Bar levys-your thoughts.

[pokerjoke]

our club is about to re-introduce a bar levy[as they call it]every member apart from juniors will have to put £50 on a card for food and drink and top it up when its used up.This was voted in in 2006 and then dropped for a while and is now being re-introduced.I only joined 16 months ago so never had a vote.The first we new it was coming back in was a letter on the notice board,no letter or nothing.Playing with the old chairmen last night he told us it was compolsary.A lot of people have already said they wont be doing it as they dont spend that much in the club,myself i dont mind because i do spend that much.Im sure in the end most people will do it,but your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Crazyface]

Tricky one this. I don't like being told where to spend my money, but you have to look at it this way, if no one used the bar then it would close for good and where would you get a welcome drink afterwards? My club has introduced it this year and I've already spent mine! Hic! All those who just play golf and bugger off afterwards, anti social bores, now will have to spend at least some time in the bar even if it's just to buy a load of bottles to take out.

 

[mattyb0y]

I haven't experienced this myself as a member but played in a invitation day and this was in place... trouble was i obviously didn't have a card (due to not being a member) so i had to use my mates...

however could see the logic and the ease especially after a full day invitational tournament the bar was constantly busy as over 100 golfer played... the service was much faster as people didn't have to hang a round for change etc..

 

[JT77]

We have a similar thing at our club, your gui card is to be topped up with 50quid to get it going then topped up as and when required. The bonus for us I guess is that the same card is what we use for to pay for our club comps, range cards and pro shop purchases as well as in the bar/restaurant. It is also what we have to use if we want our members discount. I top mine anything from 50-100quid per month, and would guess the majority of full members will do similar. If your club extends this to yourselves maybe it would be received better than just a card for the bar.

 

[19th]

One of my clubs had this feature and I am sure that the bar bill was discounted by it's use making it a POSITIVE!.

A £20 bar bill round was only £18 or so by using the card instead of cash, a much better deal than any bank card.

Due to this factor we always used one card on club nights so that the bill could be split, with both the members and guests enjoying the perk.

 

[Jabba]

Our club introduced this two years ago, they put the subs up by £30 but gave a card with £30 pre paid on it for use in the bar.The card can only be used for drinks but gives the user a 15% discount.

I too am against being told where to spend my money but it seems to be a viable alternative to merely bumping the subs up.The card can be topped up with any amount the holder chooses and is kept in my golf bag so I always have beer tokens available.

 

[madandra]

If you have 500 members each paying £50 gives the club £2,500 in the bank on day one. Added to the fact that the mark up on drink is huge that will probably mean a £2,000 profit for the club. We have a £30 levy but you can buy food with that too so I usually drop in with Mrs Mad and Little Miss Mad for Sunday lunch.

 

[coolhand]

In these days of clubs struggling to make ends meet I can see the logic behind this but isn’t the danger that it just becomes another disincentive to join a club. As a time limited, currently non club member the things that bump up the initial cost like joining fees, bar levy’s e.t.c. are very much part of the number of games/cost decision process, so can put people off.

I’d have thought it would be much better to use a carrot approach. Rather than make the cards compulsory take the discount approach and incentivise the take up. Most people spend more if they don’t actually see the cash leave their pocket so the profit lost by the discount would be offset by higher spends.

 

[HRC99]

It is optional at our place but you get 15% bonus. So £20 becomes £23. Pretty good value really.

 

[john0]

If you have 500 members each paying £50 gives the club £2,500 in the bank on day one.

I think you might find that it's actually £25,000 in the bank on day one

Im glad you dont mark my score card

 

[pokerjoke]

I can see the logic of the card and you do get some discount,but people that dont go in the bar after a game probably still wont.Just say for instance i dont get the card then one day decide to buy some food and a round of drinks totalling £25 and want to pay by card are they then going to say no because i havnt got a card[i dont think so]so in reality i dont need one.

 

[viscount17]

we get a 10% discount card, usable for food and drink. It's free as part of your first season ticket and is re-validated on renewal each year.

 

[Scott1505]

The problem is if nobody uses the facilities for food and drink then there will be no food or drinks available for you to get when you do want it as the club won't have the money to run them. Therefore i believe having to put money on a card where you can get food/drinks in return and ensures that you can get a drink after you have played is a small price to pay.

 

[19th]

I can see the logic of the card and you do get some discount,but people that dont go in the bar after a game probably still wont.Just say for instance i dont get the card then one day decide to buy some food and a round of drinks totalling £25 and want to pay by card are they then going to say no because i havnt got a card[i dont think so]so in reality i dont need one.

No PJ, they will take your 'whatever' card for the £25 but if it had been the prepaid (golf club card)your bill would only be £21 - so in reality you don't need one BUT you don't get the perk either.

I also suspect that your 'whatever' card could charge a high interest rate instead of offering a discount.


As an aside....

I have just had a thought - a bank could target teenagers and offer them their first card..... called???
WHATEVER!

 

[bobmac]

I have just had a thought - a bank could target teenagers and offer them their first card..... called???
WHATEVER!

Yes but no but yes but no but

 

[Parmo]

We have £35 levy and with that get 10% discount on drinks and can top it up at any time, much prefer that and it also gives the club money.

One thing I cannot stand are car park members who don't support their clubs. I mean is your time management so poor you can not even stop for a coffee????

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Its a mandatory £50 at my place every year and gives us 10% off. I think its a good idea personally. If you have a car park club where players change their shoes straight after and never set foot inside the bar where is the necessary revenue needed coming from. If you don't spend the £50 over the year (how hard can it be) then the money defaults to the club. The club my wife works at has a levy of £161 for 5 day members and £237 for 7 dayers which seems excessive.

We have an incentive that if you introduce a new member you get £100 onto your card.

 

[big_russ]

We have a bar card but do not have an enforced amount applied annually, you just add to it as and when you want. We do get a 15% discount onall purchases over the bar although you can't use it for food.

 

[Dodger]

The 2 clubs I am at have said cards but no levy,you just top the card up with what you wish with one giving you 10% discount and the other 15%.

I would gladly put on £50 as I know I would spend it and I wish both clubs would bring it in as a levy as it would hammer the twats who never ever go in the clubhouse...and there are many!!

On another point 1 of my clubs put the 2's money onto your club card which I think is a great idea as it keeps the money in the club but the other goes on an account in the Pro shop....why I do not know! What has he done to deserve getting money for nothing I ask??

Anyone else have similar thing re the two's money??

 

[Golfmmad]

At my club a bar card is there if you want one and gives 10% off drinks and food. This year as a reward to loyal members a £50 bonus was put on cards provided subs were paid before 1st April - a good incentive I thought.

As for the 2's comp. you have a choice of either bar or Pro-shop. I always choose to have any winnings to be put in the Pro-shop. The Pro at ours is really good, stocks in the shop are always full and up to date and he will always match an internet price, or do you a good deal!

If a Pro is worth his salt then he deserves loyalty IMHO.

Golfmmad.