Intersting Article Reduced Fees for Seniors

[jplkorea83]

Let me put this the other way round. Why should the 20odd/30odd year olds, get reduced fees. A lot are on good money. Many of you have put forward argument as to why they should. Ok so if we take your points and let them. Surely that samething applies to OAP's. They may have been on a reasonable wage when/if they worked. But the drop in income on retiring can be massive. So surely the same augments for the young also apply to the old.

I became an OAP 2 days ago I still pay full membership with no problem. So the above does not apply to me .

I'm on good money but the issue I have is that these days it is near impossible to buy a house in your 20's compared to what it was like for my parents generation. Luckily we're doing so this year but we've had to graft to do so and sacrifice a lot. I work in central London but we're looking at a good 20-30 miles away from London just to get on the housing ladder. It meant that I wasn't able to afford to play golf for the last four years, although luckily I got a pay rise this year so now I can!

It's a sport that is far too expensive for all ages anyway.

 

[Crazyface]

Poor pensioners? Have a look on the car park in the morning in the week. It's rammed at ours. And with nice smart cars too. Then have a look later in the day, as the workers pop in for a "quick 9". Battered 2nd hand jobbies, that you pray will get through the MOT each time it goes in. Don't forget the money they all spend on petrol to get there, oh and insurance too, that won't be cheap driving around in nice newer cars. If they can afford to do this, then they can afford FULL price. Seniors getting reductions no chance. No arguements, no discussions END OF. I'm looking to change clubs to one that operates same prices for everyone this year, and have found one. I'm sick of hearing how our club is struggling and needs members to use the bar, then let the ones who use the course the most pay 40% less. Until this disparity is sorted they have lost me as a member.

 

[bladeplayer]

Poor pensioners? Have a look on the car park in the morning in the week. It's rammed at ours. And with nice smart cars too. Then have a look later in the day, as the workers pop in for a "quick 9". Battered 2nd hand jobbies, that you pray will get through the MOT each time it goes in. Don't forget the money they all spend on petrol to get there, oh and insurance too, that won't be cheap driving around in nice newer cars. If they can afford to do this, then they can afford FULL price. Seniors getting reductions no chance. No arguements, no discussions END OF. I'm looking to change clubs to one that operates same prices for everyone this year, and have found one. I'm sick of hearing how our club is struggling and needs members to use the bar, then let the ones who use the course the most pay 40% less. Until this disparity is sorted they have lost me as a member.

But how do you REALY REALY feel tho cf ??

 

[Dodger]

It is about age groups being under represented as is the case with 21 to 30's at mine.

We are hugely top heavy with a massive percentage being aged 55 and over.

What happens in 20 years time when these old boys are pushing up the daisies if we still have the severe shortage in numbers at the other end? I'll tell you,there would be no club.

Maybe it is down to areas but we have/had a huge problem where kids did not continue to play as the cost jump was too high so we addressed it and it's been a real success.What we do not have is a shortage of older/retired people continuing to play AND joining as new members.......this part of the world appears to be a hotbed for fairly well off people arriving from elsewhere to retire,the majority have been from South.

Long term thinking,not short term, is needed at golf clubs up and down the country as present.

 

[Mick47]

It is about age groups being under represented as is the case with 21 to 30's at mine.

We are hugely top heavy with a massive percentage being aged 55 and over.

What happens in 20 years time when these old boys are pushing up the daisies if we still have the severe shortage in numbers at the other end? I'll tell you,there would be no club.

Maybe it is down to areas but we have/had a huge problem where kids did not continue to play as the cost jump was too high so we addressed it and it's been a real success.What we do not have is a shortage of older/retired people continuing to play AND joining as new members.......this part of the world appears to be a hotbed for fairly well off people arriving from elsewhere to retire,the majority have been from South.

Long term thinking,not short term, is needed at golf clubs up and down the country as present.

Do you rearly think that when the oldies turn their toes up that will be it, no club. When we oldies finally check out, we will be replaced by you, unless you've found the secret to eternal youth. You my friend will be the oldie, hope you've got a good pension or you too will find yourself sipping a half and sharing a bag of crisps with your oldie mates and wondering if you will be able to manage the fees next year.

 

[jp5]

It's impossible to sweep everyone into the same bracket. Some seniors may have a stack of cash, a nice car whereas some may just be living on their small pension. Similarly, a 22 year old out of uni and into a job in the city will have plenty of money for a full membership, but the reality is that most 22 year olds are probably in a low paid job still leaving at home... sounds like we need means-tested golf memberships

 

[jplkorea83]

It's impossible to sweep everyone into the same bracket. Some seniors may have a stack of cash, a nice car whereas some may just be living on their small pension. Similarly, a 22 year old out of uni and into a job in the city will have plenty of money for a full membership, but the reality is that most 22 year olds are probably in a low paid job still leaving at home... sounds like we need means-tested golf memberships

Just don't get the government invloved......

