Extending staggered fees for young adults

[mikepops]

All I would say to the OP is that I would seriously consider whether £145 difference is really enough to make the difference between staying and going. That ain't going to buy a lot off nappies at today's prices....

Tell me about it.

Obviously everyone is different, but to me it would probably allow me to stay.

 

[mikepops]

What about the person who has a child @ 30, and whose partner is off work? Are they better deserving of a discount? What about the person whose children go off to Uni, and they're helping with funding? Are they better deserving? what about the person who gets made redundant? Are they better deserving? And yes there are those just starting out, just as there are those who only have a state pension... and then there's the person who who buys heir first house at 28, then moves at 35 and then again at 45, and on each occasion takes out a mortgage.

Who deserves the discount?

It was just a thought - I know you could apply this to a load of different personal situations, but my point was that in my experience this seems a fairly common life event.

Some golf clubs do offer redundancy protection though.

 

[mikepops]

A valid question for the OP to air but in my opinion that any discounts should end when you finish school/college/uni up to 24 yo max.

I also don't agree with over 60/65's getting a discount either

That's all I was doing

 

[DanFST]

It's £12.50 a month, you are 30. Is this a serious thread?

 

[williamalex1]

:thup:


I don't think I have ever agreed more with any other post.:thup:

Me too, :thup:

But if you become a mature student, some clubs do offer them reduced fees and no joining fee , so I've been told .

 

[backwoodsman]

To the OP, no I don't think clubs should, or need, to extend discounted rates to wider age groups. To encourage or retain membership they should look at flexible payment plans, and flexible membership plans. But you should pay according to what you get, not according to your age or circumstances.

After all, you wouldn't expect to get a discount on a car or a meal just because you are younger or have more kids than someone else. You may not be able have the same dinner as me, but may still be able to dine in the same restaurant - just eat a different meal.

 

[Hobbit]

I think flexible memberships very well might be the answer, and if my club offered it, I'd bite their hand off for it. However they don't, but they do offer staggered membership, which is why I raised the point.

That said flexible memberships are most likely to be taken out by the demographic I'm highlighting - 30-40 year olds with families. From what I hear most flexible members aren't likely to end up paying anywhere near a full subs fee, so would actually end up costing the club more than just extending a staggered fee structure.

The main reason clubs extend a staggered fee structure, or even have one in the first place, rather than go for flexible membership schemes is budgeting. If you have 20 people paying a reduced fee of £500, the club knows it will receive £10,000. If it has 20 people paying £150, and then £10 each time they play, the club doesn't know how much it will receive over and above the £3000.

Although once a scheme has been running for several years its reasonably easy to accurately forecast it. But its those first few years that are difficult to predict.

The De Vere's of this world can run a scheme like this because they have other facilities that cushion any shortfall in course takings, e.g. hotels, spa's and crazy pricing on drinks and food. Private members clubs struggle with budgeting with flexible memberships, hence why they go down the route of age related reductions.

I think earlier in the thread someone mentions what causes some of the resentment with the full fee paying members. You'll see the 25 yr old arrive in a nice car, dressed in all to new gear and with sparkling new clubs that he changes relatively often. And he'll talk about the great nights out he has with his mates, and the 2 weeks he's had in Spain and the golf holiday he's booking in Portugal.... and then he says he can't afford the extra £250(?) to pay full subs.

 

[Bobirdie]

As i am 29 i am in my last year of discounted subs. Mine only goes up £100 next year which is good. I wish i could be a member of my last club however thats nearly £300 dearer. Tbh i could afford it but i couldnt justify it. Bit too far to travel for me .

I think the cut off should be 25. It is hard when folk have kids like myself, but when is it easy.

some places charging £1000 for fees is expensive imo. Once clubs go above the £700 mark up here they start pricing themselves out of range for the average punter.

 

[Bobirdie]

The main reason clubs extend a staggered fee structure, or even have one in the first place, rather than go for flexible membership schemes is budgeting. If you have 20 people paying a reduced fee of £500, the club knows it will receive £10,000. If it has 20 people paying £150, and then £10 each time they play, the club doesn't know how much it will receive over and above the £3000.

Although once a scheme has been running for several years its reasonably easy to accurately forecast it. But its those first few years that are difficult to predict.

The De Vere's of this world can run a scheme like this because they have other facilities that cushion any shortfall in course takings, e.g. hotels, spa's and crazy pricing on drinks and food. Private members clubs struggle with budgeting with flexible memberships, hence why they go down the route of age related reductions.

I think earlier in the thread someone mentions what causes some of the resentment with the full fee paying members. You'll see the 25 yr old arrive in a nice car, dressed in all to new gear and with sparkling new clubs that he changes relatively often. And he'll talk about the great nights out he has with his mates, and the 2 weeks he's had in Spain and the golf holiday he's booking in Portugal.... and then he says he can't afford the extra £250(?) to pay full subs.

Hit the nail on the head in the last paragraph

 

[Farneyman]

This thread actually shows how golf has changed over the years. In the good old days, you chose the club you were going to join, you paid your joining fee and first years subs and then, unless you moved away with work, you paid your annual subs until they carried you out in a box.

Nowadays people don't even seem to be able to commit to a club for a whole season (recent thread on here) they are changing clubs after a couple of years or are always looking for the perfect course with a club membership that is acceptable to them. All very well, but it's a game we play. Join a club, get involved, support it, help it grow, have your voice heard and do what you can to help the club move in the right direction. Don't come on here bleating about joining fees, young adult rates, senior rates, winter greens, winter tees, greenkeepers, handicap secretarys etc. There is no such thing as a perfect club, if you think you've found it, don't join it, you'll just spoil it.

It's a game to be played with friends, get into a club and get involved, that's going to come at a price, but, if you really love the game, that's what needs to be done.

Friday Rant over

That's a cracking post DCB :thup: