Golf Club Joining Fees - Crippling Diversity

[Radbourne2010]

Wanted some opinions on the vexed subject of raising Membership subscriptions & Joining Fees.
Since the pandemic golf clubs have seen an exponential rise in playing numbers within UK, mostly from women & younger persons not normally attracted to the game, in addition to those wishing to play a new hobby or simply keep fit & socialise within a friendly environment.

I have had notification from several golfing friends around the country as to their clubs raising Membership Fee, Visitor playing fees, Guest fees & most strikingly of all Joining Fees. The latter was always seen as a barrier to certain sections of society whereby clubs where operating a form of financial apartheid. This was slowly being worn away over the past 15 years due to a dramatic fall in playing numbers & Full Member status at clubs around the UK.

My club has recently decided to double the Joining Fee & raise Subs by 10%, alongside raising Members Guest rates by 75%. The view of many at our club is this is being imposed at a time of deep financial worry for many, in the middle of a cost of living crisis & worse of all at a time the R&A alongside the home Unions are trying desperately to sell the game to those from lower social & financial backgrounds. In short, it is opportunism & short sighted of clubs to be imposing these increases at this time.

Just wanted some opinions from the experienced golfers on this Forum.

 

[Neilds]

You need to realise that golf clubs are not immune to price rises. Their utility bills have also risen, without the protection that householders have, along with fuel, fertiliser, wages etc so how do you expect these to be paid if fees don't rise?

 

[Wabinez]

The running costs of golf clubs have also grown.

the electric bill alone at my place has increased ten-fold, and the club are going to invest in some solar panels.

the cost of fertiliser has gone up. machinery has gone up.

ultimately, at a time of a boom…why not put joining fees up. It sorts those who are serious about being part of the club from those flip-flopping between clubs

 

[Radbourne2010]

You need to realise that golf clubs are not immune to price rises. Their utility bills have also risen, without the protection that householders have, along with fuel, fertiliser, wages etc so how do you expect these to be paid if fees don't rise?

It's not personal, so no 'you need to' required in your reply.
I'm privy to the financial records from the last AGM. The increases have little or nothing to do with rising utility bills, etc. as these are off-set by the annual 4-5% increase imposed every year at the club. Only since Lockdown ended & we went from having a shortfall of 40-50 Full Members to now having 80+ on the Waiting List.

 

[Radbourne2010]

The running costs of golf clubs have also grown.

the electric bill alone at my place has increased ten-fold, and the club are going to invest in some solar panels.

the cost of fertiliser has gone up. machinery has gone up.

ultimately, at a time of a boom…why not put joining fees up. It sorts those who are serious about being part of the club from those flip-flopping between clubs

I think the flip-flopping argument went out of being 10-15 years ago. It just seeks to preclude a certain section of society from joining certain Private Members clubs.

 

[Wabinez]

I think the flip-flopping argument went out of being 10-15 years ago. It just seeks to preclude a certain section of society from joining certain Private Members clubs.

I would disagree, purely as I speak from experience.
looked to move to a club which is a further distance away. I wouldn’t be sure how it would pan out long term, but I know for a fact I’m not paying £1000 extra to potentially drop it after a year.

I imagine there could be a few people in the same situation.

I’d also probably argue, golfers have probably had it pretty good for a long period of time and It’s only now things are starting to balance out

 

[D-S]

I think the flip-flopping argument went out of being 10-15 years ago. It just seeks to preclude a certain section of society from joining certain Private Members clubs.

Most clubs that I know allow the joining fee to be paid over 5 years or so, therefore it is not excluding those who do not have a lump of cash at their disposal.

 

[Bdill93]

75% increase to guests is pretty significant! Obviously depends how much it cost in the first place but that's a lot!

Id struggle telling any of my "casual" golfer mates that a round now cost over a tenner more than before - when nothing on the course has changed - and its a tenner at my place as a round is only £20ish...

Regarding joining fees - don't have them at my place and wouldn't pay one, but plenty would! And they're not a terrible idea but it feels a bit forced retention to me.

 

[GB72]

Wanted some opinions on the vexed subject of raising Membership subscriptions & Joining Fees.
Since the pandemic golf clubs have seen an exponential rise in playing numbers within UK, mostly from women & younger persons not normally attracted to the game, in addition to those wishing to play a new hobby or simply keep fit & socialise within a friendly environment.

I have had notification from several golfing friends around the country as to their clubs raising Membership Fee, Visitor playing fees, Guest fees & most strikingly of all Joining Fees. The latter was always seen as a barrier to certain sections of society whereby clubs where operating a form of financial apartheid. This was slowly being worn away over the past 15 years due to a dramatic fall in playing numbers & Full Member status at clubs around the UK.

My club has recently decided to double the Joining Fee & raise Subs by 10%, alongside raising Members Guest rates by 75%. The view of many at our club is this is being imposed at a time of deep financial worry for many, in the middle of a cost of living crisis & worse of all at a time the R&A alongside the home Unions are trying desperately to sell the game to those from lower social & financial backgrounds. In short, it is opportunism & short sighted of clubs to be imposing these increases at this time.

Just wanted some opinions from the experienced golfers on this Forum.

