First club interview...

[jp5]

Had always been uncertain of suited & booted interviews for a golf club, but went to one at a nice local course that I would have liked to join.

Honestly, the interview was more uptight than any interview I've ever had before. Grilled by the captain and secretary, in their matching club blazers, about every area of my life.

Membership interviews should be a thing of the past, but if they must exist it should be in the form of a chat over a few holes.

Hopefully there are some more forward thinking clubs out there or golf membership is going to fall off a cliff.

 

[Alex1975]

Well said sir, some proper nonsense posted by a few on here.

A couple of Questions.......would you turn down a Sunningdale membership if you had to attend an interview?

If you were membership chairman of your club would you accept a cheque for membership from an early release axe murderer ?

Sorry Richart, missed your earlier post!.

Is it a usual question in a golf club interview "have you killed anyone with an axe?"

My question to you is, how do you know the membership chairman is not a pedo or killer. The point being, who gets to chose who is allowed to be a member?! I am paying, your running a business, do you want my money?!

 

[bluewolf]

Just as an afterthought. A few people have mentioned that clubs need members and that the interview was one reason tha people weren't joining. I find it quite strange that the 2 courses nearest to me that have closed were both "turn up, pay your membership, and play" type courses (Standish Court and Charnock Richard). All the traditional members clubs that require interviews are still running.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Just as an afterthought. A few people have mentioned that clubs need members and that the interview was one reason tha people weren't joining. I find it quite strange that the 2 courses nearest to me that have closed were both "turn up, pay your membership, and play" type courses (Standish Court and Charnock Richard). All the traditional members clubs that require interviews are still running.

But I'm sure there are plenty of examples either way. I know a club with a very nice course that is hemorrhaging members at a vast rate, whacking up membership fees yet still insist on interviews, jacket and ties at dinner etc etc and are essentially living in the 1980s when it was a very popular club and they could get away with such things.

I am sure that the interview process is not the main reason why it is going down the toilet as there are many other reasons, but it contributes to the 'culture' of the club. And it seems patently obvious to me that an easy way to try and stem the tide is to make themselves a bit more 'friendly' if they are to survive.

As I've said before, I think for a lot of clubs it could be easily sorted out by just calling it an induction or 'getting to know you' session. As people are used to those when joining sports clubs, it feels less intimidating and from what people say, that is mostly what they are anyway. Induction sounds more friendly, an interview does not and lets face it, no one likes going for interviews if they can help it.

 

[DCB]

Right, some silly posts have been tidied up and moved to the dark side. Please keep things civil, no petty name calling or aggressive threats please.

Take this as a general warning :angry:

 

[richart]

The point being, who gets to chose who is allowed to be a member?! I am paying, your running a business, do you want my money?!

Crossed wires ? You seem to be talking about Corporate Clubs, where as most of us are talking about members Clubs. We don't have a 'your who runs the business' If my Club was a business it would have gone bust years ago.

 

[bluewolf]

But I'm sure there are plenty of examples either way. I know a course that is hemorrhaging members at a vast rate, whacking up membership fees yet still insist on interviews, jacket and ties at dinner etc etc and are essentially living in the 1980s when it was a very popular club and they could get away with such things.

I am sure that the interview process is not the main reason why it is going down the toilet as there are many other reasons, but it is contributes to the 'culture' of the club.

As I've said before, I think for a lot of clubs it could be easily sorted out by just calling it an induction or 'getting to know you' session. As people are used to those when joining sports clubs, it feels less intimidating and from what people say, that is mostly what they are anyway. Induction sounds more friendly, an interview does not and lets face it, no one likes going for interviews if they can help it.

It would be interesting to see which clubs are shutting. Like I said, the only ones around here are the more casual ones. I really doubt that the interview is any sort of reason for this, but it does appear to show that people are not flocking away from traditional clubs. As long as there is a decent selection of clubs to join then there shouldn't be a problem. I really don't understand people who claim they wouldn't join a club that required a meeting before joining. Strange behaviour.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Crossed wires ? You seem to be talking about Corporate Clubs, where as most of us are talking about members Clubs. We don't have a 'your who runs the business' If my Club was a business it would have gone bust years ago.

Genuine question then, how do members club survive in the long term if they would be bust if they were a business? I take from that that they must be losing money and making a loss every year? So how do they make that sustainable?

 

[Hacker Khan]

It would be interesting to see which clubs are shutting. Like I said, the only ones around here are the more casual ones. I really doubt that the interview is any sort of reason for this, but it does appear to show that people are not flocking away from traditional clubs. As long as there is a decent selection of clubs to join then there shouldn't be a problem. I really don't understand people who claim they wouldn't join a club that required a meeting before joining. Strange behaviour.

To be honest I agree but i think some of the argument has been muddied in the terminology. I'd find it hard to believe anyone would not join if it was called an induction. And I suspect just about everyone would go for an 'interview' if it was a very prestigious club they wanted to join, even an old trott like me would if the club was right.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It would be interesting to see which clubs are shutting. Like I said, the only ones around here are the more casual ones. I really doubt that the interview is any sort of reason for this, but it does appear to show that people are not flocking away from traditional clubs. As long as there is a decent selection of clubs to join then there shouldn't be a problem. I really don't understand people who claim they wouldn't join a club that required a meeting before joining. Strange behaviour.

I think our membership is growing at the moment though we were some 50 bodies down. Anyway - I'm not sure that as 'part owner' of a members club I'm that interested in us having as members any rather self-important folks who think that they and their money are so vital for my club that we should kowtow to them and their every demand of us - be that dispensing with an interview because they don't fancy it or whatever. I'm more than happy that they take themselves and their money elsewhere to be honest.

