At what point does a membership become value for money?

[Teebs]

My membership has cost me around £20 per round at the moment for 2023.

Biggest thing for me is access to comps, knockouts and team matches (scratch & Union events) - none of which would be possible being a member on the points system. I was a non-member in 2022 and the hassle of trying to get a game was too much for me, I like the flexibility of just booking online or turning up midweek and getting a game.

 

[Deleted member 23344]

Like others, I am a member of a club for reasons that are not purely financial (e.g. cost per round). I play regularly for the club’s senior team against other clubs which is really enjoyable and so, to me, that alone justifies the membership fee … and that is before adding competitions and social rounds with friends. Membership is so much more than just seeking to get a lower cost per round played.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

I couldn’t tell you how many rounds I’ve played this year. So I’ve no idea how much each round has cost me.

I don’t think I played more than 9 holes at my home course in October, so that cost me £100 if you look at it that way.

If I get to the point of working out the cost per round, I might be looking for an excuse to give up.

I think back to something my uncle used to tell me about people knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

 

[Deleted member 25575]

I’m not sure how I would value my membership in terms of VFM.
I’m different to a lot of people here in that I have no interest in comps and in fact loath the fact that if I get to play on a Wednesday after work it’s painfully slow due to the comp that’s played that day!
But I play golf an awful lot, I’d say this year I’ve played ~150/200 times in the year, not always 18, but often times more than 18.
I am a member of 2 clubs due to the need for variety playing that much on a single course I find takes its toll, so switching between courses makes things much better.
I’d say in terms of rounds per membership fees I’m definitely getting value that way, but for me the value is in my mental health and sanity, I love playing golf and will more than happily do so on my own, I’m not tied to the availability of others and if I have a small window of opportunity- maybe just an hour at lunch time, or 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon, I’ll take the opportunity to just walk and hit a ball, stress free and happy.
I’d not be without my membership, but purely because it gives me the flexibility to play when I want for as long as I’m able.

 

[IanM]

If you work full time, you play less golf.

If you have a young family, you play less golf.

But if you exclude the social/mental health benefits of being out in the fresh air for a few hours, losing golf balls from your definition of "value," you're missing a big chunk of the equation.

Of course you might find a more cost efficient way of playing.

 

[Oddsocks]

Definitely some great points made here , I purposely left these points from my original post as I wanted to see others views.

1- I used to be a happy winter golfer, IE as long is it wasn’t pouring when I left and forecast to bucket down all round I would play after all it was down time with the lads however this is no longer the case. With this in mind between nov-march i reckon I’ll get 8-10 rounds max, this will give me around 30 rounds at £60 a round which is more then a green fee.

2- a good percentage of replies relate to weekday golf, playing twice at weekends etc. I’m a once a week chopper (Sunday mornings), I maybe play 6-8 times after work in the summer so I don’t claw my VFM back there.

Generally as it currently stands it feels a chore to even bother some days to attend my club whether it be a comp day or roll up where as a guest invite or day out becomes far more appealing.

The flexi membership I’ve found is £750 for 200 points (3.75 per point), peak time Sunday morning comp rounds are 12points (£45 p/round) and other than club champs I can enter any comp, represent the club on away matches and so on. Basing it on peak golf only I’d get 16 rounds, but with weekday golf dropping to just 2pts I’d get 200 if work allowed.

Now I’m basing a golf season on April 1st - October 31st giving approx 28 weeks. 16 peak rounds, few away days etc this would work pretty well without the need to feel like I’m having to play just to get VFM, would free up around a grand for some away trips so win win.

What I have left out is at my current club unless entering the swindle it is impossible to get a tee time. I wanted to book a singles match last week for two weeks time (15 days in advance) and with two courses I still couldn’t play until 11.30!

So the swindle, this is great and a great bunch of fellas but our swindle is £10 a head. When you add that to the £1750 subs your looking at £2k for 28 games, you’re now looking at £73 a round.

Doesn’t feel like VFM the more o do the numbers. Now I can’t stress enough that this isn’t about lack of disposable income as the misses and I both work, but when you really dig into the numbers a don’t see the investment gets the reward.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As others have said…VFM is a very individual thing and depends upon how you view being a member of a golf club and how you use the flexibility of being a member to play - so what you want from a club and from being a member, none of which might really involve actually playing a full round of golf.

