Golf subs for 2014

[Birchy]

Im in the 20-30 age group and will be leaving a club with no intermediate option for one that has got one. My current club wonder why people in my age group are like rocking horse droppings when they are paying full whack on top of a big mortgage & young family.

Trouble is theres too many old gits stuck in their ways to realise what todays society is like. There was a waiting list for the waiting list in my day laddie or I paid a joining fee and could only join 5 day until there was a space to upgrade etc blah blah blah. Well im sorry grandad but its not 1950 anymore and you need to get with the programme.

Somebody at the club suggested to me that why don't me and another lad in the same age group get one of our mates down to join? :rofl: I said yeah ive got loads of mates with a spare grand hanging around desperate to join a golf club to add the their expenditure of a massive mortgage and 2 kids.

 

[patricks148]

Im in the 20-30 age group and will be leaving a club with no intermediate option for one that has got one. My current club wonder why people in my age group are like rocking horse droppings when they are paying full whack on top of a big mortgage & young family.

Trouble is theres too many old gits stuck in their ways to realise what todays society is like. There was a waiting list for the waiting list in my day laddie or I paid a joining fee and could only join 5 day until there was a space to upgrade etc blah blah blah. Well im sorry grandad but its not 1950 anymore and you need to get with the programme.

Somebody at the club suggested to me that why don't me and another lad in the same age group get one of our mates down to join? :rofl: I said yeah ive got loads of mates with a spare grand hanging around desperate to join a golf club to add the their expenditure of a massive mortgage and 2 kids.

So you are happy for the Older members at your club to sunsidise your golf then?

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Our club is looking at changing the scales to further appeal to 18-30 year olds (which is great for me!)

Put simply, too many juniors leave and those that do return usually do so in their late 30's early 40's. Like most clubs around, we have less 20 somethings than we do 30 somethings, and less 30 somethings than we do 40 somethings etc etc. We need to make sure the club is attracting new members as otherwise the number of full members leaving (either due to price or illness) is going to continue to be higher than the number of people joining. This will obviously put the price up for everyone.

If we didn't have incremental membership at our club, we'd lose the majority of the first two teams as these are largely made up of 18-30 year olds and the price would increase for the rest of the membership. This isn't a dig at those with families and mortgages etc but £1800 a year is too much to ask of an 19 year old who's just started an apprenticeship on £15k a year, especially when they were paying junior rates of £300-£400 previously and, as mentioned, in our club we'd lose two or three lads who live for golf and want to make a career out of the sport.

Rates are stupidly high down here anyway, and I don't think they should be as heavily discounted in places where full priced membership is more affordable, but you can't punish those who have been junior members of a club for maybe 10 years and potentially represented the club at county / country level by sticking £1500 on top of their subs the day they turn 18. I know that not everyone has loads of disposable income, but as someone who's got about £60 a week after house / transport / food bills go out, there's not a cat in hell's chance I'd be able to afford to play at any club in the south of England without these sorts of memberships.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So you are happy for the Older members at your club to sunsidise your golf then?

Older members also get subsidies at a lot of clubs.

 

[GreiginFife]

Im in the 20-30 age group and will be leaving a club with no intermediate option for one that has got one. My current club wonder why people in my age group are like rocking horse droppings when they are paying full whack on top of a big mortgage & young family.Trouble is theres too many old gits stuck in their ways to realise what todays society is like. There was a waiting list for the waiting list in my day laddie or I paid a joining fee and could only join 5 day until there was a space to upgrade etc blah blah blah. Well im sorry grandad but its not 1950 anymore and you need to get with the programme.

Somebody at the club suggested to me that why don't me and another lad in the same age group get one of our mates down to join? :rofl: I said yeah ive got loads of mates with a spare grand hanging around desperate to join a golf club to add the their expenditure of a massive mortgage and 2 kids.

Hmm, I can see where I have gone wrong. I must contact the bank forthwith and advise them that I am over 30 so need this discount that obviously applies to me to not make my mortgage massive. The kids I can't do anything about...

This is a problem with many of the young with "what about me" syndrome IMO. You expect the same priviledges for a fraction of the cost. A cost that has to be borne elsewhere. Do you travel on a bus any cheaper than a 31 year old? The train? Should you expect to because, afterall, you have a massive mortgage and kids that must have been positively THRUST upon you rather than being optional...

