GB72
Money List Winner
As per an earlier post I have been in contact with a number of clubs over the last few days to get basic information about membership. I was honestly surprised about some of the responses received considering the climate.
A number of clubs were charging joining fees of £1000 to £1500 (some equivalent to a year and a half's membership and some wanted this up front).
The more corporate clubs seemed to spend more time in their responses extolling the virtues of their gym facilities than their golf courses despite my having shown no interest in going to a gym (and have not been in one for many a year)
One club insisted that unless I had a low handicap then I had to be weekday member for 3 years but might be invited to play at the weekend sometimes if I pay a green fee.
All bar 1 club gave no details on the course, the comps, the roll ups or, in fact, anything beside the fees.
If it was not for one response I would have been pretty disappointed with the attitude of most clubs. Then I got a response from St Thomas' Priory in Lichfield. Never heard of them before and will only find out what the course is like when I visit but they were the only club who invited me to visit and try the course. Furthermore, they noted that I was relocating and ensured me that they would make sure there were plenty of playing partners for me if I knew nobody and explained their comps were drawn so as there were further opportunities to meet members.
Maybe the clubs I contacted were not looking for members and were set up for the coming year but I was a little stunned at the lack of interest, the presence of high joining fees and the lack of interest in promoting the club or the course over other gimicks.
May just be me being naive but, excepting the one club who have raced to the top of my list to try, I left the whole experience of trying to find a new club a bit disappointing.
A number of clubs were charging joining fees of £1000 to £1500 (some equivalent to a year and a half's membership and some wanted this up front).
The more corporate clubs seemed to spend more time in their responses extolling the virtues of their gym facilities than their golf courses despite my having shown no interest in going to a gym (and have not been in one for many a year)
One club insisted that unless I had a low handicap then I had to be weekday member for 3 years but might be invited to play at the weekend sometimes if I pay a green fee.
All bar 1 club gave no details on the course, the comps, the roll ups or, in fact, anything beside the fees.
If it was not for one response I would have been pretty disappointed with the attitude of most clubs. Then I got a response from St Thomas' Priory in Lichfield. Never heard of them before and will only find out what the course is like when I visit but they were the only club who invited me to visit and try the course. Furthermore, they noted that I was relocating and ensured me that they would make sure there were plenty of playing partners for me if I knew nobody and explained their comps were drawn so as there were further opportunities to meet members.
Maybe the clubs I contacted were not looking for members and were set up for the coming year but I was a little stunned at the lack of interest, the presence of high joining fees and the lack of interest in promoting the club or the course over other gimicks.
May just be me being naive but, excepting the one club who have raced to the top of my list to try, I left the whole experience of trying to find a new club a bit disappointing.
