Bar Levy £30 due to be introduced then change of mind!

[Deleted member 3432]

There are members who don't use the practice facilities or the pro shop and with golf clubs struggling if no one used the bar etc then the price would rise to everyone anyway. Doing the levy is just a way to encourage the level of income that allows you to use the club the way that you prefer

So members who don't use the bar are being penalised?

It could be the bar is overpriced or the food is poor. Rather than taking the easy way out and add a levy perhaps it would be worth looking on how to improve the bar and catering facilities to make them more attractive?

Our bar and catering is excellent but I'm still not using them and a percentage of golfers in any club will not. Do spend plenty of time on the practice ground and money in the pro shop

 

[User20204]

I think these may put new members off, despite the post above.

Fees...circa £800...oh ye that sounds fine, ah but you have your SG fee, £15 oh and also your county fee, you'd like a locker, that's be £30 please, hang on, we forgot to tell you about the bar levi, £50 please, turns out your £800 fees are actually £900.

 

[chrisd]

So members who don't use the bar are being penalised?

It could be the bar is overpriced or the food is poor. Rather than taking the easy way out and add a levy perhaps it would be worth looking on how to improve the bar and catering facilities to make them more attractive?

Our bar and catering is excellent but I'm still not using them and a percentage of golfers in any club will not. Do spend plenty of time on the practice ground and money in the pro shop

But if the profit on a £40 levy was 50% then the club, to raise the same money would add £20 to your fees - hardly worth arguing about ?on a £1275 per year subs

 

[Deleted member 23270]

Maybe your fees should just cover the course and you pay for everything else as you use it. Car park, showers, putting green, practice ground etc on a pay as you go basis.

 

[Parsaregood]

Find it staggering that people are protesting about a bar levy, I'm sure over the course of a full year you can find a way to spend the money on the card. Fair enough not everyone go's in after every round, but I'm sure most people can find a way to spend £30 over the course of the year and in fact lots of people will spend many times this.

I'm not really sure I would feel I was fully partaking in golf club life if I didn't at least spend some time in the club bar, being a member of a golf club is not just about playing 18 holes and leaving. Most long time members will spend time socialising with playing partners or other members and this is just as enjoyable as actually playing for some

 

[fundy]

Maybe your fees should just cover the course and you pay for everything else as you use it. Car park, showers, putting green, practice ground etc on a pay as you go basis.

or maybe you should pay to join a club and use whichever of the facilities you want

seriously you want to join a golf club then pay extra to use the shower?

sounds to me youre looking to join a golf course not a golf club


edit: pretty sure i just got trolled lol

 

[Parsaregood]

Maybe your fees should just cover the course and you pay for everything else as you use it. Car park, showers, putting green, practice ground etc on a pay as you go basis.

I would hope this is not a serious suggestion given the fact it's quite possibly the most ludicrous thing I've heard

 

[Deleted member 23270]

or maybe you should pay to join a club and use whichever of the facilities you want

seriously you want to join a golf club then pay extra to use the shower?

sounds to me youre looking to join a course not a club

No, it was just a suggestion for people that only want to play 18 holes and not have to finance anything else because they don't use the facilities. I have a bar card levy and it gets topped up numerous times throughout the year.

 

[Parsaregood]

No wonder clubs are struggling, some people seem very tight. Wanting cheaper fees and to charge to use showers, car parks, toilets, god knows what else. Some people really do have no brains. Away and join a council course if you want cheap golf

 

[Imurg]

Find it staggering that people are protesting about a bar levy, I'm sure over the course of a full year you can find a way to spend the money on the card. Fair enough not everyone go's in after every round, but I'm sure most people can find a way to spend £30 over the course of the year and in fact lots of people will spend many times this.

I'm not really sure I would feel I was fully partaking in golf club life if I didn't at least spend some time in the club bar, being a member of a golf club is not just about playing 18 holes and leaving. Most long time members will spend time socialising with playing partners or other members and this is just as enjoyable as actually playing for some

Exactly..."Most" "some"
Therefore not all....
Why is it so hard to accept that there are club members who simply want to turn up, play their game and then go..?
They see their fees as prepaid green fees, not as entry to a club and that is their right.
And once again the cry of "go play somewhere else"
Isn't golf supposed to be inclusive....open to all?
Those who want to embrace the club culture completely and those who just want to play..?

 

[Deleted member 3432]

But if the profit on a £40 levy was 50% then the club, to raise the same money would add £20 to your fees - hardly worth arguing about ?on a £1275 per year subs

£1275 subs, I would expect free bar and food for that price, maybe even a caddie

I just think adding a bar levy is an easy cop out.

How many clubs are proactive in acquiring and acting on member and visitor feedback to improve facilities and the general golfing experience.