 

[Hacker Khan]

So you are happy for the Older members at your club to sunsidise your golf then?

I don't think it should be thought of as one type of golfer subsidising another. Any decent business should have a business plan in place that takes into account the current social and economic conditions. And also they should be looking at their potential market and working how how to get their business. Like what Jimbobs above is doing.

Too often on here it seems to be a battle between existing members and new members, young and old, people who want their course to themselves as much as possible and those who just want to play affordable golf in the little spare time they have etc etc. Seems to me that there are a lot of golf businesses still using with a business model from the days when there were long waiting lists, people tended to stick at one place for ever and joining a golf club was seen as the pinnacle of society. Where as a lot of that has changed.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The wages of people between 21-30 on average are considerably lower compared to the wages of a 30 -50 year old across the country.

Obviously that won't be the case for everyone but it's a reason why I believe some clubs offer lower fees to the guys in therapy 20's (who are the future of golf clubs )

 

[Birchy]

So you are happy for the Older members at your club to sunsidise your golf then?

You could twist that and say the same the other way.

Without the younger people paying the reduced fee the older members fees would increase. Why else would clubs be trying so hard to get younger members in?

Also if these younger members become a big part of the club and move up the ranks they will be doing the same for the next generation etc. You look after people when they need it and the loyalty will most likely be there down the line.

Older members once they've been members for x amount of years also get subsidised membership so it works both ways.

 

[GB72]

As far as the OP is concerned, I think that that the idea of a £30 levy is a great and fair idea. The one thing that everyone benefits from are course improvements and it would only seem fair that the cost is spread evenly amongst all those using the course.

As for reduced fees based on age, I will put my hand up and say that I took advantage of that for 2 years at my old club but admit to not even knowing it was there until I got my first membership invoice to pay. That said, I sometimes wonder whether there are that many in the younger groups to warrant reduced rates. In my experience, most of the 18 year olds head off to college or uni and then it is a total lottery as to whether they come back to the club as a future member. Perhaps costs should be on a slowly increasing scale to reduce the shock when they come to paying for a full membership. I do, however, support reductions for those in their late 20s/early 30s. At that time there is probably the greatest pressure on finances as people look at buying houses, having kids, getting married etc. Those are the people who have, in theory, now settled in an area and are going to be around for the medium to long term and they are the members that you want to get integrated into your club.

 

[GreiginFife]

The wages of people between 21-30 on average are considerably lower compared to the wages of a 30 -50 year old across the country.

Obviously that won't be the case for everyone but it's a reason why I believe some clubs offer lower fees to the guys in therapy 20's (who are the future of golf clubs )

And this data comes from where?
Lets not forget that we are talking about a hobby. A choice (incidentally, so is having a massive mortgage) that people have whether they can afford to play the game or not. If they "have too many other interests" then I would suggest that they prioritise and choose which are most important - old fuddy-duddy that I am!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You could twist that and say the same the other way.

Without the younger people paying the reduced fee the older members fees would increase. Why else would clubs be trying so hard to get younger members in?

Also if these younger members become a big part of the club and move up the ranks they will be doing the same for the next generation etc.

Older members once they've been members for x amount of years also get subsidised membership so it works both ways.

It's the age group in between that take the hit

 

[HawkeyeMS]

And this data comes from where?
Lets not forget that we are talking about a hobby. A choice (incidentally, so is having a massive mortgage) that people have whether they can afford to play the game or not. If they "have too many other interests" then I would suggest that they prioritise and choose which are most important - old fuddy-duddy that I am!

:thup: none of us have the time or money to do everything we want

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You could twist that and say the same the other way.

Without the younger people paying the reduced fee the older members fees would increase. Why else would clubs be trying so hard to get younger members in?

Also if these younger members become a big part of the club and move up the ranks they will be doing the same for the next generation etc. You look after people when they need it and the loyalty will most likely be there down the line.

Older members once they've been members for x amount of years also get subsidised membership so it works both ways.

Which is why it should be a flat rate somewhere in between

 

[Deleted member 15344]

And this data comes from where?
Lets not forget that we are talking about a hobby. A choice (incidentally, so is having a massive mortgage) that people have whether they can afford to play the game or not. If they "have too many other interests" then I would suggest that they prioritise and choose which are most important - old fuddy-duddy that I am!