And yes, there is the basic metric that is the effective cost of each full round - though in my part of the country a nomadic existence would be expensive in any case. If my sole criteria was the basic cost metric then I might scratch my head and fret a bit…but it’s not. So for instance, I‘m on the winners board for one of our more ‘important’ competitions, and for me that is something I really value…becoming part of the recorded history of my club…a club I have pride in…and I can’t put a cost to that.

And it was round about this day 20yrs ago that I joined my club…and when I think about it I can’t really imagine not being a member, well I can…but I think I’d be a bit lost.

 

[GreiginFife]

My annual subs cost me less than a month’s payment on my car. So I don't really have much to complain about VFM wise if I only play a handful of times or play every week or more.

Not the greatest course but its good and its fair. We also don't lose many days to weather either. If we’re closed its probably not safe to be playing golf.

 

[Captain_Black.]

What I would add to my post (no9)
Is that I very much enjoy my golf & I play loads Spring through to Autumn, comps / matches & just social rounds, I do dislike winter golf, so when I'm crunching the numbers on cost v vfm it really based on 8 months of golf & not 12 months.

 

[Slab]

Between my wife and I our monthly green fees plus, range session plus food and drinks at the golf club are close to if not higher than the rent we pay for the flat

I dunno if that means my flat is vfm and my golf isn’t or vice versa

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would never base value for money purely on the number of rounds played. All of the following have a huge implication to being a member and renewing each year
Condition and challenge of the course
Club competitions and knockouts
Weekend roll ups
Use of clubhouse - bar, eating etc and use it even if not playing
Use of practice facilities including range and short game area
Matches vs other clubs
Locker to store clubs - I commute to the club weekdays in the summer so this is essential so I have my stuff already in situ to go out and play or practice

To me, my fees cover all of the above and probably more as well. We have started a four year programme to improve the bunkering and it would only be after that has been completed that I would even begin to consider if the condition of the course was what I'd expect for the money paid. At present it is a very easy yes and as long as that carries on then I am very happy

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not a great time to be thinking about this, it's terrible value right now with the course being closed . In past years I reckoned that if I played enough to make membership cost around £30 per round it was good value. The flexibility of being able to play when you want made it more than worthwhile. I've since moved to a more expensive club, played less due to weather and I daren't work out the cost per round this past season. If my wife worked out the sums I would struggle to justify it. I may have to review matters come next year.

 

[fenwayrich]

I had a knee replacement in March, followed by complicated cervical spine surgery in May. I have only played 40 holes (yes holes, not rounds) this year, which equates to around £34 per hole. No value for money there.

However, I am retired, financially comfortable with no dependants, and in my fragile state have found solace in going to the club and helping out, mainly with competition and handicap administration, having been on the Handicap Committee for some years. I was offered the opportunity to defer membership but as I can afford it I just want to be the same as everyone else who goes there. The club is as much a part of me as I am a part of it.

I am due to have further surgery, but hopefully next year I'll be able to play more, and enjoy the company of my friends on the course as well as in the clubhouse.

 

[GB72]

There is an interesting position appearing here in that, quite obviously, the more that you play the better value your membership is and the happier you are to pay it. No real debate there.

Then you look at the 2 areas that most clubs offer some significantly reduced fees for, younger people and seniors and there is an argument (and a good one) that there fixed or reduced income status warrants that and that would be a fair point. They are, however, also those with the most access to the course and so make the most use of the facilities that they are paying for (excuse my sweeping generality).

Then you have the 30-50 age group. Most likely to be working in the week, most likely to have other commitments that take up their time (family when you hardly see them all week etc) and yet the only way that they can play is to pay the most expensive 7 day membership at some clubs for the privilege of being able to play on the one day a week that they can. It is like buying a whole box of coloured pencils just because you need a red one. For those retired or example, bad weather, that is OK we can play tomorrow. For the working golfer with a family, a day of bad weather can mean no golf for 2-3 weeks.

