Arn't joining fees making it harder for new members?

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

A thought - the new member joining fee is that new member's contribution towards keeping the fees of existing members subs down and minimising the need for a 'new development' levy - in consideration of the fact that it is existing and previous members subscriptions that have funded getting the course and club into it's current condition and the standing that it has - that making it worth joining. Just a thought.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

Another thought.
How many members does an average club have?
And how many new members each year contribute their joining fee?
Assuming the fee is the same as one years subs.
Say a club has 200 members.
And 2 new members join each year.
That is the same contribution as each member's subs going up by 1%
What are the realistic numbers and at what level of new joiners does it become an effective source of revenue?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Another thought.
How many members does an average club have?
And how many new members each year contribute their joining fee?
Assuming the fee is the same as one years subs.
Say a club has 200 members.
And 2 new members join each year.
That is the same contribution as each member's subs going up by 1%
What are the realistic numbers and at what level of new joiners does it become an effective source of revenue?

I think churn and bringing numbers up to the optimum number has resulted in about 50 new members this year at our place. As it happens we don't currently have a joining fee. Not many clubs have a membership of 200 and 2 new members a year.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

I think churn and bringing numbers up to the optimum number has resulted in about 50 new members this year at our place. As it happens we don't currently have a joining fee. Not many clubs have a membership of 200 and 2 new members a year.

I genuinely have no idea how many new member sign up on average.
But if it's enough to make a significant dent in the club's revenue then it can't be all bad.
But if it's only saving a couple of % of existing members subs then I'd suggest it's not fit for purpose.

 

[guest100718]

I don't think a joining fee will disappear from the most prestigious clubs in the UK any time soon. They charge a premium because they are premium venues. Logically, in most cases, this means they are much better than courses without a joining fee.

It is pointless to debate this with you though, that much is clear. Your stance (and others) can be pared down to - I want to be a member at wherever I want with no strings attached and at low cost. Any possible barrier to this is then loosely termed as elitist, snobby or bad for the game. But what you really mean is that it is bad for individuals who cannot have exactly what they want, entirely on their terms.

A stupid perspective as frankly, life is just not like that.

Golf is far from low cost and if a club wants to charge a joining fee then thats fine . It will however put off a lot of people which is why so many private courses in the UK have ditched them.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

like all things its supply and demand, if there is a demand people will pay it.

£200 in the bar is nothing tbh, if you are using the club properly.

Royal Dornoch has a waiting list, Joining fee and you have to be a member of the Struie Course (2nd course) for 2 years, plenty will do that because of the Quality of the course.

I agree. If you are in there say 25-30 weekends per year, get a few rounds in and the odd bite to eat it'll soon go

 

[hovis]

I agree. If you are in there say 25-30 weekends per year, get a few rounds in and the odd bite to eat it'll soon go

I'd still like to make that choice for myself rather than be told "i will" spend £200 in the bar

 

[richart]

It is a special occasion place. Yes it is posh and there are a few more rules than other courses may have but that aside, it is absolutely superb. You could not wish for a better day of golf and I hope you get good weather.

You will fit in perfectly mate.

He didn't mention who he is playing with Dave.

Really looking forward to the game. There are worse places to spend a Sunday with a mate.

 

[fundy]

Yes the course is in great nick , best condition course in the county , Broadstone is the best track but in not so good condition currently , problems with the greens , anytime you in the area and want to play parkstone drop me a line ...............EYG

thanks JCW, we're planning on heading south in the next year or two so will definitely take you up on it at some point (it will definitely be a warmer day than at Tadmarton Heath forum meet though!!!)

 

[Smiffy]

I'd still like to make that choice for myself rather than be told "i will" spend £200 in the bar

We have £60.00 added to our subscriptions as a bar levy. I don't even give it a second thought. Okay I'll agree, £200.00 is a bit excessive, and yes, I would most probably "gulp" at that, but if the course was worth playing I'd accept it as a necessary evil.
When I was at Crowborough Beacon during the 80's and 90's, the course was most probably at it's best. But the bar was empty. You could walk in there at anytime during the day and there would be maybe two or three people sat in there at most. They introduced a bar levy eventually, to try to generate some income. A lot of the members created a stink about it.
The alternative was to close it down. The uproar that would have created doesn't bear thinking about. And most of the noise would have come from the membership who never used it.
You can't win.

 

[chrisd]

In many clubs the bar levy has taken the place of the joining fee, the only difference is that everyone in the club ends up paying annually where as only the new members would have paid the joining fee.

The beauty of the bar levy us that all the members get something tangible for their outlay, the club maintains its income which will be budgeted for (along with spending of the money) so the only losers are the members who never step inside the clubhouse after their round! I personally feel it's a fair system as I rarely go straight home after a round and the £60 on my bar tab is insignificant over a year. You be suprised though at how many bar levies are taken back by the club of people who never use them in any given year

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd still like to make that choice for myself rather than be told "i will" spend £200 in the bar

But again it still comes down to the T&C's of the club you are joining in the same way as the joining fee and if you have issues being "told" to put £200 on the bar card then don't join. It's not like the bar levy or fees are a secret and you know upfront that they need paying if you want to be a member

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

In many clubs the bar levy has taken the place of the joining fee, the only difference is that everyone in the club ends up paying annually where as only the new members would have paid the joining fee.

The beauty of the bar levy us that all the members get something tangible for their outlay, the club maintains its income which will be budgeted for (along with spending of the money) so the only losers are the members who never step inside the clubhouse after their round! I personally feel it's a fair system as I rarely go straight home after a round and the £60 on my bar tab is insignificant over a year. You be suprised though at how many bar levies are taken back by the club of people who never use them in any given year

I thought the bar levy was brought in at clubs where the bar/restaurant manager earns his/ her money from taking, so it gives them a guaranteed income.
IE the money is kept away from subs and other fees and specifically goes to one person.

 

[Slab]

Does anyone actually know (categorically) the original purpose of a joining fee? (not what its purpose is stated as nowadays) Or did it vary from club to club

Was it related to a system of vetting
An encouragement (or enforcement) of loyalty & churn prevention
A financial top up to keep existing members subs down
Something else...

?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I thought the bar levy was brought in at clubs where the bar/restaurant manager earns his/ her money from taking, so it gives them a guaranteed income.
IE the money is kept away from subs and other fees and specifically goes to one person.

Bar Levys were introduced to encourage people to spend time in the club after their round

At a lot of clubs people just disappeared afterwards and clubs suffered with the lack of people socialising afterwards

We may increase ours from £50 to £100 as it will include food soon

Believe it helps people integrate into the club

At the end of the year we prob have a good couple thousand that isn't spent from bar cards

Mine is normally gone with 2/3 weeks

 

[guest100718]

Bar Levys were introduced to encourage people to spend time in the club after their round

At a lot of clubs people just disappeared afterwards and clubs suffered with the lack of people socialising afterwards

We may increase ours from £50 to £100 as it will include food soon

Believe it helps people integrate into the club

At the end of the year we prob have a good couple thousand that isn't spent from bar cards

Mine is normally gone with 2/3 weeks

just another way to discourage new members

 

[Deleted member 15344]

just another way to discourage new members

We have a waiting list of over 40 new on top of a full membership

It seems it's not discouraging anyone

 

[guest100718]

We have a waiting list of over 40 new on top of a full membership

It seems it's not discouraging anyone

Waiting for what?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Waiting for what?

What do you think they are waiting for ?

To join the club perhaps

 

[guest100718]

What do you think they are waiting for ?

To join the club perhaps

I doubt there is a waiting list.