I was right!

[Imurg]

Some of you may remember my fears about my club going bust and leaving me with a useless membership. Well I was right to be worried.
The Pro (who is a mate) is leaving as he's making no money from the shop due to insufficient members and pay'n'players buying or having lessons. He took me to one side today and advised me to not join next year as the finances of the club are on a knife edge. The Directors have been in negotiations with a 3rd party who were interested in buying the place and injecting serious money.

However, these negotiations broke down at the final hurdle and they've pulled out. According to the Pro, unless they get a large influx of new members this May, they have until September/October before they run out of money. And that's just not going to happen. I'm paid up until the end of April - just hope they don't close the doors before then.

 

[SammmeBee]

What's the club Imurg?

 

[medwayjon]

Really glad you got a bit of sound advice there to prevent any loss of money.

This is why I always pay by DD as you never know.

I dont know if the members of Kent National got their money back?

 

[Imurg]

What's the club Imurg?

Not going to spill the beans completely just in case I need to go back there!! Assuming its still there of course!!

 

[brendy]

Ian thats not great news. I suspect the pro has maybe told a few members the same news so I would doubt they will be hanging about either. If they leave then that makes the recruitment job twice as hard especially if word gets out.
Are there any other good courses/clubs nearby?

 

[Imurg]

Yeah Brendy, I've been eyeing up another club about 5 minutes further away from this one for a month or 2 now. Its longer, better presented, more expensive - but not too bad, and I think that's where I'll go when my membership runs out April 30th. Its £700 against £540 but over the year that's nothing really.

Its a club that I'd be happy to entertain Forum members at - which I can't say for the current one!

 

[brendy]

160 over the year is the equivalent to a jumper, pack of balls and an evening in the clubhouse if even, id say your mind is made up Ian! In fact the sooner the better if word does get out.

 

[haplesshacker]

Having just forked out for full membership, I hope this isn't a cautionary tale

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My advice would be to get your application in at the new club sooner rather than later. Once the news of your current clubs situation because public knowledge everyone will be looking to jump ship and it may make getting full membership at the new place harder if they have received loads of other applications. £160 over the course of a year isn't that much and if as you say it is a better course it can only improve your game.

 

[viscount17]

Its a club that I'd be happy to entertain Forum members at - which I can't say for the current one!

pencil me in for the summer then. I know the club, played there once, not too well, so a return visit would be nice

 

[muttleee]

If I were a member of that club and lost my membership fees, I would be pretty steamed to know that the pro had been tipping his friends off about the financial problems there while leaving everyone else to rue the cost of a year's subs going up in smoke.

 

[Dodger]

That's what friends are for tho! You wouldn't be complaining if he was your mate and gave you the heads up would you,but you would if he didn't!!

 

[Smiffy]

Glad to hear you were forewarned.
About 15 years ago, my brother David decided he wanted to get into golf and applied to join Dale Hill in Sussex. He was told that if he invested £5,000.00 he would get 10 years membership frozen at the current rate.
Despite my reservations and warnings, he went ahead and did it. Six months later Dale Hill was sold and my brothers membership went the way of the wind. The new owners wouldn't honour it, the best they could offer was green fees at members rates.

 

[Herbie]

That's what friends are for tho! You wouldn't be complaining if he was your mate and gave you the heads up would you,but you would if he didn't!!

We all must be good friends cos we all know now!

 

[mansell]

What's the club Imurg?

Not going to spill the beans completely just in case I need to go back there!! Assuming its still there of course!!

I think you should if someone PM you