Bust

[User 99]

You're continually blaming the club, if it's a members club then it's the members who are at fault.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Ok I see. Your statement in isolation was meaningless.
Your right that clubs need members. I'd say spending over 1500 a year on fees is far from spending nothing

A club needs more than just the yearly subscription to survive and indeed move forward, societies , use of the bar and catering ( if in house ) , entry into comps - all needed to put money into the coffers for further spending on the course. It’s a never ending circle.

 

[Jacko_G]

Sorry clubs have only themselves to blame. If older clubs had made an effort to shake of their restrictive nature and modernise they may not have found them selves in such a crisis.

Huge generalisation.

 

[ExRabbit]

Fishwick Hall Golf Club gone bust too...

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/preston-golf-club-members-devastated-at-its-closure-1-9460371

 

[IanM]

The game lives in the past. I and my golfing friends have no desire to sit in the club house for an hour before or after a game . That's just life, potters bar didn't close because of no one using the bar.

Possibly .... old blokes at my club talk with fondness of the days where theyd arrive for a full fry-up, play, then spend rest of the day at the club drinking!

Well, it's no like that anymore (for most!) BUT , do your game arrive, play then all get in their cars and go? Crikey, ok, some weeks some of our lot might do that if they have somewhere to be, but in general, we go in for one or two and mostly have lunch.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

do your game arrive, play then all get in their cars and go? Crikey, ok

Have to admit to being like that alot, as there is normally something else to be done at home after or before golf or sometimes because we play when the clubhouse is closed.

 

[Jacko_G]

I'm of the opinion that if you can't stay you can't stay. Plain and simple. Some people on here seem to get their Y-fronts in a twist if you don't go into the clubhouse and buy a drink or a roll or lunch etc. Sometimes life is too busy,you never know what other people are facing or going through.

Could be childcare, home, health, other pressures that people need to get home for.

Personally if you pay your fees you are supporting the club is the way I view it.

 

[Wolf]

I'm of the opinion that if you can't stay you can't stay. Plain and simple. Some people on here seem to get their Y-fronts in a twist if you don't go into the clubhouse and buy a drink or a roll or lunch etc. Sometimes life is too busy,you never know what other people are facing or going through.

Could be childcare, home, health, other pressures that people need to get home for.

Personally if you pay your fees you are supporting the club is the way I view it.

Exactly my view on it to, get fed up hearing people complain others don't support the club because every time they're there they don't buy a pint or 2, a meal or sit and spend hours in clubhouse. I don't drink with the exception for a penchant for a Guiness and that's very rare maybe once every couple of months unless I'm in Ireland!

At best I may manage a post round coffee but I have young kids and a Mrs that deserves a break as much as I do so getting home after 4 hrs to myself sometimes is quite important to get time with them. The golf club and putting a couple quid behind the bar isn't my priority once I've finished my round. I'll try to spend maybe up to 30mins post round if I can there out of courtesy but more often than not ill advise my playing partners of my need to leave and they'll understand.

 

[Grant85]

Exactly my view on it to, get fed up hearing people complain others don't support the club because every time they're there they don't buy a pint or 2, a meal or sit and spend hours in clubhouse. I don't drink with the exception for a penchant for a Guiness and that's very rare maybe once every couple of months unless I'm in Ireland!

At best I may manage a post round coffee but I have young kids and a Mrs that deserves a break as much as I do so getting home after 4 hrs to myself sometimes is quite important to get time with them. The golf club and putting a couple quid behind the bar isn't my priority once I've finished my round. I'll try to spend maybe up to 30mins post round if I can there out of courtesy but more often than not ill advise my playing partners of my need to leave and they'll understand.

Obviously people do often have somewhere to be after golf and no one is saying people should spend 7 hours at the golf club every day.

However, I think if everyone bought at least a coffee or a drink after every round - it would make a massive difference to a lot of clubs.

Also - with regards to food - as I've said before - everyone has to eat. Ok, so you might not have a big lunch at a restaurant every day, but is £2.50 for a bacon roll a big issue?

Even if you were just going to have a toastie or a sandwich in the house, it still costs you something for the ingredients, so the relative cost to support your club is minimal.

 

[Wolf]

Obviously people do often have somewhere to be after golf and no one is saying people should spend 7 hours at the golf club every day.

However, I think if everyone bought at least a coffee or a drink after every round - it would make a massive difference to a lot of clubs.

Also - with regards to food - as I've said before - everyone has to eat. Ok, so you might not have a big lunch at a restaurant every day, but is £2.50 for a bacon roll a big issue?

Even if you were just going to have a toastie or a sandwich in the house, it still costs you something for the ingredients, so the relative cost to support your club is minimal.

I totally get your point and yes everyone does have to eat but I can do that just as easily at home with my kids and spend time with them whilst doing it instead of waiting at bar to order, then waiting for it to turn up etc. In some places where things can get busy that could be 45mins to an hour by time you finish eating and leave then have to drive home. In most instances I'd rather have that hour doing things with my family, but as I've said on occasions I will try spend some tine afterward with my playing partners and that's not to support the club but to be social and civil to those I've just spent 4hrs with on course.

