My club offers an incentive of £100 on your club card if you introduce a member. We do have the joining fee still but this can now be deferred and paid as £200 with your initial payment and then £200 on top of your fees for a further two years
Golf Club Promotions.......
- Thread starter Macster
- Start date
T
thecraw
Guest
Why do clubs insist on a joining fee, I'm telling you, from my own perspective and experience, people will baulk at paying it. Period.
Its antiquated. Clubs who are actively seeking or needing fresh blood are shooting themselves in the foot by insisting on it.
Its antiquated. Clubs who are actively seeking or needing fresh blood are shooting themselves in the foot by insisting on it.
Macster
Journeyman Pro
Craw - its not rocket science.
I understand why they insist/keep it, - it creates a loyalty to the Club, and means people are less likely to swap & change every year. Simple.
A volatile swapping & changing number of Members each year creates havoc with any Financial planning for a club's future.
I understand why they insist/keep it, - it creates a loyalty to the Club, and means people are less likely to swap & change every year. Simple.
A volatile swapping & changing number of Members each year creates havoc with any Financial planning for a club's future.
sweatysock41
Q-School Graduate
Totally agree - my club has offered 15 months for the price of 12 to try and entice new members, and we don't have a joining fee.
Being a proprietory club it has to be profitable, hence most Saturdays the main area of the clubhouse will have some form of private function.
Clubs have to realise that there is not the disposable income available for most people to justify a joining fee.
Being a proprietory club it has to be profitable, hence most Saturdays the main area of the clubhouse will have some form of private function.
Clubs have to realise that there is not the disposable income available for most people to justify a joining fee.
drawboy
Tour Winner
The touble with a premier club is that usually the fees are high, but the membership are normally a little better off so if they decide upon a change they have the money to do so anyway. A joining fee will not stop money people leaving.
GB72
Money List Winner
It is a bit of a double edged sword when it comes to joining fees Yes they stop people leaving your club but they also stop people leaving other clubs to join yours. As in my case, I have just finished paying off my joining fee and do not want to do that again so would realistically only move to a club that dropped theirs.
User20205
Money List Winner
the club should be confident of retaining members because of the quality of course/membership experience. If you are confident that yours is the premier club in the area ditch the joining fee, rely on the set up you have to make being a member desirable.
I personally would never join a club that demanded a joining fee, I can't justify that outlay for no return.
re promotion of the club, try the well worn path of open days with no joining fee for on the day sign up. also member referals etc. How about a pay as you play membership for a modest initial outlay, perfect for time poor golfers.
(apologies if these have been mentioned before, I just skim read the thread)
There is no magic bullet otherwise all clubs would do it.
I personally would never join a club that demanded a joining fee, I can't justify that outlay for no return.
re promotion of the club, try the well worn path of open days with no joining fee for on the day sign up. also member referals etc. How about a pay as you play membership for a modest initial outlay, perfect for time poor golfers.
(apologies if these have been mentioned before, I just skim read the thread)
There is no magic bullet otherwise all clubs would do it.
T
thecraw
Guest
What loyalty does it create? Being press ganged into paying extra money creates loyalty????
BS.
Macster
Journeyman Pro
I don't think its being press-ganged, but I do think it makes members think carefully before joining, and by 'buying into the club' with a joining fee, it means members are less likely to move around for very trivial reasons.
I can see the potential of dropping it, but I'm just not sure its the right move to make for a stable long term membership.
I can see the potential of dropping it, but I'm just not sure its the right move to make for a stable long term membership.
viscount17
Money List Winner
we have a number of clubs in the area so theoretically lots of competition for members.
only one has a joining fee, I think about £1250 and all they've done is allow it to be spread over a few years, annual fees are high as well. they aren't short of members but then how many can afford to leave and effectively throw that much away.
the other clubs do have more mobile memberships, fees vary from £400 5-day to £850 7-day so there's a fair spread, in the main it's the quality of the course that seems to be the deciding factor.mine suffers from flooding so we always lose some - I'd go too if I could find one where the comps were run at more convenient times.
I haven't noticed any real effort being made to attract more members by any of them.
only one has a joining fee, I think about £1250 and all they've done is allow it to be spread over a few years, annual fees are high as well. they aren't short of members but then how many can afford to leave and effectively throw that much away.
the other clubs do have more mobile memberships, fees vary from £400 5-day to £850 7-day so there's a fair spread, in the main it's the quality of the course that seems to be the deciding factor.mine suffers from flooding so we always lose some - I'd go too if I could find one where the comps were run at more convenient times.
I haven't noticed any real effort being made to attract more members by any of them.
link80
Assistant Pro
In my case it's the joining fee that's stopping me signing up at the moment. The club I play as a guest with my friend who's a member costs £600 per year plus a £600 joining fee. I only started playing last year and only played 12 times which cost me £180 at £15 per round. I would have perhaps played more if the price didn't double to £30 if I wanted to play without a member. If I joined I would prabably play 40-50 rounds so at the least I would be paying £12 per round. My usual spend in the pro shop and clubhouse is about £15 per round so as it stands the £350 the club had of me last year could be £1350 if they dropped the joining fee.
