hovis
Tour Winner
The main thing stopping me joining another local club is they have dedicated senior tee off mornings twice a week (smacked bang in the middle of when i need to play)
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Arn't joining fees making it harder for new members?
- Thread starter Sashisg
- Start date
The main thing stopping me joining another local club is they have dedicated senior tee off mornings twice a week (smacked bang in the middle of when i need to play)
NWJocko
Tour Winner
You're not wrong, I love that place, the whole package of course/clubhouse etc is as good as it gets for a members club imo.
I'll look forward to playing there every other week when you join......
peterlav
Challenge Tour Pro
You're not wrong, I love that place, the whole package of course/clubhouse etc is as good as it gets for a members club imo.
I'll look forward to playing there every other week when you join......
As I've said, always welcome for a game mate, just let me know a couple of weeks in advance when you can play
Although not too sure if Danny is available at the moment, his noodle arms have suffered another major injury!!!
chellie
Tour Winner
Oohmeoldbacksknackered
Assistant Pro
Interesting thread. There's absolutely no way I'd pay a joining fee, purely because I can't afford it - other reasons are simply moot.
That's not to say they don't have their place.
But I think if golf wants to bring new people into the game there has to be a good standard of golf accessible to the working classes who don't have a grand or two disposable income floating around.
Municipal courses and your average pay and play round here just aren't up to the quality needed to keep an improving beginner in the game.
More modern thinking such as the different levels mentioned a few pages ago for people playing a dozen, or two dozen times a year make total sense.
If golf is to improve its appeal it's been well quoted that TIME & AFFORDABILITY are the two biggest things preventing busy family men and women from taking up the game seriously. And many people just can't afford the time to play the twice a week needed to justify larger joining and membership fees.
At the moment golf is still far more elitist than it could and (Imnvho) should be - that's not to say it shouldn't have an elite, but the bottom of the ladder needs to be more appealing to those willing to join the first rung.
That's not to say they don't have their place.
But I think if golf wants to bring new people into the game there has to be a good standard of golf accessible to the working classes who don't have a grand or two disposable income floating around.
Municipal courses and your average pay and play round here just aren't up to the quality needed to keep an improving beginner in the game.
More modern thinking such as the different levels mentioned a few pages ago for people playing a dozen, or two dozen times a year make total sense.
If golf is to improve its appeal it's been well quoted that TIME & AFFORDABILITY are the two biggest things preventing busy family men and women from taking up the game seriously. And many people just can't afford the time to play the twice a week needed to justify larger joining and membership fees.
At the moment golf is still far more elitist than it could and (Imnvho) should be - that's not to say it shouldn't have an elite, but the bottom of the ladder needs to be more appealing to those willing to join the first rung.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
A good deal amount of clubs ( and expect it to be most of the members clubs bar the top 20 ) allow joining fees to be paid over a number of years - some up to 5 so you don't have to have a couple grand just stashed away
Golf is expensive - it's expensive to join a club because it's expensive to get a golf course in good condition- equipment costs a lot plus manpower - add in all the clubhouse expenditure and it mounts up - if people want to play on good golf courses then the price will reflect that
But there is always golf courses around that offer pay and play facilities which is what will satisfy the once in a month player
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
so how much do you need for a year including 1/5th joining fee do you need for a years golf?
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
All depends on which club you want to join - for me it was an extra £20 per month
Around here for the members clubs they are all around £900 -£1000
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Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
A club near me, which held regional Open qualifiers, has a joining fee than can be paid over 10 years. I think it's about £1k in total joining fee.
I agree with joining fees, as I think it does promote some stability and loyalty from new members.
I think the whole golf expense arguement needs to be put into context with other life expenses we make. Cigarettes £10 a pack is it? Gym memberships, £40/50 a month? Sky, tv, mobile phone contracts........
I agree with joining fees, as I think it does promote some stability and loyalty from new members.
I think the whole golf expense arguement needs to be put into context with other life expenses we make. Cigarettes £10 a pack is it? Gym memberships, £40/50 a month? Sky, tv, mobile phone contracts........
richart
Major Champion
I had a look at Remedy Oak near Bournemouth's joining fees the other day after playing there.
There is a basic £2500 one, or alternatively you can pay a deposit of £10,000 which you get back when you leave, and someone takes your place. Third option is to pay a higher annual fee, which looks like an additional £500 a year. Basic annual fees are about £2250. They have a limit of 400 members.
I have a feeling it was a lot more expensive to join a few years back, so imagine they are short on numbers.
There is a basic £2500 one, or alternatively you can pay a deposit of £10,000 which you get back when you leave, and someone takes your place. Third option is to pay a higher annual fee, which looks like an additional £500 a year. Basic annual fees are about £2250. They have a limit of 400 members.
I have a feeling it was a lot more expensive to join a few years back, so imagine they are short on numbers.
bluewolf
Money List Winner
:rofl:
Im just starting playing again now mate. Played 9 holes on Friday. Bought another set of irons on Saturday. Usual weekend stuff.
G
guest100718
Guest
Joining fees arent hurting anyone, most of my local clubs had ones in exces of 1500, i think juts John O gaunt is hanging on in there with an OTT fee.
Oohmeoldbacksknackered
Assistant Pro
So you have the right to tell a more occasional player what level of quality they can permitted to play?
There is a huge gulf between the clubs you are talking about and most pay and play courses ( at least round here there is).
There is a potentially huge non golfing population who, even if they could afford a £1200 fee and £1200 subs would find it difficult to justify paying for 15-20 rounds of golf a year.
