Golf membership swap

[Jamie6388]

I want to float an idea by golfers.

Would you be more likely to join a club, if you were not restricted to that one club?

If an app was launched, in which golfers could swap one of their rounds, with another app user, for a round at their course, would you use that app?

Say, it was once or twice a month and each course had a rating, so you weren't giving away a round at a great course, for a lesser course.

 

[Neilds]

A lot (most?) courses have this sort of thing anyway with reciprocal courses where you can book a certain amount of rounds per week. Clubs may all have the same course designer, formed in the same year or just seemingly random courses grouped together.

 

[Jamie6388]

This would potentially stretch further afield. Say, if you were abroad or a different part of the country. I was thinking it would encourage younger golfers to get a membership, as they'd no longer be restricted to playing one.

 

[Jamie6388]

There are very few, if any, in Essex, UK

 

[irip]

I think if this was a legitimate offer then everyone would just join the cheapest course and play the more expensive when it suited them
Non starter for me

 

[Jamie6388]

Even with a tier system, with different courses being in different tiers, depending on their price bracket? Also, the intention wouldn't be to swap whenever. There would be limited "swaps" and both parties would have to agree.

 

[chico]

There are loads of ways to play different courses just now anyway, reciprocal, county cards etc. Also how would you be swapping a round at your own course? As a member there are no restrictions to how many rounds I can play anyway.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My club doesn't have reciprocals so I'd definitely be up for this. If the idea is a round swap, why would someone at a good course swap for a poor course? Both parties have to agree to it.

The county card in Northumberland is age related so again, not an option for some.

I like the concept. Whether clubs would agree............

 

[Jamie6388]

All the benefits of being a member at your own course but, you could offer one round at your course, for the chance to play one round at someone else's course, for free.

 

[Jamie6388]

Each club would be put into a category, depending on their price point. Even then, both parties would have to agree.

 

[Jamie6388]

My club doesn't have reciprocals so I'd definitely be up for this. If the idea is a round swap, why would someone at a good course swap for a poor course? Both parties have to agree to it.

The county card in Northumberland is age related so again, not an option for some.

I like the concept. Whether clubs would agree............

I'm initially from Northumberland. Some unbelievable courses up there. Ive spoken to so many young golfers, who aren't members of a course. The recurring reason, always seems to be because they'd feel restricted to that one course.

 

[Slab]

There are loads of ways to play different courses just now anyway, reciprocal, county cards etc. Also how would you be swapping a round at your own course? As a member there are no restrictions to how many rounds I can play anyway.

Bit in bold kinda sums it up

‘Home’ golfer gives up nothing in this swap
‘Away’ golfer gets free golf at another course
And the 'Home' club gives away a tee time they could’ve sold to a visitor and has nothing to gain in the player swap (that isn't a swap)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm initially from Northumberland. Some unbelievable courses up there. Ive spoken to so many young golfers, who aren't members of a course. The recurring reason, always seems to be because they'd feel restricted to that one course.

In fairness, up here there are a number of courses that offer pay and play, £250-£300 membership then £10 per round. Golfnow covers a lot of clubs up here for cheaper individual rounds. There is no need for them to feel that way if they dig into it. You don't have to be fully tied to one course only.

Saying that, I like the idea. We already have house swaps for holidays, I'd happily swap rounds with people at other courses.

 

[irip]

Each club would be put into a category, depending on their price point. Even then, both parties would have to agree.

The top courses would not put themselves up for this.
They already charge hundreds for a round why would they give a tee time away?

 

[Springveldt]

All the benefits of being a member at your own course but, you could offer one round at your course, for the chance to play one round at someone else's course, for free.

Isn't there loads of facebook groups with this kind of thing? Invite people to play with you at the guest rate.

Also, the member needs to play the round with the other guy at their course, you can't just book a tee time in your name and have some random show up and play for free. You would lose your membership then.

 

[Springveldt]

In fairness, up here there are a number of courses that offer pay and play, £250-£300 membership then £10 per round. Golfnow covers a lot of clubs up here for cheaper individual rounds. There is no need for them to feel that way if they dig into it. You don't have to be fully tied to one course only.

Saying that, I like the idea. We already have house swaps for holidays, I'd happily swap rounds with people at other courses.

How are you going to explain to your home course that some random guy is going to show up and play for free in the time slot you've just booked?

 

[Slab]

I dunno if I’m understanding what the app offers

What does the home player actually have as an item or unit to offer as their part of the swap? (Most) memberships entitle the member to an unspecified number of rounds of golf but the Home player doesn’t have ownership of any tee times. These tee times don’t belong to the player in order for them to offer it as a swap. As it reads this is an app offering free golf at away courses but where the home club participation (whom the tee times belong to) hasn’t yet been established.

For it to work, the agreement/swap needs to be between the ‘home’ club and the ‘away’ club (i.e the owners of the tee times) Away club offers it to its members so a player gets an away round and the home club now has a similar/equal unit of tee time/s it can offer its members… so its an app for reciprocals

 

[KenL]

My club doesn't have reciprocals so I'd definitely be up for this. If the idea is a round swap, why would someone at a good course swap for a poor course? Both parties have to agree to it.

The county card in Northumberland is age related so again, not an option for some.

I like the concept. Whether clubs would agree............

Then maybe push your club to think about this. We have access to loads of clubs. We pretty much pay a guest fee at the other clubs.

 

[Jamie6388]

Bit in bold kinda sums it up

‘Home’ golfer gives up nothing in this swap
‘Away’ golfer gets free golf at another course
And the 'Home' club gives away a tee time they could’ve sold to a visitor and has nothing to gain in the player swap (that isn't a swap)

The purpose would be to encourage more golfers to get a membership, therefore generating more monthly, guaranteed revenue for the clubs.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Then maybe push your club to think about this. We have access to loads of clubs. We pretty much pay a guest fee at the other clubs.

It isn't a members club. The current management do not see this as a benefit to them. Not a lot we can do about that, you like it or lump it.