Club Staff having free golf?

[Arthur Wedge]

Hope you got the PAX free especially if it was for courses if they charged you they stitched you up as part on any course JI is free travel,

Try an A400M from the Arctic circle with a broken tail lift. Bloody freezing ! The Herc though its weird seatbelt system on a journey that long must've been fun

Yes any travel for work was via the PAX without charge

Any journey on a herc required a hammock and a sleeping bag

There were also numerous vehicles to sleep in

Best was a 8 week old Merc from Cyprus which a Rodney was sending back home , lovely to sleep in

 

[D-S]

All this just goes to show something that I have mentioned on here in the past. Every golf club and their members seems to believe that the way they operate is absolutely the norm and that any other club which does things differently in any aspect are weird or some sort of anomaly.

I deal with a lot of golf clubs some with odd procedures, ways of working, policies in terms of comps, access, employment etc. however they believe they are normal.

This is the case in this thread, particularly one poster who seems to believe that his club is in step but every other is out of step - this is rarely the case.

 

[The Squirrel]

And the staff do get benefits I just don’t beleive that should be free golf or discounted membership

You do realise that without this you would likely need to pay higher salaries to recruit/retain and therefore you would be worse off.

Staff do get perks



Giving staff cheap membership to play golf would never get through any AGM

Only if your voter base is financially clueless or has no experience or concept of running a business (or has not had advice from those that have). I could get it through an AGM with 90% support….

If it was presented as “we can either pay X to attract/retain staff to our required staffing level, OR we can pay Y (lower) but offer this package of free golf. The second option costs significantly less over the year so each of your membership fees WILL be lower next year and every year going forward if we do that”.

Good luck with any counter argument to that once lower fees is the carrot dangled . Could follow it up with all the other problem spotting, sales, ambassador and hospitality benefits etc already mentioned.

It really is a no brainer. If some staff don’t use it much or aren’t interested then I don’t understand that issue - it’s then costing literally nothing.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

All this just goes to show something that I have mentioned on here in the past. Every golf club and their members seems to believe that the way they operate is absolutely the norm and that any other club which does things differently in any aspect are weird or some sort of anomaly.

I deal with a lot of golf clubs some with odd procedures, ways of working, policies in terms of comps, access, employment etc. however they believe they are normal.

This is the case in this thread, particularly one poster who seems to believe that his club is in step but every other is out of step - this is rarely the case.

no - this poster has an opinion about the way our golf club works and operates , others can work how they see fit

There is no “step” or blanket model for our a golf club works

Every one has their own way of working , if we had issues at the club then we would look at what’s causing those issues

We work in a way that works best for us and for its members and staff

 

[Arthur Wedge]

You do realise that without this you would likely need to pay higher salaries to recruit/retain and therefore you would be worse off.

You do realise that without this you would likely need to pay higher salaries to recruit/retain and therefore you would be worse off.


Only if your voter base is financially clueless or has no experience or concept of running a business (or has not had advice from those that have). I could get it through an AGM with 90% support….

If it was presented as “we can either pay X to attract/retain staff to our required staffing level, OR we can pay Y (lower) but offer this package of free golf. The second option costs significantly less over the year so each of your membership fees WILL be lower next year and every year going forward if we do that”.

Good luck with any counter argument to that once lower fees is the carrot dangled . Could follow it up with all the other problem spotting, sales, ambassador and hospitality benefits etc already mentioned.

It really is a no brainer. If some staff don’t use it much or aren’t interested then I don’t understand that issue - it’s then costing literally nothing.

Only if your voter base is financially clueless or has no experience or concept of running a business (or has not had advice from those that have). I could get it through an AGM with 90% support….

If it was presented as “we can either pay X to attract/retain staff to our required staffing level, OR we can pay Y (lower) but offer this package of free golf. The second option costs significantly less over the year so each of your membership fees WILL be lower next year and every year going forward if we do that”.

Good luck with any counter argument to that once lower fees is the carrot dangled . Could follow it up with all the other problem spotting, sales, ambassador and hospitality benefits etc already mentioned.

It really is a no brainer. If some staff don’t use it much or aren’t interested then I don’t understand that issue - it’s then costing literally nothing.

Are we talking membership or playing golf at the course

There are two different things

As a member you pay your fees and joining fee to then have a part in the club and voting rights as well as playing golf , functions and bar etc

If giving free or reduced membership - do the have to pay joining fee ? Voting rights ? And all the other benefits that come with being a member ? We also have limits on the number of members at the club


A number of our staff are members as they joined the club in the same way we all did - those are the ones that play golf

We have no issues with retaining Green staff beyond people wanting to advance their career

If they wanted cheap golf then there is multiple ways they can get a round at the club if they want

And they all have the ability to take advantage of the reduced rates in the bar and catering

 

[D-S]

no - this poster has an opinion about the way our golf club works and operates , others can work how they see fit ,

There is no “step” or blanket model for our a golf club works

Every one has their own way of working , if we had issues at the club then we would look at what’s causing those issues

We work in a way that works best for us and for its members and staff

I never said that these different policies or procedures aren't right for any particular golf club with its own members, circumstances and traditions. However it is good to realise that not all clubs are the same and that what one club and its members believe is the norm for all clubs is not necessarily the case.

This sort of definitive view is not shared by all clubs

"Shouldn’t be given any type of club membership unless they pay for it
As for access to course Pro etc can use the course for lessons or any pro challenges but don’t expect staff to be given free golf but can play at members guest rates"
"Honorary and Life members are normally for people that have been members for a significant period of time
Don’t know many members clubs where staff get free membership
Any staff member at the club that wants to be a member pays the going rate"

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I never said that these different policies or procedures aren't right for any particular golf club with its own members, circumstances and traditions. However it is good to realise that not all clubs are the same and that what one club and its members believe is the norm for all clubs is not necessarily the case.

