Extending staggered fees for young adults

[mikepops]

I've just turned 30, and therefore am in my final year of reduced priced subs at my club, and come April 1 I will have to stump up over £1100 (which is an increase of £145 from this year).

By then I will have a two month old baby, and will have to think hard about my renewal, and I imagine I will leave.

People are having children later - out of 8 couples in our antenatal classes ,7 were aged between 28-32, and it got me thinking as to whether staggered fee structures are cut off too early.

I think everyone agrees that they are a good idea - it gets young adults into the membership mindset (even if they end up spending their later years somewhere else), and as long as most clubs implement it, most will get the benefits at some point. However, nearly all cut off at 30 years old at the latest, which seems to me to be prime time for people starting families.

Would it be a good idea to stretch these schemes to 35 (or later?!)? Do you know of any clubs that have flexibility? (This is linked to splashtryagain's thread about flexibility: http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?73386-Am-I-being-unrealistic)

Could clubs offer a formal "new parent" category of membership? I know time remains stretched, but from what I hear, after a year or two, new parents are able to get back into the game in some capacity.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

My club is exactly that....up to 35 before you pay full fees. Except the fee jumps from £600 to around £1250.

 

[brendy]

Considering golf is a luxury, I think reduced fees for 20 and 30 somethings is a bit of a laugh. Would you expect cheaper bus fares, reduced bills in Tescos etc? If golf clubs cannot maintain membership with regular fees there is something wrong with their financial model. Being 31 and childless or 31 with 5 kids would still get the same discount then? means testing wouldnt even get a second thought in the vast majority of clubs neither.

 

[CMAC]

I've just turned 30, and therefore am in my final year of reduced priced subs at my club, and come April 1 I will have to stump up over £1100 (which is an increase of £145 from this year).

By then I will have a two month old baby, and will have to think hard about my renewal, and I imagine I will leave.

People are having children later - out of 8 couples in our antenatal classes ,7 were aged between 28-32, and it got me thinking as to whether staggered fee structures are cut off too early.

I think everyone agrees that they are a good idea - it gets young adults into the membership mindset (even if they end up spending their later years somewhere else), and as long as most clubs implement it, most will get the benefits at some point. However, nearly all cut off at 30 years old at the latest, which seems to me to be prime time for people starting families.

Would it be a good idea to stretch these schemes to 35 (or later?!)? Do you know of any clubs that have flexibility? (This is linked to splashtryagain's thread about flexibility: http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?73386-Am-I-being-unrealistic)

Could clubs offer a formal "new parent" category of membership? I know time remains stretched, but from what I hear, after a year or two, new parents are able to get back into the game in some capacity.

where does it end though? a "just bought a new expensive car" category? or going to Florida for 4 weeks category? or even "I spent it on the gee gees" category

You know the fees and you budget accordingly or play elsewhere. Why should a club reduce their fees because you made a lifestyle choice?

I'm not arguing against you, I'm just stating a pragmatic view committees might have.

Parents def are having children later in life, I waited waaaaaaaaaay past 40 before committing.

 

[Essex_Stu]

I've been paying full membership fees since I started playing when I was 25. Now 29 and with two young children it does make justifying nearly 1k a year hard. Luckily the wife wants me to have a hobby so has no issues with me playing and spending the money.

I think only two clubs in this area offer young person memberships. I think that's why we have a lack of 20 somethings in the club as it's just too expensive. I think there are only 3 people in their 20's at my club!

 

[Andy]

Dont dip yer pen in the inkwell if you cant afford your golf.

 

[patricks148]

Considering golf is a luxury, I think reduced fees for 20 and 30 somethings is a bit of a laugh. Would you expect cheaper bus fares, reduced bills in Tescos etc? If golf clubs cannot maintain membership with regular fees there is something wrong with their financial model. Being 31 and childless or 31 with 5 kids would still get the same discount then? means testing wouldnt even get a second thought in the vast majority of clubs neither.

agree, why should you pay less than, just because you made a life style choice?

