D
And so it'll continue
rickg
Money List Winner
We've had loads of disgruntled BrocketHallers playing at ours over the last few days, expect quite a few will join.
JohnnyDee
Tour Winner
I was one of two nominated playing members at Brocket Hall as part of our corporate membership back in the early noughties.
This story is sickening and speaks volumes about how greed and corporatisation is so much more important than doing the decent thing for people who have already invested a lot of money.
This story is sickening and speaks volumes about how greed and corporatisation is so much more important than doing the decent thing for people who have already invested a lot of money.
chrisd
Major Champion
I'd love for the golfing authorities to refuse to recognise their affiliation to Golf England, CONGU etc unless they were seen to treat their members fairly! It'll not happen but how do I wish!
G
guest100718
Guest
If you're going to stump up for a lifetime membership then you'd best make sure it's bullet proof!
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I remember my younger brother being sucked into a deal at Dale Hill. Offered 10 years membership for a one off £5k payment.
Stupidly stumped up, and 10 months later the place was sold.
He lost his money.
Stupidly stumped up, and 10 months later the place was sold.
He lost his money.
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
we have had the same from Wentworth
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
The 20 lucky people who did so at Bearwood made the best investment of their lives - it was something around 13k in 1994 and we have changed ownership a few years ago and no issue. At the time it was something like 15x subs - so a brave move but a very good one. These lucky people have had 20 years of great golf for 13k and should be OK for many more
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Same with the guys at Woburn and Wisley and no doubt Queenswood as well.
Just need to make the right judgement.
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
Wentworth members win right to stay without 100k debenture. No doubt a 2-tier membership will be developed as they still want debentures!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12198053/Golfers-declare-victory-in-Battle-of-Wentworth.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12198053/Golfers-declare-victory-in-Battle-of-Wentworth.html
Problem is that at the same time as many low cost municipal and p&p courses are being closed down, we have people like Donald Trump and the Chinese who want to develop very exclusive golf and country clubs for the mega-rich, and to fill their corporate pockets. This hardly makes golf seem like an inclusive sport that almost anybody can afford to play!
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
That's good news for those members but think it's prob a temporary stay of execution
Three
Tour Rookie
Always seems to be a bit of a risk paying for a supposedly indefinite membership. I guess if the sellers don't pass on the money to the buyers, why should the buyers continue the memberships?
PS, how did the article get past the editor??
PS, how did the article get past the editor??
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Problem is that at the same time as many low cost municipal and p&p courses are being closed down, we have people like Donald Trump and the Chinese who want to develop very exclusive golf and country clubs for the mega-rich, and to fill their corporate pockets. This hardly makes golf seem like an inclusive sport that almost anybody can afford to play!
How many municipal have actually been closed recently due to anything beyond being a poor course and lack of people playing it -one ?
Golf had a boom a good two decades ago and lots of courses had membership lists with waiting lists. So people built poor quality P & P courses to take advantage of that. When the boom subsided people then looked to play the better courses and those poor quality courses suffered.
Wherever someone lives there will be a golf course somewhere nearby that someone can use to play - I don't live in a thriving golf area but there is a good 10-20 maybe more within a 30 min driving area.
Places like Wentworth are in the very much minority and not a sign of things to come
Blue Mountain in Bracknell (perfectly nice course) has already gone and Beckenham is on its way. Also Ruisilp and Uxbridge are under threat from the building of HS2. In the South-East of England there is big pressure from our Government to build housing, and golf courses are much more valuable as building development land. Typically Local Councils are deliberately running down their municipal courses to drive golfers away, and then closing them, quoting insufficient use as justification. There are probably a few backhanders from developers to speed this process up!
I started playing golf as a teenager and couldn't have possibly afforded to join a private member's club at the time, but there was a pay and pay course not too far away where I cut my teeth. What are young potential golfers supposed to do these days?
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
So one course that's actually closed then - with all your doom and gloom it's actually just one course
And I'm guessing you have things to back up statements that local councils are "deliberately" running down golf courses to justify closing them ? - can you name a few that has happened too.
There are plenty opportunities for young potential golfers to play golf - many clubs have schemes , golf in school , lots of youth group lessons and plenty affordable tee times to be had on the Internet.
Believe reality is far from your doom and gloom
While I don't play at municipal courses very often these days, when I do they seem rather more run down than they did a few years ago. They are maintained by the very minimum number of parks department staff.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
So you don't play them very often yet are run down ? Any particular courses ?
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
isn't your course members only and no visitors Del?
