Facing Reality

[HomerJSimpson]

Following a recent thread on joining fees, Royal Ascot are holding a membership day on Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 24th to encourage new members. In addition they have now decided to half the joining fee to £600 and new members now have the option to defer that payment and pay half up front and the remainder with their subs for next year.

The idea of holding a day for prospective members to come along and see the club, the course (you get to play) and the clubhouse is a good idea and the idea with the joining fee is pretty radical and refreshing.

I'll be going up to help out. If anyone on here is interested in joining Royal Ascot and fancies a game on one of the days (or another time) let me know either on here or PM me directly.

Are there any other clubs out there that are facing up to the fact that memberships are dwindling and a need to balance the books and of so what other things are being implemented.

 

[AliB]

sounds like a great initiative. Hope it goes well- sadly couldn't quite make the commute!

AliB

 

[rgs]

A lot of clubs are facing the same problems over here. Some are closing, others are reducing or dopping their entrance fee.

Personally i think 2010 could be worse, as disposable income earned in 2009 will be far less than 2008 due to changes in taxation policy especially over here.
I see you guys in the UK have a budget on Wednesday, hope your chancellor makes a better fist of it than our idiot.

 

[Herbie]

I think ascot has taken a bold but probably a great initiative and deserve the success from it. Down that part of the world 600 isnt a huge figure at all.

 

[Macster]

Good idea, hope it works.

I know a lot of Clubs are struggling for numbers, but my own doesnt seem affected at all currently, - the joining fee is still equivalent to 1yrs Subs, altho they have spread it over a couple of years I believe.

 

[haplesshacker]

I don't know if the golf clubs around Berkshire and Surrey are suffering more than most? You only need to look at Google Earth and realize just how many golf courses are there. I suspect that they might all be quite epensive (£1k plus). Tooo much choice, and every club has probably got a fight on its hands for the next couple of years.

Good to see some realism happening at RA though.

 

[Dodger]

Are you happy with the fact it is now a £600 joining fee when presumably you paid £1200 Homer?

 

[CrapHacker]

I think it was Eastbourne Downs I drove past the other day that had a banner outside claiming no signing on fee at the moment.

Given that it is right on top of the downs at Beachy Head, and possibly the windiest place within a couple of hundred miles and often covered with mist, I can't see how they're struggling to get members

For those of you that like a 'true' test of golf, it's propably the batgain of the year. But me, I'm a big softie and like to be able to play without needing waterproofs on for 10 months of the year.

 

[bobmac]

I'm with you hacker. Give me a balmy evening round Mount Juliet any day

 

[dangermouse]

I don't think there has ever been a better time to be a nomad, or consider joining your first club.

I'm not aware of any club within 15 miles of my house (and there must be over 20) who charge a joining fee anymore - and virtually all will offer a courtesy round free of charge for any prospective new members.

There was a recent report on sky sports stating that golf membership was down significantly, but participation weas actually up, with many more casual players who play as visitors/society members etc - it is this market that golf clubs now need to attract to survive, and hopefully convert some such players into members.

Good move by Ascot in my opinion - at the very least this initiative will introduce more casual players to the course - visitors may end up joining, or returning as a fee-paying visitor, or coming back with a society. At the most basic level, it should ensure that bar takings are up on those days due to the increased number of players if nothing else!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

My club is reducing green fees this year to the 1999 prices as it's the 10 year anniversary of increasing it from 9 to 18 holes.

We hold an annual open day for prospective members.

Also in the winter months, when we are open most days and local "rivals" aren't, we offer special winter memberships. Apparently quite a few people who took up the winter membership went on tp join for the summer aswell.

 

[mono217]

I would love to be a member of your course homer but its living in liverpool that is the problem if I lived near obviosly I would love to be a member

 

[Andy]

Gourock has done this the last 2 years.

Not sure if the uptake was any good or not though.

Andy

 

[GB72]

Weirdly on my way home from work tonight I saw that Melton Golf club are doing a similar thing this weekend, free group lessons for begginers and juniors and 9 free holes with a member for the more experienced. A great idea to get people up to the club and interested.