This sort of definitive view is not shared by all clubs

"Shouldn’t be given any type of club membership unless they pay for it
As for access to course Pro etc can use the course for lessons or any pro challenges but don’t expect staff to be given free golf but can play at members guest rates"
"Honorary and Life members are normally for people that have been members for a significant period of time
Don’t know many members clubs where staff get free membership
Any staff member at the club that wants to be a member pays the going rate"

And I don’t know many members clubs where staff get free membership

Not sure many will know how other members clubs operate - most will operate differently to the next and most opinion will be based on how their club works

 

[upsidedown]

And I don’t know many members clubs where staff get free membership

Not sure many will know how other members clubs operate - most will operate differently to the next and most opinion will be based on how their club works

I think by the replies now , you are now aware that there are

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I think by the replies now , you are now aware that there are

Most certainly the whole idea of these threads etc and these discussions

And also wouldn’t even suggest that other clubs are wrong for what way they work

 

[Slab]

Not sure there should be comparisons between billion pound companies that make huge profits every year to a little golf club that is hugely dependant on income to try and break even as well as bringing in funds to help improve the club

We have asked for levy’s over the years to help pay for projects so given memberships away cheap takes out funds

well I did say "insert any business" so if its the local gym instead of sky, then a staff perk of free access to facilities/equipment for staff would (I think) be quite normal

Aren't all businesses hugely dependant on income?

You might be seeing these freebies/perks only as lost revenue to a club rather than any of the benefits

 

[apj0524]

Our captains don’t pay for the year they are captain. Do you think this is right or not?

Yes, ours spends more during the year

 

[Arthur Wedge]

well I did say "insert any business" so if its the local gym instead of sky, then a staff perk of free access to facilities/equipment for staff would (I think) be quite normal

Aren't all businesses hugely dependant on income?

You might be seeing these freebies/perks only as lost revenue to a club rather than any of the benefits

And our staff can use the facilities - they get discounts

 

[GreiginFife]

well I did say "insert any business" so if its the local gym instead of sky, then a staff perk of free access to facilities/equipment for staff would (I think) be quite normal

Aren't all businesses hugely dependant on income?

You might be seeing these freebies/perks only as lost revenue to a club rather than any of the benefits

Mostly relative too. I think when we worked at sky there were a total of about 25,000 employees and about a further 10,000 support staff (engineers etc) plus the non SSSL staff getting about £1000 of “perks” each. Bit bigger than a few hundred members and a £1500 membership.

 

[SocketRocket]

Why would anyone have a problem with staff being allowed to play the course as part of their terms of employment?

 

[Hobbit]

Most certainly the whole idea of these threads etc and these discussions

And also wouldn’t even suggest that other clubs are wrong for what way they work

Just a hypothetical look at finances & business models…

Let’s assume the benchmark salary for greens staff was £30,000, and a club needed 6 staff = £180,000.
Add in steward & assistant steward @ £70,000

A total of £250,000 as a benchmark cost…

If you offered a slightly lower salary, say £1,000 off each of them but offered free golf you’d save £8,000 at virtually zero cost to the club. If a committee man came to me and said we can save £8,000 by giving free golf to 8 staff members my answer would be, “crack on.”

That’s a very simple look at it.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Just a hypothetical look at finances & business models…

Let’s assume the benchmark salary for greens staff was £30,000, and a club needed 6 staff = £180,000.
Add in steward & assistant steward @ £70,000

A total of £250,000 as a benchmark cost…

If you offered a slightly lower salary, say £1,000 off each of them but offered free golf you’d save £8,000 at virtually zero cost to the club. If a committee man came to me and said we can save £8,000 by giving free golf to 8 staff members my answer would be, “crack on.”

That’s a very simple look at it.

Giving someone the ability to play the course without paying a fee I don’t think there is an issue ,most courses have the free space out of core hours

Free membership imo is a different ball game , membership at some clubs comes with a lot more than just golf and includes joining fees etc etc

At our place the Green staff all fish , with the head GK the only one who really plays , one of the bar staff but he was a member before , the rest no interest

All our staff get a social membership which comes with benefits etc

 

[SteveJay]

Why would anyone have a problem with staff being allowed to play the course as part of their terms of employment?

My wife has recently started working behind the bar and in the catering department at my club. Apparently she can now play golf on the course (but wouldn't be a member).......only problem is she doesn't play golf

I think a couple of our green keepers play golf, but I have never seen either of them play the course. no issue whatsoever though if they did, for all the positive reasons mentioned earlier in this thread.

 

[Swango1980]

I know our green staff and pros get free membership. Several of the green staff play regularly, including in comps.

I've no issue with it. Never heard anyone else have an issue with it. But I'm sure their are rare circumstances of a member who likes the odd moan and grumble. I'm sure they are just ignored, rightly

Our club is one of the higher reputation ones in county I would say, so I doubt it is rare to offer staff members free membership

 

[Pin-seeker]

no - this poster has an opinion about the way our golf club works and operates , others can work how they see fit

There is no “step” or blanket model for our a golf club works

Every one has their own way of working , if we had issues at the club then we would look at what’s causing those issues

We work in a way that works best for us and for its members and staff

are you the voice of the club you’re a member of?
Or are you just a member?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Yes, ours spends more during the year

Think most of the captains bursary is gone after the first main captains drive in lunch

I’m never sure why when there is captains functions those invited don’t pay for their own meal