 

[Grantley1988]

I'm 26. Started playing at 24 with a colt membership.

Its 500 a year and will jump to 1400 when I turn 30.

I will still carry on playing and will not have a problem paying full whack at the club.

It's great that we get a discount as they are trying to get more people playing but I see it as a luxury that I get cheaper golf as I'm under 30

Im an adult at the end of the day. Paying bills like the rest of the adults there. I feel a little cheeky that it's so much cheaper.

Just my thought on this matter. I won't complain though means I have a little extra money to waste money on clubs!!

 

[DCB]

I remember having to think about priorities after getting married and then starting a family. I had to decide what would go in order to keep the golf membership alive. Stopped going to the football on a regular basis and then when I found I didn't really miss it, I stopped altogether. We managed to keep the golf memberships going, mine and my wifes membership. Money was just as tight back twenty five years ago. No sour grapes on my part over reduced fees and age categories. It's a model needed to keep the game alive now, but, when it comes time to move into a full fee, just remember, you've had a really good deal for quite a while.

 

[brendy]

I remember having to think about priorities after getting married and then starting a family. I had to decide what would go in order to keep the golf membership alive. Stopped going to the football on a regular basis and then when I found I didn't really miss it, I stopped altogether. We managed to keep the golf memberships going, mine and my wifes membership. Money was just as tight back twenty five years ago. No sour grapes on my part over reduced fees and age categories. It's a model needed to keep the game alive now, but, when it comes time to move into a full fee, just remember, you've had a really good deal for quite a while.

Very true Dave, the other alternative is to join a cheaper club...

I have stayed where I am as I dont smoke, dont drink much really and have given up racing cars round tracks and playing mid week footy. Its impressive how much you can save when you really want to.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I'm all in favour of reduced membership fees for juniors when they become full members and for a few years. (That hike was what stopped me playing for many years). But it has to stop somewhere and 30 seems pretty generous on the part of your club.

 

[mikepops]

All very valid points - I'm just thinking aloud to be honest.

It's not any sense of expectation - I'm simply saying that I'm probably not going to renew my subs at £1100, and wondering whether, if I ran my golf club, would I be thinking of ways to try and keep me at my club? I wasn't arguing for personal gain - I was suggesting that I'm not the only one that is in my position, and given that clubs seem to be ok with having staggered fees, perhaps they just need to look at whether or not they are implementing such schemes appropriately.

I don't have any other hobbies, I simply don't earn enough to be able to afford full subs, when I'm going to have to support our family on a reduced income for the next year. Once my wife goes back to work, then I might be able to rethink things (which is why I suggested it was a relatively short term tactic).

I'm well aware I've had a good deal up till now - but I couldn't have afforded to join a club without that flexibility. Such schemes have done the job they were designed to do, but there is a risk that I will now leave golf membership for a while.

I'm not suggesting clubs should offer half price golf till 35, but by extending that staggered scheme you could just make it affordable and keep people at the club. If I leave my club for a year or two, the chances of me feeling the need to go back are slim, and I might take my business elsewhere once I feel able to play again.

I'm lucky enough to work in golf, so I'll still get to play to a certain extent - I'm thinking about it more from the view of other members and the club. I'm suggesting that for a discount of £100-£200 I might well stay at the club. If I leave, that money comes from somewhere else.

I'm hearing a lot of golf club managers saying they are struggling with member retention (not recruitment), so I was just floating some ideas.

 

[fundy]

All very valid points - I'm just thinking aloud to be honest.

It's not any sense of expectation - I'm simply saying that I'm probably not going to renew my subs at £1100, and wondering whether, if I ran my golf club, would I be thinking of ways to try and keep me at my club? I wasn't arguing for personal gain - I was suggesting that I'm not the only one that is in my position, and given that clubs seem to be ok with having staggered fees, perhaps they just need to look at whether or not they are implementing such schemes appropriately.

