Have you cancelled membership early?

[GB72]

To be fair Sweetwoods is (and always has been) a very high quality club - but guess they have been struggling of late as most clubs have been.

I too think that I'm probably tied in for a year - but await their confirmation. Its a bit galling that you could be tied in paying for something that isn't delivering its promises.

Never heard it tried but you could assume that the contract between you and the club is such that you pay your fees and the club provides suitable golfing facilities. By failing the keep the course up to what most would deem an acceptable playing standard, there is an argument that the club has breached its contract with the membership. Trouble is the season would be all but over by the time any verdict was reached on this.

 

[Scrindle]

Depends on the circumstances of the renewal to be honest - not really a question that can be answered without further information. Did you membership renew automatically or require a positive action on your part, for instance? Did you sign new paperwork? How are you paying (presumably direct debit)? What is the membership structure of your club (members club, corporate owned golf course with a subscription, etc...)?

Probably worth approaching the membership secretary (if there is one) or club manager with your friend and simply saying that you are not happy with the condition of the course. Say you want to leave and see what happens - you might find they just let you walk away. If they don't, say that the golf course/club is, in your view, in breach of contract by not fullfilling its implied contractual obligations (i.e. to provide a suitable, playable golf course in consideration for your subs). Give them a written deadline by which to improve the condition of the course, failing which you will consider the non-improvement to be an indication that they accept your decision to terminate your membership. Not fool proof by any means but with the little information you have provided that is probably what I would do. Would certainly give you a much better standing if they ever did try to sue for subs (though to be honest, unless your subs are over £5k a year I imagine that throwing a defence in would just scare them away due to cost disproportionality anyway).

I asked a similar thing on here a while back, but that was more from the angle of whether golf clubs actually tend go through with it and sue their members for fees rather than just bluff (I was already aware that I'd be breaching contract if I left).

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Renewal was done via email.... no paperwork at all. Just agreed to the same price as last year.

payment is done via standing order - not direct debit. They made it clear last year that we pay them, they don't take money from us.

To be honest, if I was being difficult about it I don't think the club have a leg to stand on. I've looked back at my original paperwork and there is not one mention of month to month or annual..... but I don't want to be a tool about it.

All my PP and I ever wanted was a decent course to play and that's what they said they were working group towards.... just how long do you go on listening to promises without any progress?

 

[Scrindle]

.... just how long do you go on listening to promises without any progress?

I imagine there might be a divide on this point, but in my view you simply don't. If I promise to do something it's as good as being done and I expect the same from others.

 

[John_R7]

Like others say it depends on the club, set up & circumstances.
I have heard 'rumours' that it is more hassle than it is worth to chase someone for unpaid 'fees' if they leave.
That will depend on how much your fees are also! Central Scotland is Circa £500 / £600, I am sure you could be much more so maybe worth 'chasing'.

Good luck in whatever you choose.