Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Write them a letter/e-mail,just dont expect to see it mentioned in the non-published minutes!
Arn't joining fees making it harder for new members?
- Thread starter Sashisg
- Start date
Write them a letter/e-mail,just dont expect to see it mentioned in the non-published minutes!
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
There's no one single model for this.
We're a private members club - run by the members (via committees) for the members (but obviously with paid staff to do the leg work). First comment to make is that we are a "club". Effectively, we're a bunch of people who have a golf course. We dont want people to come & play golf - we want people to come and play golf with us. However none this dictates whether we should or should not have joining fee.
But, we do have a joining fee - 2 times the annual membership. My thinking is that this means that anyone contemplating joining must have a particular desire to join - else they wouldn't be contemplating paying the joining fee. And why wouldn't those be the folk we want - ie those who are thinking "thats where i want to play golf and thems the people i want to play golf with". And thinking it to the extent that they're willing to part with good money to do it. Given that we are full, there must be something attractive about what we are and what we do that tempts them to part with the joining fee. If someone is not willing to pay the fee, then obviously we're not an attractive enough proposition. Fair enough.
When you join, you're investing in the club - subs & greenfees pay the running cost and the joining fees pay for improvements. (Ok, too simplistic but it will do for now).
But as i say, it's not the only way. It work for us, it may not work for you.
(And if anyone thinks it still smacks of faux elitism, or snobbery, you can join as a temporary member and then sign up fully after a year - at which point you pay the fee. You could just walk away, but nearly everyone signs.)
We're a private members club - run by the members (via committees) for the members (but obviously with paid staff to do the leg work). First comment to make is that we are a "club". Effectively, we're a bunch of people who have a golf course. We dont want people to come & play golf - we want people to come and play golf with us. However none this dictates whether we should or should not have joining fee.
But, we do have a joining fee - 2 times the annual membership. My thinking is that this means that anyone contemplating joining must have a particular desire to join - else they wouldn't be contemplating paying the joining fee. And why wouldn't those be the folk we want - ie those who are thinking "thats where i want to play golf and thems the people i want to play golf with". And thinking it to the extent that they're willing to part with good money to do it. Given that we are full, there must be something attractive about what we are and what we do that tempts them to part with the joining fee. If someone is not willing to pay the fee, then obviously we're not an attractive enough proposition. Fair enough.
When you join, you're investing in the club - subs & greenfees pay the running cost and the joining fees pay for improvements. (Ok, too simplistic but it will do for now).
But as i say, it's not the only way. It work for us, it may not work for you.
(And if anyone thinks it still smacks of faux elitism, or snobbery, you can join as a temporary member and then sign up fully after a year - at which point you pay the fee. You could just walk away, but nearly everyone signs.)
IanM
Journeyman Pro
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 14,702
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- Monmouthshire, UK via Guildford!
In a word...of course they are making it harder!
My Club still charges them, 1200 quid... Which in South Wales is lots! But the committee and oldies argues that everyone's paid it, so keeps all members equal. We allow installements too... And the Club is full (give or take). They also say that it stops folk moving around every couple of years as it happening at other clubs.
Surely these things have had their day in most places...
My Club still charges them, 1200 quid... Which in South Wales is lots! But the committee and oldies argues that everyone's paid it, so keeps all members equal. We allow installements too... And the Club is full (give or take). They also say that it stops folk moving around every couple of years as it happening at other clubs.
Surely these things have had their day in most places...
NWJocko
Tour Winner
I find this really odd, does your pal really just play with 1 other person?
How can you be a member of a golf club and have nobody to play with!? I joined my place knowing 2 members and now regularly play with probably 50/60 different folk in different groups!
Re Joining fees, I paid one because I wanted to join that particular club, there's all manner of options for memberships in the area to suit all tastes and budgets so if you don't want to pay one you don't have to.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
+1.
Depends upon whether you just want a golf course to play on with a small circle of friends or want to belong to a club with a wide range of members, some of whom you may not wish to play with but you would happily do so with the majority.
Neither is right or wrong and there are sufficient options available these days to us all.
The problem seems to arise when someone wishes (probably due to the course) to join a club that has joining fees and that person does not wish to pay a fee. If the members of that club wish joining fees to be paid then that is a choice that they are entitled to make.
IMO joining fees should only be charged by members' clubs as a stakeholding and certainly not by proprietary clubs.
G
guest100718
Guest
If they were a good idea then clubs wouldn't be dropping them. Much like BRS no one going from that to a roll up system
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Don't know many members' clubs round here who are abandoning joining fees nor using tee-booking for anything other than competitions.
G
guest100718
Guest
Round there is exactly that.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
My! what a droll, little fellow you are.
I wonder how many areas are 100% joining fees. I'm pretty sure everyone has access to golf without a joining fee. However, if someone wants to join a specific club and it has a joining fee, tough. Pay up or play elsewhere.
bluewolf
Money List Winner
Most members clubs around here have removed the joining fee. However, in a few years I'm hoping to join S&A, and all the clubs around there still have it. I'm happy to accept that as it really is a superb club/course.
G
guest100718
Guest
Clubs that charge a joining fee are in a minority. Where are 10 to 15 years ago it was common place
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
I assume you can support that claim.
G
guest100718
Guest
Yes thanks.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Go ahead then, dazzle me with your statistical wizardry.
G
guest100718
Guest
Someone's already done it thanks.
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/joining-fees-conundrum-66294
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Actually there are no statistics in that article and, in any event, joining fees are IMO only applicable to members' clubs. Most of those continue to charge a joining fee.
G
guest100718
Guest
Garbage. Which you can't back up in anyway at all.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
England Golf's 2014 survey of Golf Club Membership showed only 37% of those surveyed charged a joining fee.
BUT only 65% of the clubs participating in the survey were members' clubs and they were the majority of those charging joining fees.
GB72
Money List Winner
2 members clubs in my area have both ditched joining fees. Sadly not addressed other issues with member retention. Apparently 25% of members aged 25 to 35 leave after only one year as they find club life too focused on older members
