Club officers - would you do it?

[Deleted Member 1156]

By club officers I mean Captain, V Captain, President, competition/handicap secretary or committee member etc etc.

Are you prepared to take on these roles at your club or have you done so in the past?

Or do you prefer not to get involved and leave it to others (then whinge when they don't get it right )

 

[bluewolf]

I don't have time currently (both work full time, 2 kids, 2 dogs etc)... Try not to moan too much also.. Luckily, the club I'm at now seems pretty well run... One of my previous clubs would test the patience of a Saint..........

 

[guest100718]

maybe when i am old..

 

[Alex1975]

100% no interest. I see it making people miserable.

 

[GB72]

If meetings were at weekends or at night then I would be willing to put my name forward to work on the committees. Finances would mean captain or vice captain would be a no. Hear many tales of people having to spend a couple of thousand pounds in their year as captain and I could not justify spending that additional money on golf and golf related activities. Also would involve my wife and I attending functions etc and my wife would in no way go for that. She hates the atmosphere at the golf club.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Been doing it for 4 years now and just about to finish - had enough of the moaners who are happy to complain about everything but not willing to stand up and do something

You can never please everyone and the ones you can't please are the ones with the loudest voice

 

[Deleted member 1147]

As a younger member I would not be likely to be voted into any significant role, but I have talked about helping out in the finance committee if ever needed. But again, there are plenty of older, more experienced accountants at the club who are already involved.

 

[fundy]

100% no interest. I see it making people miserable.

i dont know what you mean lol

Am currently treasurer, was happy to help out a friend (in his year as captain) when needed and will stay on until the new locker room project is done next year and that will be my lot I think. Have turned down the vice captaincy (and thus captaincy) the last 2 years, maybe later in life but not yet thats for sure

 

[BTatHome]

Already a committee member, takes up very little time (evening meetings after work) and enjoy it ... at least you have information to calm some of the moaners.

 

[DCB]

Looked after our Juniors for three years as Junior Convener. Also had a spell on the greens sub-committee. It takes time and effort, but it is a rewarding time overall. Different jobs on the committee have different input requirements, so, ask the question before you say yes.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I did it for 2-3 years, can't remember which now. I was happy to take on any moaners head on. Pretty much all were full of hot air and backed down when they realised you were not going to roll over. I made sure that I understood why decisions were made and was happy to explain any decision even if I did not always agree with it. As long as there was logic behind it that was okay. The problems I found occurred when people would not explain decisions so members came to their own, wrong, conclusions. Be clear and honest and members accepted the decisions.

I have a fond memory of one drunk and bullying member trying to embarrass me once but he ended up looking a fool as I invited him to sit down, in front of others, and answered every question one by one. He really just wanted to rant and was very disappointed to have a proper conversation. It was like watching a balloon with the air slowly being released.

I was on the committee during a particularly turbulant time and whilst it was a challenge I also found it very interesting. I would do it again, the right role as some you can only do when retired in reality.

Those who permanently moaned I told to join the committee or shut up, politely of course . That was a mightily effective back up option to those who just wanted to hear their own voices.

 

[BoadieBroadus]

i would serve on the committee, but have to confess that i'm not really a gee everyone up, friend to all, captainy type of person....

i have a lot of respect to all those who take it on though, i hear it is expensive, incredibly time consuming and generally a thankless role

 

[Alex1975]

I did it for 2-3 years, can't remember which now. I was happy to take on any moaners head on. Pretty much all were full of hot air and backed down when they realised you were not going to roll over. I made sure that I understood why decisions were made and was happy to explain any decision even if I did not always agree with it. As long as there was logic behind it that was okay. The problems I found occurred when people would not explain decisions so members came to their own, wrong, conclusions. Be clear and honest and members accepted the decisions.

I have a fond memory of one drunk and bullying member trying to embarrass me once but he ended up looking a fool as I invited him to sit down, in front of others, and answered every question one by one. He really just wanted to rant and was very disappointed to have a proper conversation. It was like watching a balloon with the air slowly being released.

I was on the committee during a particularly turbulant time and whilst it was a challenge I also found it very interesting. I would do it again, the right role as some you can only do when retired in reality.

Those who permanently moaned I told to join the committee or shut up, politely of course . That was a mightily effective back up option to those who just wanted to hear their own voices.

This was not a good roll for you.... The way you tell it you like the power way more than making the paying members happy. Your job was to work for them not get at them.

 

[JohnnyDee]

Did it during 2014 & 15 as Vice and then Captain at ours.

There was quite a lot to do and I did think about it before accepting.

There were some downs but many ups too and on balance I'm glad that I did it. The ups outweighed the downs by a long way

Now I see it as having given me the right to be "Chief Moaner" for the next 20 years 😀

 

[DCB]

This was not a good roll for you.... The way you tell it you like the power way more than making the paying members happy. Your job was to work for them not get at them.

As a committee member you're still one of the paying members... you're doing it because you want to help and for the good of the club as a whole. If that means bursting someones hot air balloon so be it.

 

[Alex1975]

As a committee member you're still one of the paying members... you're doing it because you want to help and for the good of the club as a whole. If that means bursting someones hot air balloon so be it.

Nope, I don't agree. Why is it you think bursting peoples hot air balloon is part of the job? If you did it in business you would go bust. Be nice about it, be respectful and helpful or don't do the job.

I think part of the problem is getting the right people to do these jobs. All too often its the people who are a little too desperate to do it for their own ends.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

This was not a good roll for you.... The way you tell it you like the power way more than making the paying members happy. Your job was to work for them not get at them.

You are misunderstanding what I am saying. In golf clubs there are people who just like to complain and whinge without putting back. They thrive on this. I decided I would engage with these people so instead of avoiding them or letting them take charge I would talk to them. If they complained about an issue I would explain what the committee were doing, what the plan was. If their complaint was justified and we were doing nothing then I would tell them I would raise it at the next meeting and report back. By engaging with the moaners you often bring them onside, they become sympathetic. I made a lot of friends in my time with members that many disliked purely because I took time to listen and more importantly answer them.

The drunk was someone who was particularly disliked but after the talk we had, no I don't regret deflating a bully, he always made an effort with me afterwards to be helpful and polite. He started to ask constructive questions rather than mouth off in the bar. He became a better member after that.

I did work for the members, I worked bloomin hard, but I was not prepared to just accept grief from those who were not prepared to put in, only to take.

 

[Imurg]

Did 2 years on the Committee at my last club.
Quite enjoyed it.
Was being lined up for the VC spot but declined as I didn't have enough time to basically give myself to the club for a year or two.
Probably wouldn't want to do it now...done my time

 

[Sweep]

I have worked on committees for a number of years now, including Captain. I enjoy it and it's great to put something back. I accept its not for everyone but I would recommend anyone interested to give it a go. There are inevitable downsides as with anything, but it's rewarding when you see your club go from strength to strength. Sadly these days people have such busy lives and most don't want to get involved and I do wonder what would (will) happen when no one wants to volunteer anymore.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

I think the answer to this would be no and probably no in the future as well. Many reasons mostly down to me, rather than 'the golf clubs'.

I have heard of some of the problems/issues that they experience via a guy who I sometimes play golf with and who is involved(I know he has been captain and handicap sec at least), and I take my hat off to anyone who helps out