I'm not against spending money or people wishing to but I am against being made to feel like I wouldn't be supporting the club if I don't buy said toastie every week, because as I mentioned there are other more important factors in my personal life. As I get older and kids grow more revenue will go to the club through them having junior memberships, then as they get older I can spend less time with them as they go off to uni and spend more time socialising at the club. My frustration is people using their own circumstance or the argument I should support the club more to judge others for not using all the facilities all the time. We all have different priorities in life and that's what should be respected.

You say not advocating spending 7hrs there but as an example I turn up 30mins before tee time, spend 4 hours on the course and then say 30mins after that's 5hrs to myself away from my parental responsibility, factor in driving to the course that could be around 6hrs, now if I stop everytime to do my bit and support the club as you say I'd be teetering the 7hr mark, if I did that every week then personally I see that as unfair on my family and my partner as she is equally entitled to some down time. So for me if paying my subs,. Playing weekly and using all the facilities infrequently but as and when I can there should be no issue or people moaning I'm not supporting the club as they're not living my life and may have different priorities. That's entirely there choice and I commend them on that as I'd love to be able to do it but currently cannot.

I'm not trying be argumentative or put myself above anyone just merely responding to the points mentioned as it so often is when people say those that don't frequently buy more in club are singled out without actually knowing them or their reasons.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Possibly .... old blokes at my club talk with fondness of the days where theyd arrive for a full fry-up, play, then spend rest of the day at the club drinking!

Well, it's no like that anymore (for most!) BUT , do your game arrive, play then all get in their cars and go? Crikey, ok, some weeks some of our lot might do that if they have somewhere to be, but in general, we go in for one or two and mostly have lunch.

Yes misty eyed old boys.

I recall talking to one of those at the Troon municipal courses.
He went on and on about how much busier and better it was in the old days.
'We used to get the train out of Glasgow, get a full breakfast and a couple of pints and then decide which course to play' there are three.

I wound him back about the 'decide which course to play' and mentioned that every single tee time on the three courses up to 2pm [it was winter]had been booked up by 10am the previous week.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There is never a right answer when it comes to car park golfers - there are many people who don’t have the time for the after game drinks etc so they will leave the club once finished - those guys still put in the money to the club and they shouldn’t be looked down on. But clubs do need members to put money over the bars , pro shops etc to help them provide the required service on and off the course.

If no one supported the bar then the bar would shut - not the course

Until my daughter came along I used to go to the bar after the game and be around for anywhere up to an hour but these days especially on a Saturday I have to leave straight away - I don’t like to but that’s the way life is these days

 

[Grant85]

I totally get your point and yes everyone does have to eat but I can do that just as easily at home with my kids and spend time with them whilst doing it instead of waiting at bar to order, then waiting for it to turn up etc. In some places where things can get busy that could be 45mins to an hour by time you finish eating and leave then have to drive home. In most instances I'd rather have that hour doing things with my family, but as I've said on occasions I will try spend some tine afterward with my playing partners and that's not to support the club but to be social and civil to those I've just spent 4hrs with on course.

I'm not against spending money or people wishing to but I am against being made to feel like I wouldn't be supporting the club if I don't buy said toastie every week, because as I mentioned there are other more important factors in my personal life. As I get older and kids grow more revenue will go to the club through them having junior memberships, then as they get older I can spend less time with them as they go off to uni and spend more time socialising at the club. My frustration is people using their own circumstance or the argument I should support the club more to judge others for not using all the facilities all the time. We all have different priorities in life and that's what should be respected.

You say not advocating spending 7hrs there but as an example I turn up 30mins before tee time, spend 4 hours on the course and then say 30mins after that's 5hrs to myself away from my parental responsibility, factor in driving to the course that could be around 6hrs, now if I stop everytime to do my bit and support the club as you say I'd be teetering the 7hr mark, if I did that every week then personally I see that as unfair on my family and my partner as she is equally entitled to some down time. So for me if paying my subs,. Playing weekly and using all the facilities infrequently but as and when I can there should be no issue or people moaning I'm not supporting the club as they're not living my life and may have different priorities. That's entirely there choice and I commend them on that as I'd love to be able to do it but currently cannot.

I'm not trying be argumentative or put myself above anyone just merely responding to the points mentioned as it so often is when people say those that don't frequently buy more in club are singled out without actually knowing them or their reasons.

I completely get that and as a golfer with young kids as well, it is a big time commitment.

I won't be playing every Saturday, but when I do I will be dividing my time and either will be trying to play morning or afternoon so that I can have some kind of activity with the kids.

And certainly you sound far from the car park golfer who never sets foot in the clubhouse, but like I said, I think the number of guys who never so much as buy a coffee or a soft drink is alarmingly high at a lot of places.

 

[Jacko_G]

Obviously people do often have somewhere to be after golf and no one is saying people should spend 7 hours at the golf club every day.

