Golf Random Irritations

[Swango1980]

Been looking at memberships for next year as hoping to be home more so have sent out enquiries last week to 4 clubs that l like the look of and am interested in more info for myself and the Mrs to join .

In 7 days I’ve only had 2 email responses and been completely ghosted by 1 club so tried ringing them to politely chase. I got through today and rudely got told we don’t do phone enquires you’ll have to email and just wait and we’ll get to you if we can (that ones quickly removed itself from my potential list)

The other annoyance is one of the clubs that did email me sent a quite blunt reply basically saying this is the fee! There’s a joining fee, a waiting list (no problem) and you have to pay and an additional fee of £50 each to pay to be just be put onto the waiting list, they called it a “waiting list subscription fee”!

Now I don’t mind a joining fee as long as there is a benefit to it and it’s costing is broken down as to what I’m paying for but to basically pay £100 for me and my wife to go on a waiting list and it’s not even deductible from subs or main joining fee should we become members! For that alone I’m also out as it’s dead money just for someone to add our names to a spreadsheet! Worst part is didn’t answer any of my questions and just signed off with their bank details and stating to advise them once I’d paid the fee so they could contact me to actually answer my queries!

So I’m down to 2 before I’d even had chance to speak properly with all of them. Fortunately the other 2 have been very helpful in their responses and laid out what we get for the fees, how they would welcome us as new members and what their ladies section can do for Mrs M. So at least some positive has come from it

That initially seemed weird to me, because if they do that, why don't they just scrap that and simply make the joining fee itself higher?

I suppose the main purpose of it is to ensure that those that do join the waitng list are very serious about wanting to become members, rather than timewasters, who ask to be put on the waiting list, but by the time they are told they can join, are no longer bothered. I guess only a few clubs are attractive enough to have such joining fees to the joining fee itself.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

That initially seemed weird to me, because if they do that, why don't they just scrap that and simply make the joining fee itself higher?

I suppose the main purpose of it is to ensure that those that do join the waitng list are very serious about wanting to become members, rather than timewasters, who ask to be put on the waiting list, but by the time they are told they can join, are no longer bothered. I guess only a few clubs are attractive enough to have such joining fees to the joining fee itself.

It is weird but I wouldn’t mind it if that was subtracted from the actual joining fee of subscription fees for first year as that way they’re getting commitment from me and I’m getting something back from them. But that not being the case and with how rude the email was I’m out! I have no time for people that can’t offer common decency when you’re asking them valid questions before you commit to spending nearly 4.5k with them when you factor in wife joining as well.

 

[irip]

It just shows how far behind the times that golf really is when you don’t even get a response to emails, how many other businesses could survive like that?

A lot of club websites are really poor as well.

Add in the what you can/can’t wear and how you must wear it rules.

Is it any wonder that those people with no knowledge of golf still see it as posh game for old boys?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

A lot of clubs have to be careful with their “tactics” - at the moment golf is flush and demand is high so a number of clubs will be having waiting lists etc

But there is no guarantee that’s always going to be the case and people will remember

Clubs need to ensure that they make use of the full membership and keep improving the course whilst also finding a ways to ensure their is a healthy turnover

A few clubs in the area are now struggling and are looking for members

 

[mister v]

im in complete agreement with you guys in that im amazed that some clubs are still going, i've sent out inquiries to golf clubs to arrange trips and normally had to make a follow up phone call to get a response. Golf is on an up curve at the moment but there will be an inevitable down curve in the not to distant future and then lets see where those clubs are

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[The Squirrel]

It is weird but I wouldn’t mind it if that was subtracted from the actual joining fee of subscription fees for first year as that way they’re getting commitment from me and I’m getting something back from them. But that not being the case and with how rude the email was I’m out! I have no time for people that can’t offer common decency when you’re asking them valid questions before you commit to spending nearly 4.5k with them when you factor in wife joining as well.

Is this just a heuristic at the idea of the fee not getting knocked off though?

If the joining fee was £100 higher but the waiting list fee was knocked off then you would, on what you’ve said, be fine with it.
It would be the exactly identical fee, just expressed in a slightly different way.
On that basis, your objection isn’t logical.

They do sound proper up themselves though, to be fair. That IS a very sensible reason not to join a club…

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Is this just a heuristic at the idea of the fee not getting knocked off though?

