Do you feel welcome?

[bobmac]

I play a few courses throughout the year and find a great variety to the welcome you get.
What with members car parks only, to no changing in car parks, the stare from the seniors as you walk in the lounge and of course "what's she doing in here" (Jan)
One thing I hadn't seen before was 2 price lists in the bar
Now I know lots of clubs give discount to their members for food and drink, and that's fair enough. The bar person swipes your membership card and the 10% or whatever it is is taken off the bill.
At the golf club concerned, there was a menu and drinks price list with 2 prices, members and non-members.

Does your club advertise the fact that a member pays less for his food and drink than a visitor?

 

[Aztecs27]

Belton Park is guilty of most of the above....But then, you already knew that

My club is fairly relaxed.

 

[USER1999]

We don't advertise different prices, but we do get a discount as members. It reduces the price from extortionate to blimmen expensive.

We don't have a visitors car park (pet hate of mine), but have a huge welcoming sign 'no changing in the car park'.

In the main, I don't think my club is that intimidating. That said, JustOne or HTL would be better qualified to comment. Only thing would be you can't pay a green fee by card. A bit naff if you don't carry cash.

 

[bozza]

Well mine is a muni course so you it's probley one of the more relaxed places around here.

Members do get a 10% discount card for the bar/food.

I think if i went to a course that basiclly had rules and restricions thrust upon you as you arrived in the car park would put me right off the place.

 

[GB72]

None of those things at my club. No signs, no funny looks and same prices for all (and pretty cheap overall) so a good place for visitors.

Glad to have found out about the attitude at Belton Park as I was thinking of moving there. My dad used to be the captain at another local club and always said that the welcome and atmosphere at Belton Park was the best of all the clubs he went to and was encouraging me to move there but this is clearly not the case.

 

[Aztecs27]

None of those things at my club. No signs, no funny looks and same prices for all (and pretty cheap overall) so a good place for visitors.

Glad to have found out about the attitude at Belton Park as I was thinking of moving there. My dad used to be the captain at another local club and always said that the welcome and atmosphere at Belton Park was the best of all the clubs he went to and was encouraging me to move there but this is clearly not the case.

If I'm honest, I'm being a bit harsh.

It's quite "old school" (no hat's in the bar, no changing in the car park etc) but mostly it's full of good people.

The main thing is seniors thinking they run the place, and having a loath for the junior members. My friend, who's been a member for well over twenty years, is now nearly 30 and still doesn't give a sh!t what the other members think of him (most dislike him as he does as he pleases most of the time). He's a bit of a lout, but it's mostly harmless fun to wind up the stuffy members there.

If you're considering it, I would definitely recommend it. The course is incredible and is always in top condition.

 

[bobmac]

My friend, who's been a member for well over twenty years, is now nearly 30

Name please?

 

[Mark_G]

I played at the weekend as a guest at a club where my friend is a member, very nice welcome and friendly atmosphere until we were approached by a member, asking if I had paid, were we members, etc etc. Now this wasn't a friendly enquiry, this was most definately very aggressive, in fact it ruined the day for me, and annoyed my friends. Now I am not going to judge the club on that one gentleman, but I cant help wondering how many other people this chap has spoken to.

 

[Aztecs27]

My friend, who's been a member for well over twenty years, is now nearly 30

Name please?

Nosey git!

Dave Midgeley. You might know his Dad and/or Mum who are also both members.

 

[viscount17]

I've come across all of those, not necessarily at the same place but one or two are trying,

added to these are the really scuzzy visitors changing rooms at some places and the members only bar - same barman but you get 3ft of counter.

 

[DCB]

Mark_G,

You would not believe how many people try to blag their way onto courses without paying

We get then mostly during summer, pull up into the carpark and shoes on then off to the first tee, some neck on them to do that in broad daylight.

 

[colint]

There are some really nice courses in my area, but the attitude at some is pretty bad to be honest. I don't know of any that advertise different prices, but they are less than welcoming to visitors. Some seem to get a kick out of treating visitors badly, almost as if they think it elevates their postition as members of the club that the visitor is so desperate to play.

It's probably not what you'd expect, the best and most prestigious course in the area, Royal Liverpool / Hoylake, is also the most welcoming by an absolute mile. Played there with a mate you'd never been there before, and even though he's an experienced golfer I think he was a bit nervous. The welcome he received, from the starter, shop staff bar staff and even groundstaff gave him as much pleasure as the course I think.

 

[thecraw]

I have to say I think Kingsbarns has got the visitor welcoming thing down to a tee, no pun intended.

Although Algar and I got a fantastic welcome when we went to Machrihanish Dunes in September, the two members of staff at the bothy were brilliant, couldn't have done anything else for you.

 

[clubchamp07]

Aztecs, Why do you feel the need to wear you're hat/cap in-doors?

I know some clubs have silly rules but for goodness sake I cant understand why you want to wear a hat or whatever in the clubhouse.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've been to some places where you are viewed with downright contempt for even daring to be there. You're not made to feel welcome from the minute arrive, during the round you've stumped up for (usually a decent size wedge too) and certainly if you dare to venture into the bar afterwards.

Of course there are places which can't do enoough for you. Hoslworthy in Devon springs to mind. We were down there a few years back on a lads weeked. Went to play and it had been raining all day and was still raining when we got there. Decided to give it a go but the course was pretty unplayable and the greens were flooded so we jacked it after nine. We got in and the pro asked why we'd stopped and offered us a voucher to come back. We explained we were only down for the weekend and left to go and warm up and get some grub. When we got changed and got into the 19th the clubgave us a burger and chips each and the first round on them. Quality.

 

[Aztecs27]

Aztecs, Why do you feel the need to wear you're hat/cap in-doors?

I know some clubs have silly rules but for goodness sake I cant understand why you want to wear a hat or whatever in the clubhouse.

I don't necessarily, but when I've had it on for 18 holes (and I also wear a hat ALOT, as my hair is a bit...er.. "fly away"), I forget that I'm wearing it.

 

[Mark_G]

I don't doubt that happens DCB, and its very sad that it does but if you have a tag on your bag, to prove you have paid, why should someone speak so aggressively to someone on a golf course? I play golf to relax, not to be confronted on the course, if a person came up to me and asked politely, it would not have been a problem. Each member whether they like it or not represents the club, and their behaviour reflects on the club and its members, just as much as signs and price lists.

 

[rickg]

Dave Midgeley. You might know his great great grandad and/or great great grandma who were also both members.

Fixed....

 

[Robobum]

How welcome do you want to be made to feel?? Do you want a cuddle on arrival? Someone to carry your bag? Address you by your nickname?

Half of the time those that moan about an unwelcome club go there with the idea in their head and are actively looking for things that aren't really there.

Never been to any club that I've felt unwelcome at, but then I've been more interested in minding my own business and those I'm with.

 

[Fyldewhite]

To answer the direct question, no, we don't advertise any saving. One price list, members get 15% off with card, end of.

As for feeling welcome, if you walked in to any other business and were confronted with signs everywhere saying NO mobiles, NO jeans, NO trainers, NO ....NO....NO....NO etc etc then I wouldn't feel that welcome there either and probably wouldn't be that tempted to spend upwards of £1000 a year there.