FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Prompted by the other thread about golf club sustainability, I was wondering what those amongst us who were juniors did after leaving junior membership.....
For former junior golfers
- Thread starter FairwayDodger
- Start date
jimbob.someroo
Journeyman Pro
I went to university, and it wasn't feasible to keep a membership at my old club as I wouldn't have got the value for money (would have probably been in the region of £500-600 per year).
When I started playing again I joined a club that had intermediate membership, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to justify starting up again (especially down here where average subs are £1500).
Was out of the game though from the age of 18-22 and would have gladly kept membership if it was affordable.
I've not ticked any of the options though as I haven't yet been a 'full member' of anywhere.
When I started playing again I joined a club that had intermediate membership, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to justify starting up again (especially down here where average subs are £1500).
Was out of the game though from the age of 18-22 and would have gladly kept membership if it was affordable.
I've not ticked any of the options though as I haven't yet been a 'full member' of anywhere.
IanG
Tour Rookie
Junior member from about 15-19 then, went to Uni , stopped being a member anywhere for the next 15 years, then joined a club where I stayed for 5 years before discovering the joys of being the mountains each weekend. 15 years later I moved house and joined my current club.
Fostering a good Junior section is good for the health of the sport, but the benefit will almost certainly accrue to a different club in the longer term.
PS as perhaps a contrast I've always been a keen badminton player and have ALWAYS joined a badminton club wherever I was living, be it Germany, Switzerland, the US, or Surrey. It was always just so easy - find where they played, go along and pay some modest amount of cash. People were welcoming and happy to have new blood - even if they knew you were only staying for 3 months. Pay and play almost.
Fostering a good Junior section is good for the health of the sport, but the benefit will almost certainly accrue to a different club in the longer term.
PS as perhaps a contrast I've always been a keen badminton player and have ALWAYS joined a badminton club wherever I was living, be it Germany, Switzerland, the US, or Surrey. It was always just so easy - find where they played, go along and pay some modest amount of cash. People were welcoming and happy to have new blood - even if they knew you were only staying for 3 months. Pay and play almost.
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Mastercracker
Assistant Pro
Started at 11, left at 15, in part due to the usual temptations around that age but mainly down to becoming disillusioned with my old clubs stuffiness and poor attitude towards juniors.
Only now (at 29) have I rejoined a club. I'd have liked to have joined somewhere throughout my 20's but only now with a settled home life combined with decent job have I been able to afford it.
Only now (at 29) have I rejoined a club. I'd have liked to have joined somewhere throughout my 20's but only now with a settled home life combined with decent job have I been able to afford it.
Jimaroid
Journeyman Pro
Loved golf as a teenager, went to university and couldn't afford to play anywhere nearby. Ended up not touching a club again for 15 years due to lack of time, money and being put off by a snobby golf club. Moved to Fife and it was impossible to avoid the draw of wanting to play again.
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
I was junior member at one club from 12 to 16 but then moved clubs. At 18 I went to university, but was put onto a university membership (i think was half the intermediate cost) which enabled me to keep my membership whilst at Uni. Membership was then suspended when I dislocated my knee and couldnt play for over a year. When I came back I returned as an intermediate member at the same club until we moved out of the area for work
Not sure that fits into your categories at all
Not sure that fits into your categories at all
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Straight into membership with the club. Didn't cross my mind to go elsewhere as all my mates were there
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
I was junior member at one club from 12 to 16 but then moved clubs. At 18 I went to university, but was put onto a university membership (i think was half the intermediate cost) which enabled me to keep my membership whilst at Uni. Membership was then suspended when I dislocated my knee and couldnt play for over a year. When I came back I returned as an intermediate member at the same club until we moved out of the area for work
Not sure that fits into your categories at all
lol, was trying to keep them fairly simple. Sounds like you were straight into full membership albeit on a cheap deal?
after being a Jnr discovered Girls, pubs, frequent night outs, snooker, gambling and other activities.......was playing everyday till then and h/cap was tumbling, even shooting under par frequently........
"I coulda been a contender....I coulda been somebody......"
"I coulda been a contender....I coulda been somebody......"
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
Theres always an awkward one lol
What I think would be a very interesting question is how many who were members as a junior are a member at the same club after say 30yrs old
Jake O'Reilly
GM Staff
Similar story to a few of those above for me. I was a full junior member until I went to uni, where I was in no man's land for three years, and then joined a new club where my first job was as an intermediate member.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
I have never understood why clubs do not work in tandem with local Universities and Colleges.
I know a few do but they seem to be top end Clubs and Uni's.
By offering special rates to members of Uni and College golf team/societies and encouraging off peak use of their courses [and bar] the 'left home' golfers would probably stop them from being lost to golf.
I know a few do but they seem to be top end Clubs and Uni's.
By offering special rates to members of Uni and College golf team/societies and encouraging off peak use of their courses [and bar] the 'left home' golfers would probably stop them from being lost to golf.
mcbroon
Journeyman Pro
I stayed at the same club but hardly played as, like others, I discovered the Friday night lights when I was at uni.
Gave up membership at 23 when I moved away and only took it up again when I was 34. And then I went and had 2 kids, so I'm playing as much now as I did at uni
Gave up membership at 23 when I moved away and only took it up again when I was 34. And then I went and had 2 kids, so I'm playing as much now as I did at uni
Went to Uni, and played fairly irregularly for a few years. Then played muni golf for a few years, but not in comps. Then returned to the game proper about 1985.
But I'm now one of the old selfish fuddy duddies that wears brown, drinks halves and smells of wee - my opinion doesn't count.
But I'm now one of the old selfish fuddy duddies that wears brown, drinks halves and smells of wee - my opinion doesn't count.
cookelad
Tour Winner
Couldn't be bothered with Uni/studying so just kept the same membership from the age of 12 right up until 2'n'half years ago when I moved to London! (Technically I had memberships at Sandiway and Crewe alongside but Aldersey was always 'my' golf course)
m10johnson
Head Pro
Not really an option here for me, but at 22 I pay an intermediate rate that is a little more than juniors as there is a big gulf in the ages at our club.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
To be fair, I was no scholar and so uni was never going to be a distraction. It was the beers and women that did for me
GMAC88
Head Pro
No joining fee for me, so joined as a full member after 3 years as a juvenile (18-21 ) but a big jump to full fees which only lasted a year and they brought in a tiered system.