But with more flexible fee structures they could be invited into the golfing fraternity to get their handicaps, play in club comps and be genuine club members.
I can't imagine you are, but that last paragraph makes you sound like a proper patronising golf snob:
I can afford the time and money to play at these clubs so those who can't should only be allowed on the local muni....
Like I said, I think there's room for a middle ground.
Golf shouldn't be an elitist sport, surely?
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Golf club membership is no different to anything else.
I would like a Bentley but I cannot afford one; should the local dealer make one available to me on terms I can afford.
Members who "own" a club are surely entitled to operate a membership structure that they feel best suits their club and its needs.
If they wish to offer flexible packages then fine but equally if they choose a system that creates exclusivity then, again, fine; it is their choice.
With proprietary clubs then it is likely to be determined by commercial forces.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
If you want to play at a quality course then you pay for it like others
Those quality courses need money to keep them at the level they require
I haven't said anyone should be at a muni course - I said there is plenty pay and play courses around that will satisfy the needs of people who can't justify paying full membership due the amount of games they can play
We have plenty of flexible pay schemes - golf at a members club for the same price as someone pays for sky £100 a month
As with everything in life you have a choice - I could move to a more expensive club if i wish and would love to be a member there but I can't justify the fee so I haven't joined - shall I ask them for a cheap method ? I also want a Audi R8 that I'll only drive 3 times - do you think the garage will give me it cheap ?
GB72
Money List Winner
I see it slightly differently. If you want to be more exclusive or have higher upkeep costs then up the annual subscription. A joining fee is asking me to pay you money for the privilege of paying you more money every year and to make it less attractive to spend that money elsewhere if I am not satisfied.
As for the need for joining fees as part of the finances, how can that be part of the annual calculation. A club has no knowledge of how many joining fees it will receive or when so cannot rely on them as part of their planned variable cost spend.
As for the need for joining fees as part of the finances, how can that be part of the annual calculation. A club has no knowledge of how many joining fees it will receive or when so cannot rely on them as part of their planned variable cost spend.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
I believe you are a member of a members'club.
In which case the "you" to which you refer is yourself (and your fellow members). From previous posts it appears that you find it difficult to integrate within your club but that does not alter the fact that you are still one part of the body to which you pay your subs.
Therefore, if you disagree with joining fees propose an alternative at your next AGM.
GB72
Money List Winner
Our club has already ditched them as have pretty much all the members clubs in the area. Just because I disagree with them does not mean I did not have to pay them as a few years ago pretty much all of the clubs in the area charged them.
Personally I still do not agree with them. I have seen no difference between when they were charged and when they were not. Course condition has stayed the same etc. Still just see them as golden handcuffs. In fact all I have heard is the odd tutt from members not approving of some of the new people that have taken up the game and joined since which tends to make me feel that the original purpose was one of elitism and not financial necessity
Personally I still do not agree with them. I have seen no difference between when they were charged and when they were not. Course condition has stayed the same etc. Still just see them as golden handcuffs. In fact all I have heard is the odd tutt from members not approving of some of the new people that have taken up the game and joined since which tends to make me feel that the original purpose was one of elitism and not financial necessity
larmen
Head Pro
Can I ask, for these joining fees do people get anything in return?
Not that on can compare it, but at my running club we introduced a joining fee, it's £30 now. For that you get a voucher for club vest so you can represent the club in events and a new members pack explaining what we do when, and how to get involved. It's designed by us, but fulfilled by an external company. It basically is designed to get the new members more involved. Before that we had many people that liked to race/participate but didn't have the kit even that they could easily buy it for £20ish. Taking out some procrastination.
I know it's not the £1000+ golf clubs charge but it's a 'fee with a purpose', not a money making exercise.
Not that on can compare it, but at my running club we introduced a joining fee, it's £30 now. For that you get a voucher for club vest so you can represent the club in events and a new members pack explaining what we do when, and how to get involved. It's designed by us, but fulfilled by an external company. It basically is designed to get the new members more involved. Before that we had many people that liked to race/participate but didn't have the kit even that they could easily buy it for £20ish. Taking out some procrastination.
I know it's not the £1000+ golf clubs charge but it's a 'fee with a purpose', not a money making exercise.
Oohmeoldbacksknackered
Assistant Pro
I think there are driving clubs that you can join to get into otherwise unaffordable quality cars every now and then 😉
But we digress....
Round here West Sussex is as good a course as any but I wouldn't ever consider it because it has a joining fee.
East Sussex National is also a top place to play if you've got £1700 and can afford the time and money to get your value out of it.They do a flexible membership at similar rates - still out of my league.
Ignoring muni golf you can pay & play at Wellshurst. Just ask Smiffy ( it's not as bad as he says but....)
But in the middle there are clubs like Eastbourne Downs where you can play a few times a year for only £30 a month. Or Haywards Heath where £400 will get you 12-18 games a year.
As far as I'm aware these are both decent enough clubs, not absolutely top notch, but a whole lot better than Waterhall municipal.
I'm not saying I will be the biggest contributor to any club, but my few quid keeps the game affordable for me, and helps with the coffers at these mid quality courses.
10 part time members like me are worth more in the long run than a couple of elitist members paying £1k fee +£1k subs although the money in year one is exactly the same.
And for golf to flourish I think we should want as many of those part timers to start now, so that as time progresses and they can afford to upgrade, they won't be lost to the game in the future.
(An oversimplification of the maths, I know, but the principle works, I think)
Let me repeat. I'm not knocking West Sussex, but if all clubs were like that I'd never pick up a club again ('Ok, now I've set that up for someone...be gentle 😘)
