Club Membership Capacity

[Slab]

The 'joining fee' thread got me thinking about membership capacity and whether it varies round the country

I’m not a member anywhere so can’t contribute any numbers but wanted to ask:

• What is the membership capacity of your club?
• Are you currently at that level or below?
• How many golf holes does the club offer?
• Do you know what factors/formula is used to set the capacity level?
• Does your capacity fluctuate?
• Has the capacity changed over generations considering the often quoted increase in pace of play?

Answers to any or all appreciated

 

[backwoodsman]

The 'joining fee' thread got me thinking about membership capacity and whether it varies round the country

I’m not a member anywhere so can’t contribute any numbers but wanted to ask:

• What is the membership capacity of your club?
• Are you currently at that level or below?
• How many golf holes does the club offer?
• Do you know what factors/formula is used to set the capacity level?
• Does your capacity fluctuate?
• Has the capacity changed over generations considering the often quoted increase in pace of play?

Answers to any or all appreciated

Just over 800 playing members.

At capacity in all categories except 5 day members for which we are a few short. (Seems people prefer to wait for 7 day membership rather than join straight up as 5 day)

18 holes

Membership capacity is set out in the club's Articles of Association (which sets out the numbers of permitted members in each category of membership). Can be changed at an AGM or EGM.

Capacity is pretty stable but it was increased by a small amount a couple of years ago - we needed to generate a bit of additional revenue so allowed the 7 day membership to increase by 25 (IIRC)

I doubt we could increase capacity. Weekend comps are always full and we couldn't get more people on to the course. The matchplay knockouts are heavily subscribed and it's already hard to fit in enough rounds into a season. Increasing capacity would mean more members not able to get into comps. And we wouldn't wish to lower capacity as we'd lose revenue. So we're stable.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I wonder if South Winch had a capacity, it was always VERY busy and competitions well subscribed.

Any club at capacity due to busy competitions and packed fairways without a plethora of visitors is a good club to be it and I bet it is pretty well kept.

 

[Rooter]

our place does an "associate" membership, discounted but limited rounds etc.. They have just closed it to new applications as we are close to capacity. Think we have around 75 people on that deal, about 5/600 members in total.

 

[Break90]

I think our capacity is 1400, including 7 day, 5 day, seniors, ladies, juniors. 700 full male 7 day members.

We have a joining fee of 1 years subscription and a waiting list.

We have 36 holes, 2 putting greens plus a chipping green, bunker area, driving range and open pratice area.

Not sure about the formulae, but I know that there has been a waiting list for a long time, so no shortage of new applicants.

Having read a history of the club the membership capacity has grown steadily over the last 100 years as the club has extended from 6 holes originally, to the current 36 holes.

Pace of play generally not a problem, 3.5 hours for a Saturday com medal round (all played in 3balls) is the norm.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure of the numbers but when I was talking with the captain and general manager recently, they were talking about introducing waiting lists as we're close to capacity. We're about to get a large influx from Laleham as well

 

[Foxholer]

A previous Club was originally restricted to 350, but that was a Debenture 'Private' setup that went bust quite quickly. Capacity is still restricted by local Council (to less than 500 I believe) as parking and egress are severely limited.

 

[CliveW]

Total membership is 1750 plus country members as laid down in the Rules and Bye-Laws. Two championship courses plus a nine hole. Current waiting list for full membership 12 -18 months, but was 12 years a while back. Average age of members 74 years.