If the joining fee was £100 higher but the waiting list fee was knocked off then you would, on what you’ve said, be fine with it.
It would be the exactly identical fee, just expressed in a slightly different way.
On that basis, your objection isn’t logical.

They do sound proper up themselves though, to be fair. That IS a very sensible reason not to join a club…

Yes the idea of it not being knocked off annoys me whether that’s logical or not it’s my irritation and I don’t like people thinking they can take without valid reason or explanation.

However it’s the overall way they’ve come across and portrayed themselves and the image they’ve given off with the wording in the email and how snobbish they’ve come across that doesn’t sit right for me the money is just part of the annoyance

 

[sunshine]

Yes the idea of it not being knocked off annoys me whether that’s logical or not it’s my irritation and I don’t like people thinking they can take without valid reason or explanation.

However it’s the overall way they’ve come across and portrayed themselves and the image they’ve given off with the wording in the email and how snobbish they’ve come across that doesn’t sit right for me the money is just part of the annoyance

What happens if you change your mind and want to leave the waiting list? Do you get your money back?

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

What happens if you change your mind and want to leave the waiting list? Do you get your money back?

Nope non refundable another reason it annoyed me. It was detailed as “waiting list subscription fee non refundable and non deductible from any future payments “

 

[Oops!]

Nope non refundable another reason it annoyed me. It was detailed as “waiting list subscription fee non refundable and non deductible from any future payments “

Maybe it's a ‘British thing’: they don't really want new members, however, they don't want to be „rude enough“ to say so to interested parties... ?

 

[KenL]

What happens if you change your mind and want to leave the waiting list? Do you get your money back?

I doubt it.

 

[simsini]

Tee markers that are barely wide enough to stand in with the ball teed up.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Tee markers that are barely wide enough to stand in with the ball teed up.

Played a course last weekend where you couldn’t even get half a club length behind the markers. Half a pace and you were down off the back of the tee! Problem was the tee wasn’t flat either so you were screwed either way.

 

[simsini]

Played a course last weekend where you couldn’t even get half a club length behind the markers. Half a pace and you were down off the back of the tee! Problem was the tee wasn’t flat either so you were screwed either way.

That's terrible, sounds like you can't even stand behind the ball to line up your shot.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

That's terrible, sounds like you can't even stand behind the ball to line up your shot.

You couldn’t you had to stand down the slope at back of tee to line up

My wife wondered what was I doing as I half disappeared down the slope to pick a line

 

[simsini]

You couldn’t you had to stand down the slope at back of tee to line up

My wife wondered what was I doing as I half disappeared down the slope to pick a line

At least you came back.

 

[Neilds]

Played a course last weekend where you couldn’t even get half a club length behind the markers. Half a pace and you were down off the back of the tee! Problem was the tee wasn’t flat either so you were screwed either way.

Never worries me, I need every inch of help so always tee up right on the line

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Never worries me, I need every inch of help so always tee up right on the line

Don’t talk to me about needed inches, as soon as I stepped back to choose a line I disappeared I’m not very tall

 

[timd77]

Nope non refundable another reason it annoyed me. It was detailed as “waiting list subscription fee non refundable and non deductible from any future payments “

I’m currently in a 3-4 year waiting list to join a top class golf club, we have to pay £75 a year to stay on the list but in the year you actually get in, they refund that year’s £75. It also gets you ‘club membership’ meaning I can use the bar and restaurant if I want. That’s never going to happen but I guess it’s some sort of benefit.

I’m not massively happy to be paying £75 a year, but I understand it’s to weed out the flakey ones and gain some commitment. I also feel it’s worth the additional cost to join the club.

 

[ADB]

I’m currently in a 3-4 year waiting list to join a top class golf club, we have to pay £75 a year to stay on the list but in the year you actually get in, they refund that year’s £75. It also gets you ‘club membership’ meaning I can use the bar and restaurant if I want. That’s never going to happen but I guess it’s some sort of benefit.

I’m not massively happy to be paying £75 a year, but I understand it’s to weed out the flakey ones and gain some commitment. I also feel it’s worth the additional cost to join the club.

Wow! never even dreamed such a system would exist….golf clubs really are a law to themselves!