 

[Dodger]

Do you rearly think that when the oldies turn their toes up that will be it, no club. When we oldies finally check out, we will be replaced by you, unless you've found the secret to eternal youth. You my friend will be the oldie, hope you've got a good pension or you too will find yourself sipping a half and sharing a bag of crisps with your oldie mates and wondering if you will be able to manage the fees next year.

And there lies a reason why many clubs around the country are struggling.

Wrong on so many counts.

Time to bail out before something is said I may regret........:sbox:

 

[bigslice]

And there lies a reason why many clubs around the country are struggling.

Wrong on so many counts.

Time to bail out before something is said I may regret........:sbox:

lol and after you posting that you had researched the age groups aswell.

 

[FairwayDodger]

It is about age groups being under represented as is the case with 21 to 30's at mine.

We are hugely top heavy with a massive percentage being aged 55 and over.

What happens in 20 years time when these old boys are pushing up the daisies if we still have the severe shortage in numbers at the other end? I'll tell you,there would be no club.

It's going back a few years now but I was a junior member and when I turned 18 I simply couldn't afford the full fees nor justify them given college commitments, other interests etc.

I played occasionally - works outings, public courses. Latterly I hardly played at all. Last year I joined a club as a full member for the first time - aged 41.

Maybe with a discount I could have remained a member instead of drifting in and out of golf for the next 20 years.

 

[muttleee]

It's just supply and demand. If clubs thought they could get away with charging full whack to everybody, I imagine they would do it but if they have to have tiered pricing for different age groups, so be it. All the young 'uns who resent senior discounts now will no doubt be glad to make use of the same discounts when their time comes.

 

[Mick47]

I wonder if the age range at golf clubs is any different now to what it was 40 years ago. Thinking about it I couldn't have afforded to be a member of a golf club much before my forties. Apprentice money would not stretch to even reduced fees, then came girls, motorbikes, cars, marriage, mortgages and children, so no spare cash for golf fees. In my forties things got easier and golf would have been a possibility. So if I'm typical then it is hardly supprising that older members are in the majority.

 

[rosecott]

Poor pensioners? Have a look on the car park in the morning in the week. It's rammed at ours. And with nice smart cars too. Then have a look later in the day, as the workers pop in for a "quick 9". Battered 2nd hand jobbies, that you pray will get through the MOT each time it goes in.

I would say that much less than half of the 50 or so of our Seniors who turn up midweek have "nice smart cars" - mine is 10 years old. At weekends, however, that is when the Mercs, Beemers, Audis etc. fill the carpark.

 

[papyt]

al adults from 18 and above should pay full green fees no exceptions why should oap members pay less they can play more often than working members ( stop giggling at the back ) and lets face it they are using the same course!!

 

[chrisd]

You cant judge the members on their cars, having a decent car doesn't mean that they have bundles of money to pay for golf and all the trimmings. I have had some fairly decent cars for the last 40 years but the majority have been company supplied cars that go with the job.

 

[Captain_Black]

I think the days of people retiring on a good liveable pension are coming to an end.
Not many firms now operate a final salary scheme & with interest rates at an all time low cutting returns on investments / savings, future pensioners will find it tough just to live from day to day, never mind being able to afford golf club fee's.

 

[Jackooo]

Totally agree. We have a big seniors roll up on a Monday and the majority have a pot of tea or half a bitter. Hardly going to do much for profits. Granted I don't want them necking pint after pint but its a fallacy to say just because they are in the club a lot they are parting with much money and keeping it afloat.

My biggest argument is with the reduced payments at the other end. I've no qualms about junior rates and quite happy to have a single increment from junior to intermediate (say 22 year old) to take into account college/uni getting into a job, buying or renting a place etc. However once you've hit 23 you should be able to stand on your own feet and I can't see why clubs keep giving them discounts. I think you can get a discount until 28 at my place. Ludicrous

I have to disagree, I am 23 year old and having taken a break from golf 5 years to concentrate on education and my career, found that coming into a freelance and highly tight knit industry it was even harder to stand on my 2 feet. Work being sporadic and seasonal. A big decision in choosing a club was finding a competitive intermediate package, helping me to get started again, joining in the social side of golf and eventually (and gradually) paying more annually until I reach a 'full' membership price. Obviously at this point I would (hopefully) be in a financial position to continue this.

I think the intermediate membership prices offered by many clubs these days is a great incentive for younger players to join, the reduced fees hopefully bringing the promise of loyalty to that club.