I don't have any other hobbies, I simply don't earn enough to be able to afford full subs, when I'm going to have to support our family on a reduced income for the next year. Once my wife goes back to work, then I might be able to rethink things (which is why I suggested it was a relatively short term tactic).

I'm well aware I've had a good deal up till now - but I couldn't have afforded to join a club without that flexibility. Such schemes have done the job they were designed to do, but there is a risk that I will now leave golf membership for a while.

I'm not suggesting clubs should offer half price golf till 35, but by extending that staggered scheme you could just make it affordable and keep people at the club. If I leave my club for a year or two, the chances of me feeling the need to go back are slim, and I might take my business elsewhere once I feel able to play again.

I'm lucky enough to work in golf, so I'll still get to play to a certain extent - I'm thinking about it more from the view of other members and the club. I'm suggesting that for a discount of £100-£200 I might well stay at the club. If I leave, that money comes from somewhere else.

I'm hearing a lot of golf club managers saying they are struggling with member retention (not recruitment), so I was just floating some ideas.

If they were to extend it to 35 and then you get to 35 and have had another kid and money is getting a little tight again are you going to ask them to extend it to 40?

 

[Canary_Yellow]

My club offers reduced rates up to 35.

I'm very grateful for that, although I don't really need the reduced rate. My wife and I don't have children and we both have decent jobs so have a reasonable disposable income, certainly more than a lady or gent over 35 with only one income in the household and a couple of kids.

It is difficult to justify the cost of a membership in modern family life - golf should try and find a way to accomodate this to retain the current members about to undergo such a lifestyle change and also to hopefully get their kids in as members of the future. I'm not sure how this can be achieved, but it's clear that being a member of a golf club needs to become more flexible in line with modern day life.

 

[Jimaroid]

"Extended staggered fees for young adults"

I'm sorry but at aged 18 you're a young adult. At 30 you've been a fully grown man for at least 9 years. Man up!

 

[mikepops]

If they were to extend it to 35 and then you get to 35 and have had another kid and money is getting a little tight again are you going to ask them to extend it to 40?

Just thinking aloud Fundy, and that's a perfectly reasonable extrapolation from my post. However, my point was more that in my experience reaching 30 and having a child seems common, and this seems to be a bit of a crunch point for golf membership.

I'm perfectly content with not being a member of a golf club for a year or two. As has been mentioned - having children is a lifestyle choice, and I have happily decided that that having a child is more important to me than paying over £1000 to play golf.

I'm thinking from the point of view of the club and other members. My question was simply that given that clubs are already acknowledging that retaining membership in young adults is a priority, which they have addressed by implementing staggered fees, do they just need to have a look and see whether or not they've got the model quite right?

Golf membership is in steady decline, which impacts existing members through increased subs. Clubs need to continue to innovate - I was simply wondering if this is another option to help stem the tide, please don't take it that I'm ungrateful or feel I should be a special case. I'd be asking the question of the industry even if I didn't play golf.

 

[mikepops]

"Extended staggered fees for young adults"

I'm sorry but at aged 18 you're a young adult. At 30 you've been a fully grown man for at least 9 years. Man up!

Perfectly happy to man up, but I'll be doing it somewhere else other than at my golf club

 

[Val]

Dont dip yer pen in the inkwell if you cant afford your golf.

You have a way with words Andy

 

[IanG]

We recently extended our staggered fees upper age limit from 22 to 25. I think that is enough.
I suspect the wealthiest group at our club are the over 65 set who also get a discount!

 

[mikepops]

It is difficult to justify the cost of a membership in modern family life - golf should try and find a way to accomodate this to retain the current members about to undergo such a lifestyle change and also to hopefully get their kids in as members of the future. I'm not sure how this can be achieved, but it's clear that being a member of a golf club needs to become more flexible in line with modern day life.

Exactly my thinking, and the point about retaining members who could get their kids involved is a very good one. It might feel a way off, but I'm just wondering whether by offering a £150 discount now, you could lock in a member for 5 years, by which time you could have a fledging junior member on your hands.