clubs lack communication

[golfdub]

I posted a thread a few weeks ago saying how long it takes for clubs to get back to you on membership queries so now I have all my questions answered and submitted my membership application 2 weeks ago and still have heard nothing back so I emailed the club sec and she said she's is waiting to see when the chairman can see me for the interview. Now to me this is bad business as I stated in my membership form that I was hoping to be playing by the end of September and once they have agreed for me to join them it takes another 2-3 weeks until I can play.

Why is it so hard ?

 

[pbrown7582]

Think it depends on the club and there current setup and need to recruit.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Its totally down to each club on how they decide to do business. Members owned clubs take things rather easy. I am into the business model that if you want to pay and get started then I would take the money off you very quickly

 

[garyinderry]

my club in Ireland made it very easy. walk in, pay, start playing as a member.

in England, I had to fill in an on line form. few follow up calls over a week. then I was told on a Tuesday that the interview meeting was arranged for Monday. they wanted me to wait 6 days (including a weekends golf) until I could get it signed and sealed. I insisted I needed it earlier. they managed to fit in the interview the following day. it certainly wasn't as smooth as it should have been.

 

[golfdub]

There seems to be a lot of talk about clubs needing members but they don't seem to do themselves any favours as im now looking around for other clubs

 

[woody69]

You have to be interviewed to join a golf club? What the actual naff is that about?

 

[FN2]

It shouldn't be hard. My joining process was :

Arrive at club one Saturday afternoon;
Speak to the Pro as no one was in the office over the weekend;
Fill in applciation form;
You can play any time you like mate, we'll process the application in the background but it won't stop you playing as if you were a Member;
Application posted on the notice board;
Application approved by the Membership Committee within a couple of weeks;
Arrange a time for the 'interview' with the Captain, which was actually an induction to how things worked;
Pay membership fee;
Now officially a Member.

What's hard about that?

 

[NST]

A mate and I joined local club this time last year when we started playing. We'd paid a greenfee, enjoyed our round and asked about joining. Filled out a form, set up monthly DD and were given our greenfee from that day back too. Couldn't have been easier or more welcoming. As we were new players, the pro chucked in a couple of free lessons too.

 

[mchacker]

Our place seems deliberately awkward compared to some of these, application submitted with 2 members letters of recommendation, on the wall for 3-4wks, once approved by the committee they send out a form to sort out payment of subs, once that's processed they take a couple more weeks to send out a welcome pack at which point you are finally allowed to play golf. And we're meant to be the easy going club in town.

They can't understand why recruiting new members is difficult and on top of the above they stand by a joining fee of approx. 60% of subs and charge extra for lockers that barely take a standard cart bag never mind a tour bag or bag and trolley.

Nice track though...

 

[garyinderry]

You have to be interviewed to join a golf club? What the actual naff is that about?

faffing about really. they explained the history of the club,read the rules of the club plus a mini tour. waste of time!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

faffing about really. they explained the history of the club,read the rules of the club plus a mini tour. waste of time!

If you knew the secret handshake you wouldn't have to done that

 

[Hacker Khan]

You have to be interviewed to join a golf club? What the actual naff is that about?

Etiquette and tradition my son. Don't you know that, in these times of economic hardship and falling participation in the game, people love to have to go through an interview process so they can give money to and support a club in their precious leisure time. I'd expect nothing less.

Why, just the other day I had to give a 5 minute Power Point presentation on why I was suitable have a weekend break at Centre Parcs. As they don't want any old chav there you know

 

[chrisd]

Most clubs who carry out an interview entry procedure are private member clubs. By posting prospective names on the board for 7 days or so, they are giving current members the opportunity to object to new members who they know to be unsatisfactory. We had, a few years back, an application from someone who, it turned out, the cause of a family break up affecting a current member and applied just to be mischievous. It was made known to the committee that by taking him in as a member that the current member would leave and about a dozen others would probably go with him. Research done following this showed that the guy was a real trouble maker and we declined his application. In this case a more deliberate entry criteria paid off.

I hasten to add that this is just one example

 

[Captainron]

Its totally down to each club on how they decide to do business. Members owned clubs take things rather easy. I am into the business model that if you want to pay and get started then I would take the money off you very quickly

Commission based incentives breed poor sales etiquette. You are a bad man and will pay for your sins.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

You have to be interviewed to join a golf club? What the actual naff is that about?

They need to check that you are not an axe murderer out on license or even worse you were thrown out of your last club for cheating.

 

[Crazyface]

They need to check that you are not an axe murderer out on license or even worse you were thrown out of your last club for cheating.

Don't waste your time with 'em. Come to ours. Pay money, start to play. Simple.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Commission based incentives breed poor sales etiquette. You are a bad man and will pay for your sins.

Harsh but fair Good job you never saw me sell cars

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

You have to be interviewed to join a golf club? What the actual naff is that about?

How on earth can one determine whether a chap is a decent sort without being grilled by the Captain, old boy?
I was asked to appear before the Captain after my nomination, supported by three signatures, had been displayed for a month.
I turned up suited and booted, wore my Grammar School tie, gave a crushingly firm handshake and addressed him as Captain at all times.
When joining fees are temporarily suspended to encourage new members one has to take steps to deter any old riff raff from trying to rub shoulders with us decent sorts.
The Captain and I enjoyed a G&T afterward and the next day I shot a decent 145 and submitted my card.
Jolly good form I call it.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I turned up suited and booted, wore my Grammar School tie,

Chav. If you'd have put on your old Etonians tie and wore an ill fitting blazer then you would have been a lot more welcome.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We are a private members club and when I joined I had to be proposed and have a meeting with the captain. That was nearly 8 years ago and these days I think it is as simple as having a meeting with the GM and paying your cash over. That is how it should be. If you really are an undesirable you'll misbehave accordingly at some point and the club will have measures in place to deal with this