However, I think if everyone bought at least a coffee or a drink after every round - it would make a massive difference to a lot of clubs.

Also - with regards to food - as I've said before - everyone has to eat. Ok, so you might not have a big lunch at a restaurant every day, but is £2.50 for a bacon roll a big issue?

Even if you were just going to have a toastie or a sandwich in the house, it still costs you something for the ingredients, so the relative cost to support your club is minimal.

Why though?

What right does a GC have to "expect" loyalty and your money after you have paid your fees?

Just say for example that I or another member is living on a budget and the weekly shopping budget includes my "toastie" or roll and bacon ingredients. Therefore having budgeted for this why must a member find extra to support the club which they are already supporting?

That may seem extreme but it can also be reality for some.

 

[Wolf]

I completely get that and as a golfer with young kids as well, it is a big time commitment.

I won't be playing every Saturday, but when I do I will be dividing my time and either will be trying to play morning or afternoon so that I can have some kind of activity with the kids.

And certainly you sound far from the car park golfer who never sets foot in the clubhouse, but like I said, I think the number of guys who never so much as buy a coffee or a soft drink is alarmingly high at a lot of places.

I certainly try not to be a car park golfer but there are probably more times than not I have to be at the moment.

One thing I've always thought clubs should do more of is have evening events that incorporate socialising and encourage people to bring families along, that would generate revenue and stop people like myself always having to be elsewhere. I remember my first club where I was a junior regularly had things like quiz nights, racing nights, new years eve parties etc families could go along enjoy the evening and the place was full with people they'd make a fortune, ironically that they only did these whilst raising funds for new clubhouse. Once that was built it all Stopped and my dad still a member there says how dead and devoid of atmosphere the place is now they do nothing and keep wondering why revenue dropped. Its like many places I've been to in past and more recently where I'm searching for a new club as we relocate on wednesday. So many are not doing any social functions because "they're a golf club and golf is what matters and people should buy drinks afterwards"

Well I've done a bit of shopping around and made a decision on where I'll be playing, it's 10mins from our new home has an upcoming course only 20years ish old and has a huge social calendar with regular quiz nights, family functions and decent facilities. Ironically it's also cheaper than the other options which are equally as close by but believe golfers should spend money and the rest doesn't come into it, yet when I've been to them the place is devoid of soul and atmosphere, yet they are probably better courses one in fact is highly ranked in UK but doesnt offer anything socially for my family.

Clubs need to think of things to do to encourage use of facilities not just relying on people thinking they have to support the club..

 

[Grant85]

Why though?

What right does a GC have to "expect" loyalty and your money after you have paid your fees?

Just say for example that I or another member is living on a budget and the weekly shopping budget includes my "toastie" or roll and bacon ingredients. Therefore having budgeted for this why must a member find extra to support the club which they are already supporting?

That may seem extreme but it can also be reality for some.

Well ultimately Golf Clubs are run not for profit. The membership fees are only one area of revenue for them. For a lot of clubs, bar / food / mars bar revenue will be trivial - but every little helps.

Appreciate if your home course is Dundonald, it probably is a bit more 'commericial' than a traditional member owned club.

Like I said, I'm not saying spend all day in the club drinking and buying 2 course lunches for your whole family - but supporting a member owned golf club should benefit the club / the course / other members etc.

 

[robinthehood]

Some of the club's I've been looking at want you to join on a temporary basis while you collect enough signatures to become a full member. Others want circa 2k joining fees.
Then there are proposers, seconders, interviews...
For a game in decline and clubs struggling for members I think they could do more to be a bit more welcoming

 

[funkycoldmedina]

I'm of the opinion that if you can't stay you can't stay. Plain and simple. Some people on here seem to get their Y-fronts in a twist if you don't go into the clubhouse and buy a drink or a roll or lunch etc. Sometimes life is too busy,you never know what other people are facing or going through.

Could be childcare, home, health, other pressures that people need to get home for.

Personally if you pay your fees you are supporting the club is the way I view it.

This pretty much says my thoughts on the subject. At my previous club I was a single man who always stayed for a drink and supported club nights. Now I'm a dad of 2 kids of 6 and under and I get one round at the weekend, teeing off at 7.30, finished by 10.30 and home by 11am.
Golf has to find a way for the time poor golfer to be able to play because we will be the members who in the future will make more use of good facilities.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Some of the club's I've been looking at want you to join on a temporary basis while you collect enough signatures to become a full member. Others want circa 2k joining fees.
Then there are proposers, seconders, interviews...
For a game in decline and clubs struggling for members I think they could do more to be a bit more welcoming

Can i ask what clubs you are looking at in the Herts area ?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Some of the club's I've been looking at want you to join on a temporary basis while you collect enough signatures to become a full member. Others want circa 2k joining fees.
Then there are proposers, seconders, interviews...
For a game in decline and clubs struggling for members I think they could do more to be a bit more welcoming

Maybe the Clubs in question are not "struggling" for members .

As I have said re: joining fees not all clubs are desperate for additional numbers.