The fact is that clubs need these weekend only golfers to pay those higher fees but it still makes it a far harder thing to justify (this is not having a go at other age groups, just showing how one demographic gets the thinner end of the wedge).

 

[Slab]

I would never base value for money purely on the number of rounds played. All of the following have a huge implication to being a member and renewing each year
Condition and challenge of the course
Club competitions and knockouts
Weekend roll ups
Use of clubhouse - bar, eating etc and use it even if not playing
Use of practice facilities including range and short game area
Matches vs other clubs
Locker to store clubs - I commute to the club weekdays in the summer so this is essential so I have my stuff already in situ to go out and play or practice

To me, my fees cover all of the above and probably more as well. We have started a four year programme to improve the bunkering and it would only be after that has been completed that I would even begin to consider if the condition of the course was what I'd expect for the money paid. At present it is a very easy yes and as long as that carries on then I am very happy

This'll be club dependent of course (i.e very private clubs) but I'd guess the ones i've bolded apply whether you've paid a green fee or membership to play or neither
Not a problem in a great many places to use a clubhouse to buy F&B especially if a green fee has been paid, and the course condition is the same too surely

In my case as a non-member I can even enter club competitions & the roll ups & some interclub comps (all except club champs) but I'm probably in the minority for that so i didn't bold those three as well, meaning for many your vfm list will be a lot thinner

Horses for courses as usual

 

[Kennysarmy]

So far in 2023 I've played 1909 holes at my course.
Sub are due in April but assuming a rough annual golf fee of £1200 per annum I'm currently getting each round at a rate of £9.66
I personally think that's GREAT value for money for something that keeps me fit, active, seeing friends, meeting new members and guests and all for £2.75 an hour!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I pay around £1400 a year currently, and since going self employed 3 1/2 years ago, my golfing has slowly dropped off to where I am this year, where I’ve played about 6 rounds.
Im not bothered by its cost, when I do get to play it’s the social aspect I enjoy the most. Not playing isn’t the issue, it’s more not missing it that’s more telling for me.
I will see how it goes and how I feel about it come renewal time next June.
That will be my decider, not the cost.

 

[BrianM]

For me personally, I’d never look at it from that point of view, but depending on your financial circumstances you might feel you need to get that value.
I’m £900 a year for my main course ( had a joining fee also) but work away half the year, not including holidays / weekends away and I’ve also got 2 boys, 12 & 4 who have clubs etc to get to, which I feel like I have to take control off!!
I just love getting out when I can and play with my brother and Dad which is priceless for me, we are only here once

 

[GB72]

For me personally, I’d never look at it from that point of view, but depending on your financial circumstances you might feel you need to get that value.
I’m £900 a year for my main course ( had a joining fee also) but work away half the year, not including holidays / weekends away and I’ve also got 2 boys, 12 & 4 who have clubs etc to get to, which I feel like I have to take control off!!
I just love getting out when I can and play with my brother and Dad which is priceless for me, we are only here once

It is a hard one to explain but I never looked at it as cost per round of anything like that. I was in an enviable position of being able to comfortably afford the membership but, as with anything i spend a good chunk of cash on, I started to look at what I was getting for my money and what else I could do with that time and money.

The amount of golf I played was less relevant but I did start to feel obligated to play golf every weekend I could because I had paid for. It was only after stopping my membership that I started to see how much else I was turning down and missing out on because of that.

The social aspect of the club I was at was never that appealing. Not bad, just not my scene (plus dress codes, stuffiness etc) and my socialising still took place away from the club. I am lucky, in the village I live in I can just walk outside the front door and see 2 or 3 people I know out walking the dogs if I want company, fresh air and exercise. Those walks end in the pub so pretty much the same benefits as a round of golf and beer after with no cost attached. For added exercise I have a pretty full gym in my old double garage.

It is hard to explain all of the factors that impacted me so as to stop being a member but I have had many gripes on here about golf clubs in general and attitudes etc and the response from some of the 'golf can do no wrong' crowd on here was that if you do not like it, walk away, so I did.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I pay a lot, I don't play often, but I get value for money.
I play the best course within a 1hr drive, it's a good course, I have good friends as fellow members and enjoy my time there.