My plans for this year are to play the same course probably once a month again and play some other local courses with some nomadic golfers I know who are also put off by joining fees so take advantage of 2for1 offers and signing in with members of various clubs they know.
I'm sorry but knowing someone is getting £100 on their club card is not a good enough incentive to basically pay double for my first year as a member somewhere.
My plans for this year are to play the same course probably once a month again and play some other local courses with some nomadic golfers I know who are also put off by joining fees so take advantage of 2for1 offers and signing in with members of various clubs they know.
I'm sorry but knowing someone is getting £100 on their club card is not a good enough incentive to basically pay double for my first year as a member somewhere.
rikkitikk
Assistant Pro
I have heard of Blackmoor and was interested in joining until I got the full fees (which is reasonable for the area I must add) but not when I will only play between 10 - 15 times a year due to children / wife etc.
Certainly like the sound of membership to members over 15 miles away.
Generally I think if clubs want more potential members then they need to offer 'limited round' per year or purchase x points for the year and each round will cost you y points. Does anyone know how successful the de vere membership as if that has been successful then surely clubs will follow the idea?
DCB
Well-known member
There is a club in Edinburgh who dropped their entry fee a couple of seasons back. For years this place had maintained a good membership and had a waiting list. However as times are hard even they had problems adding to their number. Upshot was drop the entry fee and get lots of new members in at one fell swoop.
Great
or was it ?
The following year, when it came to membership renewal time they lost a very large proportion of their new members from the previous years intake. They had gone off to pastures new and saved £50 or so by taking up another clubs special 'no joining fee' offer. With a season ticket for the municipal courses costing just under £400, people may be taking a punt on a club membership and then moving on to try somewhere else the following year.
There's no loyalty with an itinerant golfing public I'm afraid and a club will find it very hard to budget if it cant determine what it's membership levels are going to be.
Great
or was it ?
The following year, when it came to membership renewal time they lost a very large proportion of their new members from the previous years intake. They had gone off to pastures new and saved £50 or so by taking up another clubs special 'no joining fee' offer. With a season ticket for the municipal courses costing just under £400, people may be taking a punt on a club membership and then moving on to try somewhere else the following year.
There's no loyalty with an itinerant golfing public I'm afraid and a club will find it very hard to budget if it cant determine what it's membership levels are going to be.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I'm playing in an Open competition at Hankley Common in August. It's a lovely course, one of the best down this way, and in a "monied" area.
Mens yearly subscription? £1,295.00.
Joining fee? 3 x subscription = £3,885.00
Total first year to become a member??? £5,180.00
Macster
Journeyman Pro
DCB : Precisely. Why cant a lot on here understand that ?
Smiffy : Thats outrageous, I agree, however - if they aren't struggling for members, and people are willing to pay it, why shouldnt they ? Its all about 'Supply & Demand' .........
My own Club has never had any crisis for Members, or visitors for that matter, and I'm sure that we'll fare better than a lot in the area.
However, in the current climate, some of those Members who have been happy to be members but never play will perhaps have 2nd thoughts, and drop their membership, and Visitors are less willing to pay the Green Fee's etc, which of course all shows on the bottom line at year end.
We undoubtably need to be more 'pro-active' in some respects, but we arent anywhere near crisis point as many other Clubs perhaps are.
Smiffy : Thats outrageous, I agree, however - if they aren't struggling for members, and people are willing to pay it, why shouldnt they ? Its all about 'Supply & Demand' .........
My own Club has never had any crisis for Members, or visitors for that matter, and I'm sure that we'll fare better than a lot in the area.
However, in the current climate, some of those Members who have been happy to be members but never play will perhaps have 2nd thoughts, and drop their membership, and Visitors are less willing to pay the Green Fee's etc, which of course all shows on the bottom line at year end.
We undoubtably need to be more 'pro-active' in some respects, but we arent anywhere near crisis point as many other Clubs perhaps are.
NWJocko
Tour Winner
Interesting discussion as I am currently playing at a "no membership" new course but am always thinking about joining a club.
I enquired at one of the clubs near me (in a town with an open course but not that course!) and they not only charge a joining fee but you have to give them an interest free loan of £1k at the time of joining also.
With subs, joiing fee, loan, drainage levy I was going to be the best part of £4k to join! It is not regarded as one of the best courses in the area (from what I've heard) and is actively looking for members.
With a young family which makes me both time and cash poor I can't justify that outlay to myself never mind put it to the wife!
I am going to start looking at other clubs locally to see if there are any better offers as membership does hold big advantages but I guess it's finding the right balance of cost for the advantages.
I enquired at one of the clubs near me (in a town with an open course but not that course!) and they not only charge a joining fee but you have to give them an interest free loan of £1k at the time of joining also.
