D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
That sort of losses clearly show that a club should go to franchise caterer and have a Pro look after the pro shop - they incur all the costs and will take any profit
how much of an increase in your membership fee is too much???
- Thread starter patricks148
- Start date
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
That's ridiculous. If my club ran on those numbers it'll be bust in a year. How can any business survive on those losses? Is it in house or do you employ external/franchise caterers. I know Nairn has a worldwide reputation but even in the pro shop there seems to be issue. If you as a member are having serious doubts, I assume you aren't alone in this. Has it been raised at the AGM?
Evesdad
Tour Winner
Losing £80k on catering is shocking! It wouldn't stand in any other business, these would def need looking into.
We've had no increase for next year, making it 3 years on the spin. That said it's gone up from £680 when I joined 6 years ago to £940. Anymore and I'll have to consider moving, yes the course is the best it's been and the new head GK has done some good things but it would have to come down to simple economics.
We've had no increase for next year, making it 3 years on the spin. That said it's gone up from £680 when I joined 6 years ago to £940. Anymore and I'll have to consider moving, yes the course is the best it's been and the new head GK has done some good things but it would have to come down to simple economics.
HankMarvin
Tour Rookie
Being a member at 3 clubs I normally expect anything from £80-£125 per year to cover all the increases and as yet I have been under it for the last few years. Don't mind paying increase as long as the courses are still being well maintained.
NWJocko
Tour Winner
Wow.
What sort of idiots are running your place!?
Jesus wept that's appalling. Is the membership not up in arms about this at the AGM etc?
I'd suggest that the council/committee/board needs replacing sooner rather than later if they're happy to accept regular losses of that size and just bump up subs
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
cost of living definitely higher due mainly to house prices - i doubt there is much in it for food, bills etc. wages are higher on average but mainly due to a lot of finance and IT jobs etc - a lot of jobs in public sector, retail etc will be hardly any different. The price you pay for golf is amazing and there has been massive inflation in running course over the past decade and I have seen steep rises in fees of at least 50% down here, from a higher starting level - golf in Scotland has to be the best value in the world - obviously subsidized by uncle Sam holidaymakers
we are def not subsidised, Dornoch yes, some others maybe.
Simbo
Tour Rookie
No increase at our place next year, manager said it's due to us having volunteers working the pro shop and bar, only opening them at specific times. The shop is stocked by a pro but he takes nothing much to do with the actual running of the shop. We no longer employee a full time pro and assistants.
Our catering is a franchise.
Most people,would be baulking at £20 a year IMO but as long as people keep paying it they will keep,doing it, it's much less hassle for them just to increase members fees than to work hard and get other areas of the club cutting cash flow out.
Our catering is a franchise.
Most people,would be baulking at £20 a year IMO but as long as people keep paying it they will keep,doing it, it's much less hassle for them just to increase members fees than to work hard and get other areas of the club cutting cash flow out.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
It's a tough one, Patrick. Easy to resent year on year increases above inflation but is the grass any greener elsewhere? Pick the best club for you and stick with it, I think, and try to influence the mismanagement.
mikejohnchapman
Challenge Tour Pro
Don't mean to sound chippy but that money doesn't belong to the club does it?
Doesn't it reflect the VAT you took off people in error and should replayto them?
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Some 25yrs ago there was a similar debate about VAT (maybe it was in respect of visitors green fees- I can't recall). My club at the time got a large rebate, and we had a vote amongst members to decide whether to distribute the rebate to the members (I think it would have been about £50/head) or to use it for major development. We did the latter - and dug two reservoir lakes - one very large and one very deep. 25yrs later they have been more trouble than they were worth (kids swimming, boating etc) and have been leaking badly. So are to be emptied and filled in (so I believe). Well that was money well spent.
But I'd still advise any members in similar situation to vote the money for course projects and to strengthen club financial situation. We should remember that we members of clubs are but custodians of the club and course and it is our responsibility to nourish and protect it - to pass it on to future generations of golfers in the best state possible.
If it wasn't our money, HMRC and the high court would not have awarded it to us would they?
HMRC haven't just given it us we ( other clubs too )had to fight a legal battle to get it an the court awarded it to us.
mikejohnchapman
Challenge Tour Pro
The previous amount was to do with VAT on members fees - hence up to the members to decide.
mikejohnchapman
Challenge Tour Pro
The money reflects the amount of VAT charged to visitors as part of their green fees. The ruling effectively agreed that visitors were temporary members of a not for profit club and hence VAT shouldn't have been charged as per the previous ruling on members fees.
So if you took money from me on a false pretence I would like it back please!
In reality, if I were running a golf society and had visited your club over the last 7 years I would be asking for a refund of the VAT associated with the green fees. It's too much to ask for clubs to offer the refund to their customers I guess - i'm sure most will wait and see if anyone bothers to ask.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Ours has also gone up by nearly 40% over past 7 years - although admittedly most of that was a single hit the year after I joined - the rent was due to go up from £1k to £170k. (In the end we got a bargain - it only went up to £100k - so the balance is in the "we hope to build a new clubhouse fund")
Going up by 1% this year (about £18) mainly because we've increased the course maintenance budget to cover extra maintenance. Could have done with increasing fees by a further 1% but decided that we could make savings elsewhere to help cover the extra course maintenance costs.
But I do feel for those members of clubs who seem profligate with members money.
Going up by 1% this year (about £18) mainly because we've increased the course maintenance budget to cover extra maintenance. Could have done with increasing fees by a further 1% but decided that we could make savings elsewhere to help cover the extra course maintenance costs.
But I do feel for those members of clubs who seem profligate with members money.
KenL
Tour Rookie
You were happy to pay the fee and probably did not even think about there being VAT on the fees.
If you really want your money back I suggest you approach the clubs you think owe you money.
However, for me at least, golf clubs are struggling so I am happy that any money I am "owed" is kept by the clubs to keep them going and for the good of the game.
Bazz
Q-School Graduate
Our fees have stayed the same for most....but they've changed the rules so that under 35s get reduced fees instead of under 30s 
mikejohnchapman
Challenge Tour Pro
As long as clubs use it as you suggest I might agree - wonder if any will demand a rebate on their membership or a one-off payment.
I think the prices of courses in Scotland are too low...
Being a member of a golf club for 10 quid a week is ludicrous
Until you are well past a grand a year IMO it is way too cheap
With regard to VAT, of course golfers should be able to claim it back, most wont of course, but clubs should have no problem with it as it is not their money, it is Tax paid to them they should not have taken
Being a member of a golf club for 10 quid a week is ludicrous
Until you are well past a grand a year IMO it is way too cheap
With regard to VAT, of course golfers should be able to claim it back, most wont of course, but clubs should have no problem with it as it is not their money, it is Tax paid to them they should not have taken
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KenL
Tour Rookie
£520 is not too cheap if the books are being balanced!
A lot of clubs near me do very well from visitor fees and are probably well managed. They charge their members what they need to charge to keep going forward.
A lot of clubs near me do very well from visitor fees and are probably well managed. They charge their members what they need to charge to keep going forward.