That comes from government polls and surveys which our treasurer used to highlight the current pay structure we have currently

Most 21-25 years old etc are just starting out their careers so will start on lower wages and then people advance through their careers as they get older and also increasing the salary through promotions and work changes.

Clubs need people in the 20's to join because in ten to 20 years time they are the future of the golf club

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Which is why it should be a flat rate somewhere in between

For all ages ?

Not sure many members would vote for that at any AGM

 

[patricks148]

You could twist that and say the same the other way.

Without the younger people paying the reduced fee the older members fees would increase. Why else would clubs be trying so hard to get younger members in?

Also if these younger members become a big part of the club and move up the ranks they will be doing the same for the next generation etc. You look after people when they need it and the loyalty will most likely be there down the line.

Older members once they've been members for x amount of years also get subsidised membership so it works both ways.

not sure how it works the other way, if there are hardly any under 30 members how are they subing the rest.

We don't have a reduced senior fee unless you have been a member longer than 40 years.

Lets face it golf is a sport played by older people golf memberships back that up and i would bet that if you asked most 25 year old s why they didn't play golf, most would not say due to the cost... not up here anyway.

Im all for keeping existing members from Juniors though to full membership, my main point is the whole not making a commitment any longer that a year.

if you want reduced rates it should be a some cost, not full rights, no sign on of guests etc or something like it.

Lets face it when clubs worked out what greens fee's are and what they cover, how can you justify someone paying half that?

 

[bladeplayer]

Im in the 20-30 age group and will be leaving a club with no intermediate option for one that has got one. My current club wonder why people in my age group are like rocking horse droppings when they are paying full whack on top of a big mortgage & young family.

Trouble is theres too many old gits stuck in their ways to realise what todays society is like. There was a waiting list for the waiting list in my day laddie or I paid a joining fee and could only join 5 day until there was a space to upgrade etc blah blah blah. Well im sorry grandad but its not 1950 anymore and you need to get with the programme.

Somebody at the club suggested to me that why don't me and another lad in the same age group get one of our mates down to join? :rofl: I said yeah ive got loads of mates with a spare grand hanging around desperate to join a golf club to add the their expenditure of a massive mortgage and 2 kids.

Mate ya have me astounded with this answer , so you expect the old gits who probably helped build the club up to what ??

Reduce fees so the (see it from an older view) young uns with the big houses and maybe flash cars and all top of the range gear can play for cheaper than the 30-40 year olds who made it possible for themselves to be members when they were at the same stage in life by making sacrifices ?? ,

Now im in the Mortgage and young family brigade the same as yourself , but im in it because thats where i choose to be right now in my life so if i want to be a member i have to make other sacrifices in life to achieve this , sacrifices that don't impinge on the family or our quality of life .

For me its Juniors (in education) and OAP get discounts , others pay the same for full membership .. just my opinion tho

 

[HawkeyeMS]

For all ages ?

Not sure many members would vote for that at any AGM

Of course they wouldn't, but in most cases it wouldn't be because they can't afford it. (Not talking about juniors by the way)

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Mate ya have me astounded with this answer , so you expect the old gits who probably helped build the club up to what ??

Reduce fees so the (see it from an older view) young uns with the big houses and maybe flash cars and all top of the range gear can play for cheaper than the 30-40 year olds who made it possible for themselves to be members when they were at the same stage in life by making sacrifices ?? ,

Now im in the Mortgage and young family brigade the same as yourself , but im in it because thats where i choose to be right now in my life so if i want to be a member i have to make other sacrifices in life to achieve this , sacrifices that don't impinge on the family or our quality of life .

For me its Juniors (in education) and OAP get discounts , others pay the same for full membership .. just my opinion tho

I see more 30-40 year olds with big houses and flash cars - don't see many under the age of 30

The current 30-40 took advantage of the reduced fees in their junior years did they not ?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Of course they wouldn't, but in most cases it wouldn't be because they can't afford it. (Not talking about juniors by the way)

It could be because they couldn't afford it though. A lot do pick clubs that they can afford - make it a flat rate and you could lose senior sections as well as the younger members of the golf club.