With subs, joiing fee, loan, drainage levy I was going to be the best part of £4k to join! It is not regarded as one of the best courses in the area (from what I've heard) and is actively looking for members.
With a young family which makes me both time and cash poor I can't justify that outlay to myself never mind put it to the wife!
I am going to start looking at other clubs locally to see if there are any better offers as membership does hold big advantages but I guess it's finding the right balance of cost for the advantages.
DCB
Well-known member
The other thing people need to look at IMO is that a golf club isn't just a place to go and play golf. Sure that's the main thing you do there, but it's about a lot more than just that.
if you just want to play golf and are of the 'annual cost = subs/rounds played' brigade than why not go to the local muni, it's bound to be more cost effective for you
long term membership of a golf club has so many advantages
if you just want to play golf and are of the 'annual cost = subs/rounds played' brigade than why not go to the local muni, it's bound to be more cost effective for you
long term membership of a golf club has so many advantages
mjsw13
Assistant Pro
If the club and course is good, and well run, then retention shouldn't be an issue. My club was £530 to join, plus another £500 joining fee. They then completely dropped the joining fee. There is no way in hell I'd have joined if they'd kept it. I will be renewing soon for my 4th year of membership.
If a club want or need new members, they need to drop their joining fee. As someone said previously, one club got 50 new members, with 25 staying on for the next year. Even if the annual fees are just £500 - that's £25k the first year, and £12.5k the second - not to be sniffed at. As for nomadic golfers, people do move around more than they used to, for work or whatever, but for me I'd rather have an extra £10k in the club's coffers than not at all. As for the argument that fluctuating membership is no good for a club's planning / finances - just keep some of the extra cash in reserve funds...
Finally - for clubs wishing to recruit younger members, with the hope of holding on to them, then obviously fully drop the joining fee, and have a sliding scale for annual fees according to age. What student / apprentice / new graduate is going to be able to pay or justify £500-£1000 a year? Give decent incentives for recruiting new members, good social nights, and get players involved in team events, both intra and inter club, to build up a long-term, inclusive team spirit, camaraderie, and all round welcoming and warm atmosphere in the clubhouse and on the course.
If a club want or need new members, they need to drop their joining fee. As someone said previously, one club got 50 new members, with 25 staying on for the next year. Even if the annual fees are just £500 - that's £25k the first year, and £12.5k the second - not to be sniffed at. As for nomadic golfers, people do move around more than they used to, for work or whatever, but for me I'd rather have an extra £10k in the club's coffers than not at all. As for the argument that fluctuating membership is no good for a club's planning / finances - just keep some of the extra cash in reserve funds...
Finally - for clubs wishing to recruit younger members, with the hope of holding on to them, then obviously fully drop the joining fee, and have a sliding scale for annual fees according to age. What student / apprentice / new graduate is going to be able to pay or justify £500-£1000 a year? Give decent incentives for recruiting new members, good social nights, and get players involved in team events, both intra and inter club, to build up a long-term, inclusive team spirit, camaraderie, and all round welcoming and warm atmosphere in the clubhouse and on the course.
Macster
Journeyman Pro
We DO have a very good sliding scale for Junior/younger Members, all the way up to 30yrs of age, so that isnt an issue.
And yes, I know that we all feel the strain when we have young families etc, and there were years when I really didnt play much at all, but as DCB says, I bought into the Golf Club for the long term, and here I am 23 yrs later, still loving the place.
Maybe I'm very lucky to have somewhere that I love playing as much as I did when I first joined, or maybe a lot of you just get bored more easily than me !
In actual fact, with the exception of 1 other course local to me, there isnt anywhere that I'd want to play regularly, or be prepared to pay for.
On that basis, my £800+ Subs are money well spent, if spending £800 can be good in any respect !!
And yes, I know that we all feel the strain when we have young families etc, and there were years when I really didnt play much at all, but as DCB says, I bought into the Golf Club for the long term, and here I am 23 yrs later, still loving the place.
Maybe I'm very lucky to have somewhere that I love playing as much as I did when I first joined, or maybe a lot of you just get bored more easily than me !
In actual fact, with the exception of 1 other course local to me, there isnt anywhere that I'd want to play regularly, or be prepared to pay for.
On that basis, my £800+ Subs are money well spent, if spending £800 can be good in any respect !!
DCB
Well-known member
On the face of it that looks fine, but, how do you budget properly, remember its a business that you'r running, when half your new members move on after a year ? What if you need that other £12.5K Hard questions have to be asked and many clubs are facing up to the fact that life is changing.
When I joined my current club there was a waiting list, in fact probably every golf club in the land had a waiting list in those days. It's all different nowadays. Everything is squeezed, as a result it's harder to hit your forecast especially if membership numbers drop below forecast and visitor numbers drop due to weather or people just not playing as many outings.
I live about a mile from my local course, Glencorse, they currently have an offer on with no joining fee. Whilst interested to read what they have on offer, I'm sticking with my old club because it it MY club
ps been there over 25 years so not leaving until they carry me out in a box
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