If the bar is not pulling its weight in generating income then something needs changed to make it an attractive proposition.

 

[clubchamp98]

With my £100 levy I am paying £1400 but I get my money’s worth.

Maybe a compromise is needed.
So a £100 levy optional and if your card is in credit you get your 10/15% discount.
If you don’t want to pay the levy just pay the prices before the discount over the bar.
Can’t be that complicated.

 

[chrisd]

£1275 subs, I would expect free bar and food for that price, maybe even a caddie

I just think adding a bar levy is an easy cop out.

How many clubs are proactive in acquiring and acting on member and visitor feedback to improve facilities and the general golfing experience.

If the bar is not pulling its weight in generating income then something needs changed to make it an attractive proposition.

I sort of get that, until I think back to your earlier post - it doesn't matter how hard your own club tries you still dont help by having the odd drink. Also, you enjoy the course, car park, pro shop etc etc at a much lower annual cost than some who does support the club by staying after and maybe buying a coffee

 

[Deleted member 3432]

I sort of get that, until I think back to your earlier post - it doesn't matter how hard your own club tries you still dont help by having the odd drink. Also, you enjoy the course, car park, pro shop etc etc at a much lower annual cost than some who does support the club by staying after and maybe buying a coffee

I would certainly stay for a drink if I had a little more time on my hands.

Playing midweek I make a point of picking my boy up from school to make my wifes life a little easier.

I work frequent weekends so when I am off work and can play comps, I play as early as I can and then straight home.

Not as simple as supporting club or not. Simply don't want to neglect the family, this way I can get the best of both worlds

 

[HampshireHog]

£150 at our place. It can be used in the bar, half-way hut and to pay competition fees, club events etc...

I’d be staggered if there is anything left by the end April.

 

[williamalex1]

My club have tried and failed for over 30 years to introduce a bar levy at the AGM . Then whoosh !! members who never ever use the clubhouse suddenly appear for the AGM and vote it down.
The lower drink driving laws in Scotland have had a major affect on clubs and pubs, use to be if you owned a pub you were made for life.
Not now, they're closing down ten a penny, there's a couple of fairly good local pubs been up for sale for ages with no interest shown.
I try my best to improve the bar takings

 

[chrisd]

I would certainly stay for a drink if I had a little more time on my hands.

Playing midweek I make a point of picking my boy up from school to make my wifes life a little easier.

I work frequent weekends so when I am off work and can play comps, I play as early as I can and then straight home.

Not as simple as supporting club or not. Simply don't want to neglect the family, this way I can get the best of both worlds

I quite see your difficulty and understand that you're doing the best for your family as I did when I needed to. I am just pointing out that those people who do drink, eat and support social events are actually keeping your costs of membership down, as without that income its highly likely that everyone's subs would be higher than the, say a £30 levy. It's also been pointed out, and I find too, that my levy is generally being topped up within a few weeks of paying so it's no issue to put it on my card at the start of my subscription year.i agree it doesnt suit everyone but, as I posted earlier, only a small number of our members forfeit the money at renewal because they haven't spent it.

 

[beggsy]

Club I have just joined have a £50 bar levy on the membership would it have changed my mind if it hadn’t not one bit I do like a breakfast and a drink after a round on a weekend and can save some people going to the bank ect I just leave my bar card in my golf bag
An app on my phone from the golf club shows me what I have left so I know when it needs topping up

 

[JohnnyDee]

I have skim-read the entire thread and I am staggered. Our levy has been £150 for at least the last 6 or 7 years and before that it was £100 for at least the previous 10.

Maybe we're just a particularly boozy club but I don't think so. We play in a group of normally no less than 12 and sometimes as many as 20, 3 days a week and ALWAYS finish the round by coming into the clubhouse for the swindle share-out and a few drinks (not necessarily always alcohol - quite often it's coffees particularly at this time of the year)

Our levy is invoiced in July to be paid by 1st of August and the £150 which attracts a 20% discount on sales is normally gone for most by late September / beginning of October.

I see it as assisting towards the running of the club, helping keep subs down and I don't mind that it helps those who cannot or choose not to do the same, either perhaps because of financial circumstances or time constraints. I really don't have the slightest problem paying. After all, it's not as if I don't get anything out of it.

I'm not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination and I do understand that the model is not ideal or indeed feasible for everyone, but clubs need cash flow to survive and for me what I get and indeed want from ours is something more than just playing a round and then shaking hands in the car park before going home.

A large part of the game for me is the social side afterwards. The banter, ribbing and laughter too.

 

[Backache]

You think its a good idea, and it is in some cases. I don't like it for various reasons... lets agree to disagree.

As I've only seen it in my own club I can't say fairer than that.