 

[richart]

Genuine question then, how do members club survive in the long term if they would be bust if they were a business? I take from that that they must be losing money and making a loss every year? So how do they make that sustainable?

We just break even, but carry a debt over from previous years. Club nearly closed 15 years or so ago, so I am led to believe.

Assets would easily pay off debt, so as a business we would have been sold off for housing years ago.

 

[Imurg]

All I can say is re-arrange these words : off, nose, face, your, cutting, to, spite, your.

Ok Rich. I want to know how many times you read that back to yourself to make sure you'd got all the words in....:clap:

My take on this is that a lot depends on the quality of the Club you're joining.
A traditional Club that's been around for years - your Sunningdales, West Hill's etc etc will have tradition running through their veins. And if you're looking to join that sort of Club then wearing a suit to an interview/induction/meetandgreet is going to be 2nd nature to you anyway so it would feel strange to you if others baulk at the idea.
At the other end of the spectrum, some newer clubs won't have that tradition so much and are more relaxed. If you're the sort who would be looking to join that type of club then you might be put off if you had to wear a suit...

I very rarely wear a suit, jacket or tie - Hell, the ones I have got might not even fit anymore - and, to be honest, I'm a little in Hawkeye and Alex's camp in that it would put me off a little if I HAD to wear a suit, feeling that if I didn't the club might deem me to be not worthy of crossing their threshold.
If they want to see me, as i am, to determine my worth then why should it be necessary for more than smart/casual - or put another way...Golf Kit...?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Some clubs do that afterwards

Again what is so offensive about having a chat in a relaxed environment

Nothing, I just don't get the jacket and tie thing and I think being invited to play 9 holes is a much more appropriate method of joining a golf club. I haven't worn a tie for work for the best part of 10 years which includes several interviews with various clients and I wouldn't wear a tie for a golf club "interview".

If these things aren't actually interviews but informal chats, why dress it up (excuse the pun) as an interview with a shirt and tie?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So who here would turn down the chance to join somewhere like Berkshire , Sunningdale , Wentworth , Walton Heath , Woburn etc because you would have to wear a shirt ,tie and jacket to have an informal chat

In fact I'm guessing some would turn down the chance to play Berkshire etc because of the need to wear a jacket and tie for food afterwards ? Or even societies who have a shirt and tie for meal afterwards or club games ?

 

[ger147]

Nothing, I just don't get the jacket and tie thing and I think being invited to play 9 holes is a much more appropriate method of joining a golf club. I haven't worn a tie for work for the best part of 10 years which includes several interviews with various clients and I wouldn't wear a tie for a golf club "interview".

If these things aren't actually interviews but informal chats, why dress it up (excuse the pun) as an interview with a shirt and tie?

That's what seems odd to me i.e. collar tie and jacket or suit and tie is formal but for an informal chat? I thought the idea was to dress appropriately so would informal dress not be more appropriate for an informal chat?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

So who here would turn down the chance to join somewhere like Berkshire , Sunningdale , Wentworth , Walton Heath , Woburn etc because you would have to wear a shirt ,tie and jacket to have an informal chat

In fact I'm guessing some would turn down the chance to play Berkshire etc because of the need to wear a jacket and tie for food afterwards ? Or even societies who have a shirt and tie for meal afterwards or club games ?

I don't move in those circles Phil and the very notion that you think me wearing a tie will change that is quite laughable. If I could ever afford on of the clubs you mention and was turned down for membership because I didn't wear a tie then I probably wouldn't want to join anyway. I'm not defined by a tie.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

That's what seems odd to me i.e. collar tie and jacket or suit and tie is formal but for an informal chat? I thought the idea was to dress appropriately so would informal dress not be more appropriate for an informal chat?

It would :thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I don't move in those circles Phil and the very notion that you think me wearing a tie will change that is quite laughable. If I could ever afford on of the clubs you mention and was turned down for membership because I didn't wear a tie then I probably wouldn't want to join anyway. I'm not defined by a tie.

That sort of avoided the question

Those clubs ask that you wear a jacket and tie to a meeting with people - im guessing you wouldn't bother looking to join ( ignoring cost etc etc ) because they ask that?

 

[upsidedown]

AS it happened I turned up for what I thought was just going to be 18 holes by myself having mention to pro whilst phoning in that we were just back from NZ and looking to join club in the area.
Was introduced to the Chairman and played 18 holes with him FOC and that was my interview, indeed he signed up my wife there and then, although I do suspect my handicap might. have had some bearing on this.

Had I been asked to turn up to an interview wearing a suit, carrying a used Times with a red carnation behind my left ear I would have done so. To turn down the offer to play at a course/club that you've identified as one you would like to join but then couldn't be bothered to " interview " smacks of reverse snobbery to me .

 

[Duckster]

Just as an afterthought. A few people have mentioned that clubs need members and that the interview was one reason tha people weren't joining. I find it quite strange that the 2 courses nearest to me that have closed were both "turn up, pay your membership, and play" type courses (Standish Court and Charnock Richard). All the traditional members clubs that require interviews are still running.

Both propriety business run by, in my humble opinion, idiots. The amount of times I saw John berating the CRGC members who were basically paying his wages and telling them that if they didn't like things then to leave. Which people did, hence it went bankrupt and shut.

Is it free to join with no subs, if so I will interview... if I am paying... and I know I would be, then no, I would not interview.

There are a lot of clubs where you have an interview because you are to become a stakeholder in the club (Fairhaven or Sunningdale being prime examples). These clubs want to know if they deem the person investing, not just paying in and being a customer, will mesh with the other other members.

If you don't want to go for an interview then fair enough but don't then go bleating on about it.