also investment in kitchen equipment, staff, etc. These are all easier if you have a clear budget to work with.
This happened at my club, only once though. When the new people took over the liftime members couldn't understand why the deal with the previous owners, proprietary place, didn't still stand. I am pretty sure they lost every lifetime member over the space of a couple of year afterwards, they all took off. I understand both sides, it is a shame a compromise for those members could not be reached.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I played in a match for my club at Woburn back in the mid 90s....
The guy I played with took up an offer of life membership when it opened in '76?
Cost him £7500........got to be the bargain of the century....
The guy I played with took up an offer of life membership when it opened in '76?
Cost him £7500........got to be the bargain of the century....
Springveldt
Well-known member
Because maybe that 100th time is the one that changes the other person's mind and makes them finally agree with you?Why say something once when you can say it 100 times.
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
More likely that you’ve drained the life out of them & they’ve better things to do than argue the toss
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
That's just the nature of the beast when someone knew discovers the thread and brings up a point that was already discussed 5 pages ago.
Some don’t spend every day online therefore do not read and post in every thread. Inevitably some thing will get covered a couple of times, as this thread proved.
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
I hate agreeing with you, but this was key to my old club. The membership and green fees alone would not have had the club in profit maintaining 27 holes plus range etc, however the annual profit was pretty much identical to the profit made from the kitchen, bar and functions.
SE Bad Boy
New member
Just been looking at the clubs local to me, the one I like the look of is £2k annual plus 800 joining - and that includes the youngster discount.
The search goes on I think.
The search goes on I think.
irip
Head Pro
I am trying to decide whether to pull the trigger but with the joining fee the 1st year is over 8k.
I’m thinking of just joining a more local club and using the money to play other nice courses when it suits me.
JonnyGutteridge
Newbie
Our club was offering a limited number of term memberships - 5 and 10 years… It was a decent deal, but not done because the club is struggling… quite the opposite… To help reduce reliance on commercial loans for a significant infrastructure project.
I wouldn’t dream of handing over years of membership costs to a struggling club, you’d be mad (or just a serial gambler) to do that?!
We also do lifetime memberships for those whose combined age+club tenure reaches 125. I think some members of this forum qualify for that based on their age alone…
Bar levy’s… Surely people are taking the mick?
It’s essentially providing the catering with a float. It helps the club buy the first kegs and food supplies for the year, without them needing to dip into their own pocket.
I spend £1500+ on my bar card so its spent within a month… But even if you aren’t a clubhouse regular, surely you’d just drop in and get a few takeaway coffees here and there, get a breakfast one morning. Struggle to believe so many have such a big issue.
I wouldn’t dream of handing over years of membership costs to a struggling club, you’d be mad (or just a serial gambler) to do that?!
We also do lifetime memberships for those whose combined age+club tenure reaches 125. I think some members of this forum qualify for that based on their age alone…
Bar levy’s… Surely people are taking the mick?
It’s essentially providing the catering with a float. It helps the club buy the first kegs and food supplies for the year, without them needing to dip into their own pocket.
I spend £1500+ on my bar card so its spent within a month… But even if you aren’t a clubhouse regular, surely you’d just drop in and get a few takeaway coffees here and there, get a breakfast one morning. Struggle to believe so many have such a big issue.
PaulMdj
Well-known member
Just a thought on these bar levys, if they are such a good idea for some Clubs and are an insignificant amount to what some spend in the bar, why not make them optional for the few that are against them?
IanM
Journeyman Pro
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As stated above (somewhere) the uniformity enables guaranteed revenue at the start of the year. Lots of operational benefits with that!
Other than that, it's a compromise!
If it was optional, you could offer discounts for using the prepaid bar card, which creates other issues.
I guess clubs do what they need to do and there's a wide diversity of clubs financially speaking!
PaulMdj
Well-known member
As I’ve said, I’m not against Levy’s, we have one of £50.00, and yes it’s used up in the first month.As stated above (somewhere) the uniformity enables guaranteed revenue at the start of the year. Lots of operational benefits with that!
Other than that, it's a compromise!
If it was optional, you could offer discounts for using the prepaid bar card, which creates other issues.
I guess clubs do what they need to do and there's a wide diversity of clubs financially speaking!
But some of these levy’s seem quite large and what if a person can’t afford it, they may be able to afford the membership, but the levy.
So if a Club was to ask those who are against and can’t afford it etc then divide their levy amongst those willing to pay, it maybe nobody or it may add a few pounds to everyone else.
And yes, if a person didn’t pay the levy I’d not allow them the members bar discount either.
For clarity I am only talking about a Bar Levy.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
For the clubs I know that are charging that higher level of levy then the membership fees are very reflectiveAs I’ve said, I’m not against Levy’s, we have one of £50.00, and yes it’s used up in the first month.
But some of these levy’s seem quite large and what if a person can’t afford it, they may be able to afford the membership, but the levy.
So if a Club was to ask those who are against and can’t afford it etc then divide their levy amongst those willing to pay, it maybe nobody or it may add a few pounds to everyone else.
And yes, if a person didn’t pay the levy I’d not allow them the members bar discount either.
For clarity I am only talking about a Bar Levy.
If you can afford thousands on membership then couple hundred on a levy won’t be an issue
KenL
Tour Rookie
If they are so prestigious with high fees, why do they need a bar levy?
I would be ok with a club that is struggling a bit to finance the bar having one but not if the club is loaded.
D-S
Well-known member
Do clubs really have cash flow issues at subs renewal time?
I would have thought that they would be very cash rich at this time of the year.
There will be a proportion of members who pay monthly but if this is via a credit agency they receive the money early in the year anyway. Even if they are direct debiting themselves it is rarely the majority of members who are monthly payers.
Unless the bar is franchised and therefore a separate operation I would be interested to know why they need cash at a time when their bank balance is at its highest.
I would have thought that they would be very cash rich at this time of the year.
There will be a proportion of members who pay monthly but if this is via a credit agency they receive the money early in the year anyway. Even if they are direct debiting themselves it is rarely the majority of members who are monthly payers.
Unless the bar is franchised and therefore a separate operation I would be interested to know why they need cash at a time when their bank balance is at its highest.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
I think to get the definitive answer to “why” your best bet is to ask the question of those clubs
Many on here have given multiple answers to why ( based on their club )
There is no universal answer that covers every club
