frustrated since rejoining club

[barb]

Hi guys
I'll apologise in advance for my rant.
I rejoined my old club with my husband because we found we were really missing going out for a game on an evening and weekend.
Since we rejoined there has been a change of hands in the club house and they have lowered their green fees to £15 to promote cash flow but have raised their prices in the clubhouse.

what I am finding really frustrating is we cannot seem to get on the course to play as it's all booked up by pay and play or societies.
Hubby and I delibrately booked tee times both days this weekend very early 7.16 just to get 18 in. Tonight I have had a phone call from a committee member to say we can no longer have those tee times because a society had booked in and taken all of the tee times (on both front and back 9) till lunch then the course is booked solid until late afternoon (this is due to club staff not realising) . I asked if we could go out before the society and have been told no.

Tomorrow I am going to go and see the club owner as this is now a regular occurance and as a former ladies captain of the club I feel this is most unfair to the members and it's destroying club morale.

wish me luck

Has anyone else experienced this?

Again sorry for the rant.

 

[bobmac]

Go get em girl

 

[GB72]

The course nearest to me has similar problems, tee times all booked up by societies and pay and players and that has 2 courses. Losing members by the dozen as a result I believe.

Go give them hell

 

[RGDave]

Hubby and I delibrately booked tee times both days this weekend very early 7.16 just to get 18 in. Tonight I have had a phone call from a committee member to say we can no longer have those tee times because a society had booked in and taken all of the tee times (on both front and back 9) till lunch then the course is booked solid until late afternoon (this is due to club staff not realising) . I asked if we could go out before the society and have been told no.

Shoddy.....unacceptable. If my club did this, there'd be a full-scale walk out.
Societies/visitors taking preference over members on a weekend morning....I don't think so....
And to be "booked in" and moved is taking the absolute small green round vegetables.

Stand firm....hit 'em between the eyes with the reality....more of this and there won't be any members left within a year.

Never heared of this anywhere

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My advice would be to see what they say and then threaten to go public in the press etc and see if the threat of so much negative publicity and the impact of potentially driving members away makes any difference

 

[callawayjon]

Had a similar problem earlier this year, but from the 'other side'! Two friends and I booked to play at a popular and well known course reasonably local to us and duely turned up at the appointed time. We found hoards of players waiting at the tee and although we got off on time, it was not an enjoyable round as we found we were constantly rushing to keep ahead of the group behind on a course that was, frankly, overbooked! Pay and play-ers were mixed with members and it was not a great feeling on the course! I'm afraid it's all about money at the end of the day as far as the owners are concerned!

 

[Golfmmad]

No need to apologise for the rant at all.
What an absolute disgrace and unacceptable. Good luck when you confront the owner - maybe he doesn't realise!
You may be better off demanding your money back and joining elsewhere.

Pay 'n players can be a nuisance at times. Played a friendly round today and after 3 holes caught up with a 5 ball! They did let us (3ball) through. Forgot to mention it when I got back in, but I'm sure one of the members would have said something.

Golfmmad.

 

[simplyme]

The course nearest to me has similar problems, tee times all booked up by societies and pay and players and that has 2 courses. Losing members by the dozen as a result I believe.

Go give them hell

My old club by chance/ (Greetham?)

Give them hell Barb, that is a poor show on the clubs behalf!

 

[Imurg]

Makes you wonder what the point of being a member is? If you don't get privileges then you may as well become a pay-and-player!

Give 'em Hell!!

 

[stevek1969]

Thats bang out of order at my club visitors are not allowed out before 9.30 it used to be 10.30 ,we are noticing that visitors seem to have more control of times than members these days ,this week they cancelled the wednesday sweep because a big party was booked in. The managing secretary tried to give excuses but nobody was buying it its sadly now becoming a trend where they want visitors money.
Ps give them stick

 

[AliB]

Since we rejoined there has been a change of hands in the club house and they have lowered their green fees to £15 to promote cash flow but have raised their prices in the clubhouse.

Is the club in new owership? If so they may have deliberately decided to rake in the shekels from pay and play rather than membership. that's how ours works - members have no real privleges at all and aren't even allowed to book tees for competitions. Membership is more just like a season ticket for playing.
But even if that's the case with you, the management will have to realise the membership will walk. Best of luck with tackling them and hope it goes your way.
(I have decided not to rejoin this year so looking to move September time).

AliB

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Whilst clubs need to generate extra income during these trying times they still have a responsibility to the members.

The fact that societies are allowed block booking of tees on a weekend until lunchtime is disgraceful, if that had happened at our club there would be a lynch mob waiting in the car park!

Best thing you could do would be to meet the owner, express your dissatiafaction then vote with your feet!

 

[barb]

Well heres the update guys,
I spoke to the club owner and voiced all of my concerns and unhappy reasons since rejoining. He was disgusted at the fact that I was told I was unable to play my tee time due to an error in a society booking, result I am now playing at 7am.
He said he would take on board my comments, yeah right!!!! re: the lack of etiquitte on the course etc but as he was running a business there was nothing he could do

I advised him that as of the end of the month I would be tendering my resignation and as a business it would not survive without a membership.

I have looked at a couple of other clubs in the area so will spend the next couple of weeks trying them out. 1 that I like the look of is Brailes golf club http://www.brailesgolfclub.co.uk/cms/
and it's only a 15 min drive away.

Thanks for the comments guys and will let you know which club we decide on.

 

[GB72]

The course nearest to me has similar problems, tee times all booked up by societies and pay and players and that has 2 courses. Losing members by the dozen as a result I believe.

Go give them hell

My old club by chance/ (Greetham?)

Give them hell Barb, that is a poor show on the clubs behalf!

How did you guess. When were you a member there and where are you now?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Well Barb at least you tried. It seems all the guy can see is £ signs although for how much longer without the reserve of membership fees is open to conjecture. I hope your new home will be more to your liking.

 

[viscount17]

The course nearest to me has similar problems, tee times all booked up by societies and pay and players and that has 2 courses. Losing members by the dozen as a result I believe.

Go give them hell

My old club by chance/ (Greetham?)

Give them hell Barb, that is a poor show on the clubs behalf!

How did you guess. When were you a member there and where are you now?

ooops! going there Tuesday, with the society (still only 24 of us and playing both courses - not at the same time though)

 

[viscount17]

My advice would be to see what they say and then threaten to go public in the press etc and see if the threat of so much negative publicity and the impact of potentially driving members away makes any difference

Go to the press? You've got the forum page. isn't this a suitable topic?

 

[GB72]

The course nearest to me has similar problems, tee times all booked up by societies and pay and players and that has 2 courses. Losing members by the dozen as a result I believe.

Go give them hell

My old club by chance/ (Greetham?)

Give them hell Barb, that is a poor show on the clubs behalf!

Nothing wrong with the course and they treat visitors well just not great to be a member. Would also add that the clubhouse prices are a bit steep. If it is not already paid for as part of your package, nip the mile down into the village of Greetham and go to The Plough (my local) or The Wheatsheaf for great food and beer. The Plough is a real treat if you like real ale.

How did you guess. When were you a member there and where are you now?

ooops! going there Tuesday, with the society (still only 24 of us and playing both courses - not at the same time though)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It would make an interesting local news story "local club sells members short" and the threat of bad publicity be it on here (doubt the owner will even have heard of the forum) but especially in the local community will/should set alarm bells ringing