Certainly I have experienced sections of the membership of a private members club who actively pushed to increase the fees at every opportunity. They wanted to drive the club to exclusivity and would happily double the fees and ramp up a joining fee to be able to cull certain sections of the membership. That is not the case in many clubs but it does happen. Sadly there are people who hark back to the old days where golf club membership was seen as a status symbol and one of the last bastions of social standing (I remember as a kid that the club pro used to have to ask permission to enter the clubhouse at my dad's club at the time) and very much would like to return to those days.

Sadly gofl will never be as inclusive as it likes to portray itself as being.

 

[Orikoru]

I've nothing against joining fees - it's a great way to filter out which clubs I won't ever be joining.

 

[Neilds]

It's not personal, so no 'you need to' required in your reply.
I'm privy to the financial records from the last AGM. The increases have little or nothing to do with rising utility bills, etc. as these are off-set by the annual 4-5% increase imposed every year at the club. Only since Lockdown ended & we went from having a shortfall of 40-50 Full Members to now having 80+ on the Waiting List.

Apologies if my tone came across as being an attack.
However, As others have mentioned on this, and other threads, utility bills for companies and businesses are going up by stupid amounts and this will not be cover by 4-5% of a membership fee.

 

[banjofred]

I've nothing against joining fees - it's a great way to filter out which clubs I won't ever be joining.

And...those that have the extra money and those that don't.

 

[Albo]

For me I am set against joining fees.
That said, having had this discussion a few times on here, it’s because I look different on clubs and club memberships than a lot do.
I have myself as a customer of the club, I give them my money in return for playing a course, if the money versus what I get for it is what I would personally class as value, I stay, the moment it stops being value for me, I walk.
Many others see this as more of a privilege to be a member, they see the club aspect as important, take pride in belonging and probably have a good social circle(s) within the club.
Again I don’t see any of the above, I have a couple of people I play golf with at my club but if I didn’t like it I’d still walk, I don’t enter comps rarely ever enter the building. For me it is akin to my shopping at Tesco, I feel no care nor affinity to the club, it gives me what I want at a price I deem acceptable. A simple business transaction, nothing more, nothing less.
With all that said, I guess it’s quite obvious why I loath joining fees.

 

[Banchory Buddha]

In short, it is opportunism & short sighted of clubs to be imposing these increases at this time.
.

. One of my clubs has budgeted for a multi-tens of thousands loss this year, the other despite also having a healthy balance sheet has still put up fees, because costs for everything has gone through the roof.

 

[Banchory Buddha]

It's not personal, so no 'you need to' required in your reply.
I'm privy to the financial records from the last AGM. The increases have little or nothing to do with rising utility bills, etc. as these are off-set by the annual 4-5% increase imposed every year at the club. Only since Lockdown ended & we went from having a shortfall of 40-50 Full Members to now having 80+ on the Waiting List.

You think utilities, fertilisers, and equipment have only risen 4-5% too? Mate that is ridiculous, inflation, general inflation has been double digits for over a year, thinks like fertislisers have tripled, non-domestic utilities have gone up far more than household utlities.

 

[IanM]

This is an old Forum Favourite! The are a myriad of golfers and golf clubs. Some are commercial operations out to make a profit, some are not. Within the geographical constraints of where you are, play at one that suits. It is indeed that simple.

I am very against joining fees in principle. But I recognise the benefits of them at my primary club in reducing churn. On the flip side, they are a financial barrier to entry although these days it can be paid off over a period of years.

If a club has joining fees, it is part of the financial decision you make when considering whether to join.

But, I am really glad that Pandemics and Wars have no negative economic impact in Aberdeenshire!

 

[Radbourne2010]

Mod Edit, "Political Content Removed" -One of my clubs has budgeted for a multi-tens of thousands loss this year, the other despite also having a healthy balance sheet has still put up fees, because costs for everything has gone through the roof.

Lucky it has nothing to do a war in Ukraine then I'm aware of the cost in utilities & fertiliser, etc. I've seen our accounts. The Joining Fee increase, in my opinion, is simply political.

 

[jim8flog]

Our club Directors worked as hard as they can to limit the increase to under 7%. We still do not have a joining fee but we have a waiting list for categories except for 5 day and membership of the 9 hole course.
I do not know if our green fees went up as they would be effective from next week.

One thing I have seen is that our awayday at another club is going to cost a lot more than last year.

 

[IanM]

I've seen our accounts. The Joining Fee increase, in my opinion, is simply political.

That's interesting, what do you mean by "political?" There must be some economic motivation for it, or why do it? Trying to add a bit of brand snobbery? Aligning with clubs in the area? Managing demand? Reducing churn? It must have some economic foundation or why do it?

If the joining fee has been doubled, is there currently a waiting list and full membership? If not, seems a dangerous route to go down. (Unless doubling it, means £25 to £50!! )

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We reintroduced a joining fee a couple of years back, simply because we could and it contributed to keeping subs down and funding projects. Thing is…our turnover at renewal is typically low, and so the amount we actually get from new members joining fees is not huge, but it is not insignificant, even when paid in instalments over say three years.

If turnover this renewal is typical and all newbies paid the joining fee in full up front we could be talking >£50k injection of funds in April. The board and membership can’t just decide to be altruistic and not bother about that very viable income stream given inflation and the cost of everything.