Annual subscription 2026

[Lord Tyrion]

Current place is going up by nearly 5.5% from £730 to £770 with EG fee of £12 and Northumberland County of £6 meaning it will be £788 compared to £747.25 last year.

The seniors is going up from £705 last year to £758.50 this year. I expect some fireworks at the AGM over that.

The question will always be, where would those guys go? It's a great draining course, I suspect most are fairly local?

Would the options largely be Longhirst or Blyth? There will be lots of grumbling but I doubt many would leave. No one likes an increase though, even when it's needed.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

@SwingsitlikeHogan I'm breathless. 89 words in one sentence , post 472, last paragraph. If you ever write a book I pity the person doing the audio version

Ah but I try and build in natural pauses so reader doesn’t have read it in one go…anyway - I’m thinking most folk don’t bother reading my guff anyway

 

[Springveldt]

The question will always be, where would those guys go? It's a great draining course, I suspect most are fairly local?

Would the options largely be Longhirst or Blyth? There will be lots of grumbling but I doubt many would leave. No one likes an increase though, even when it's needed.

Yeah, I'd imagine Longhirst or Bedlington would be first choice but I'm pretty sure Bedlington is rammed at the minute.

Even with the price increases they are still getting incredible value, just wish I could play both days on the weekend as I would keep my Newbiggin membership as well. I've really enjoyed the last couple of years here, great draining as you say, I'm no longer afraid to play in the wind and the members have all been welcoming and friendly.

 

[Mandofred]

Nearest course is going up about 7% (£1450 to £1550)...I'm likely dropping that one. Wettest course in the area during the winter and busy during the summer.....but it's the closest at about 7 min. Haven't heard about the others yet. Still trying to figure out how to keep the schedule I was on last year.....M+F at one course and W+TH at another, it worked well. Several other people I know are members at both, but it is 20+25 min drive....which is nothing for some people but at the limit for me. At least one course south of Harrogate I would be interested in joining....but 30+min is a no-no for me.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

@Springveldt quick check, there's a waiting list, so yes it's busy, and it's £824, so more. Bedlington is a very nice course but it's too long for me week in week out

 

[Hobbit]

@Springveldt quick check, there's a waiting list, so yes it's busy, and it's £824, so more. Bedlington is a very nice course but it's too long for me week in week out

I’d forgotten how long The Bedlington is, even off the yellows. Very nice course though.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I’d forgotten how long The Bedlington is, even off the yellows. Very nice course though.

I might be repeating this, apologies if so. I played there in an open with a mate who was thinking of joining there. He hits it a similar distance to me, ie not big. After 5 holes we were walking up the fairway and I turned to me and said 'you can't join here, it'll beat you up every week '. He agreed.

Smashing course, the middle holes in particular. Produces good players as well. Somewhere between the yellow and red tees would be about right

 

[chellie]

I've been surprised at how many clubs have a members vote on accepting the subs increases as it's not been our experience.

 

[Hobbit]

I might be repeating this, apologies if so. I played there in an open with a mate who was thinking of joining there. He hits it a similar distance to me, ie not big. After 5 holes we were walking up the fairway and I turned to me and said 'you can't join here, it'll beat you up every week '. He agreed.

Smashing course, the middle holes in particular. Produces good players as well. Somewhere between the yellow and red tees would be about right

Cleveland is a very similar distance but being a links course it was always dry with plenty of run.

 

[KenL]

I've been surprised at how many clubs have a members vote on accepting the subs increases as it's not been our experience.

Are you a members club?
We always vote on whether to accept an increase or not. All in the constitution.

 

[Hobbit]

I've been surprised at how many clubs have a members vote on accepting the subs increases as it's not been our experience.

I guess it might be the difference between a member’s club & a proprietary owned club.

Down the years I’ve been a member at 14 clubs around the U.K. & Ireland. 13 of them were member’s clubs and a vote was taken on the fees at all of them… maybe things have changed as some member’s clubs have executive boards & directors.

 

[upsidedown]

Members club and Board make the desicion which doesnt need voting on.

 

[KenL]

Members club and Board make the desicion which doesnt need voting on.

What if they add 500%?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What if they add 500%?

They won't have many members next year

 

[moogie]

@Springveldt quick check, there's a waiting list, so yes it's busy, and it's £824, so more. Bedlington is a very nice course but it's too long for me week in week out

Wow
It was only £764 last year
That's a big hike

 

[Imurg]

Our Constitution states a rise of the rate of inflation in September +1% doesn't need to be voted on...it just happens.
Above that and a vote is required

 

[D-S]

Members club and Board make the desicion which doesnt need voting on.

Same here, but there is a limit of 10% which would require a vote. There has been no need for a vote in the past 30 years at least.

 

[Crazyface]

I handed in my application to join a new club on Thursday. Most accomodating. I'm not able to play until 1st June, so he will pro-rata it, and it's already on a new member joining fee! Next years subs will be 25% off as well. The greenkeepers have been brought in from a local top course, (previous ones up to scratch), and have earnt the members respect with the work they have done to bring the course back to where it was a few years ago. They have 10 courses on reciprical as well. All in all, I am excited for the new season!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You know your course, of course you do…so I will speak ‘generally’

Any course that has a full membership and is a pretty decent or very decent course already, may not ‘need’ a new green or hole routing….(accepting that there are many courses that have holes that aren’t that good —and don’t meet the standard of the rest - the 9th At Goswick, a couple near the turn at West Sussex…heck even a couple at Open rota links courses such as Carnoustie, Lytham and Hoylake for example)

Many changes I have seen to courses can be ‘change for changes sake’ and plenty won’t like the changes almost as much as those who campaign for it

A course that’s full, has a waiting list, is over 100 years old, and is regarded as ‘decent’, may not need expensive changes that members ‘need’ to pay for..

Absolutely get your post - plenty of truth in it.

At my place it’s the core responsibility of the Board to develop the course and clubhouse to improve member and visitor challenge and overall experience. That means they must look beyond what is needed in the present - particularly as what members perceive as ‘need’ is so subjective. And so to the work that is planned to the course and practice facilities following on from the recent major refurbishment of our clubhouse ‘public’ areas.

Indeed though my club is over 125yrs old there is hardly any aspect of the course that has not been subject to significant change or redevelopment through these years. The club and course we have today is as a result of decisions made by the club’s boards through the decades with the future in mind, not perhaps solely with what the membership at the time might consider necessary.

And I note that the developments to clubhouse and course are being done without levy of members but from surplus - which of course comes partly from members. And so it will continue. Maintain club’s financial health of the club whilst using surplus (but not all) to develop club and course. Were we to use all surplus in order to hold subscription rates for a year or two and the day comes when there is urgent need - what to do if the club does not have the funds.

I’d have thought we are little different from most members clubs in this respect.

 

[chellie]

Are you a members club?
We always vote on whether to accept an increase or not. All in the constitution.

Members club and Board make the desicion which doesnt need voting on.

I guess it might be the difference between a member’s club & a proprietary owned club.

Down the years I’ve been a member at 14 clubs around the U.K. & Ireland. 13 of them were member’s clubs and a vote was taken on the fees at all of them… maybe things have changed as some member’s clubs have executive boards & directors.

Members club.