ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
What is wrong with exclusivity ? good luck to Mr Bamford and I hope he enjoys his course.
JCB Golf & Country Club
- Thread starter Fish
- Start date
What is wrong with exclusivity ? good luck to Mr Bamford and I hope he enjoys his course.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
It smacks of rich elitism that’s what’s wrong with it and its something that gives Golf a bad name - it has an image of a snobbish old boys game that is unwelcoming and unfriendly- and a course that is only for the rich just adds to that , especially at a time when lots of people are working hard to open the game up to as many as possible all over the UK
One of the best things about golf is that we are all able to walk and play the courses where legends and our heroes have played - these courses for me do nothing to help the image of the sport
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
There is exclusivity in all walks of life, I don't expect to play football at Wembley or tennis on centre court, if someone works hard to build up/run/maintain a business and wants to invest his hard earned cash in building an ultra exclusive club for himself and like minded individuals then good on him.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
It's a great way to lighten the bag of a few balls.
shortgame
Tour Rookie
Sounds a bit gimmicky
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Island greens are daunting card wreckers that often make you weep... but occasionally make your heart skip a little bit
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I can accept the challenge that it shows what's wrong with society today - the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer / top 1% have more wealth than the remaining 99% etc.
But this isn't the problem with golf. In fact I'd argue that golf is the most available sport to the masses, when it comes to playing at the Mecca's of the game.
Like others have said I can't play footy @ Wembley, Rugby @ Twickers, Tennis @ Wimbledon. But, whilst some courses are unavailable, I can play golf at Troon, Turnberry, Sunningdale, St Andrews, Pebble Beach, Dornoch, Sawgrass, Quail Hollow, Valderama etc etc etc
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
my friend Robin is the architect (he also did the 7th and 18 greens at our place, along with several other courses) and have been following some progress over teh last couple of years. Not sure when it is opening but looking very nice now. Not sure on membership policies etc
Jamesbrown
Head Pro
Nothing. If I could play for exclusivity I would!
I know I dream of it when I’m stuck behind groups and approaching 5 hour rounds!
Wrighty90
New member
I have been lucky enough to play it. I worked for JCB for 14 years and an old colleague got me on as a guest. I can confirm it’s a spectacular course. It’s literally 18 signature hole. Corporate membership only for JCB dealers and suppliers. Base package is £13k per year and that’s for 100 round and one corporate day for up to 60 people. I’ve played 3 of the worlds top 100 courses. The JCB course is better than they were. Simply stunning.
Why can't there be private clubs that don't give access to the unwashed? I don't care that they shut the gates to the vast majority of golfers. I'd rather they did that than open them then treat you as something on the bottom of their shoe - and there's plenty of those out there too.
Equally, I do wonder how many golfers hold a similar snobbery when it comes to whether or not they'd play at a municipal in the middle of a council estate? Is there a faint whiff of (childish) entitlement when people express the feeling they should be allowed to play anywhere?
Its a private, exclusive club that fits a particular niche in the game. We have plenty of choice of great courses that also give a great welcome.
Equally, I do wonder how many golfers hold a similar snobbery when it comes to whether or not they'd play at a municipal in the middle of a council estate? Is there a faint whiff of (childish) entitlement when people express the feeling they should be allowed to play anywhere?
Its a private, exclusive club that fits a particular niche in the game. We have plenty of choice of great courses that also give a great welcome.
Is the clubhouse completed now, I know it was on target for the end of September with the 10 luxury lodges to be completed by the end of the year.
Here’s the breakdown of the packages.
JCB 100 (100 rounds of golf per year + 1 x corporate day for upto 60 people)
JCB 160 (160 rounds of golf per year + 2 x corporate days for upto 60 people)
JCB 240 (240 rounds of golf per year + 2 x corporate days for upto 60 people and 2 x shotgun corporate days)
The JCB 100 membership package is £15,000 for 1 year but the most cost effective way of becoming a member is to take a 3 year membership as year 1 and 2 are heavily discounted so you only pay £15,000 in year 3. Membership can of course be paid annually.
Andy
Tour Winner
Hope it's better than his plant, that won't be hard though.
D
Deleted member 21258
Guest
Corporate membership is being offered to the course for non dealers btw.
It is more expensive than fairly equivalent Woburn corporate membership setup, was quite surprised with the costs(but the membership is slightly different in splits and number of rounds/corporate day and more exclusive but less courses available so not a direct comparison).
A few pictures are now appearing online of the course from people who have played it.
It is more expensive than fairly equivalent Woburn corporate membership setup, was quite surprised with the costs(but the membership is slightly different in splits and number of rounds/corporate day and more exclusive but less courses available so not a direct comparison).
A few pictures are now appearing online of the course from people who have played it.
Wrighty90
New member
Not yet. Due to open in October. There a press day at the end of the month, so it will be in all the magazines and what have you in November.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
If it’s not open to the public then I’ll be surprised if much of the press are bothered - along with clubs like Queenswood it will be just be nice and quiet in the press and left to the rich and famous
Captainron
Big Hitting, South African Sweary Person
I have no problem with exclusive clubs and I see why some ultra rich would want to play at a club which was less busy than a normal members club or a muni.
Wrighty90
New member
this course is all about publicity. It’s not there to make money from fees or membership. The Bamfords are multi billionaires. Think of the John Deere Classic in the USA. This is bamfords aim. Get a tour event signed up and get his brand on the telly. Matt Fitzpatrick was playing it last week with the CEO. Apparently he was blown away. This is purely a marketing tool and JCB are second to none when it comes to publicising their brand.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
As with John Deree though it’s a brand that is for specialists as opposed for the general public . To get a tour event they just need to spend a lot of money but i suspect it will struggle to attach anything more than a gimmicky event just like the Centurion Club. Because of the exclusive nature of the club it would be interesting to see if the ET would look to hold something there.
Whilst I agree, it’s not just for the overly rich or famous who would like a bit less attention when out in the public domain.
I made enquiries and have received all the forms to join some months ago so it’s for anyone who owns a company and can afford the corporate membership.
Anything the Bamfords do succeeds, restaurants, shops, organic farms and much more......this is just another venture but as a firm brexiter (oh dear that’s done it), he’s building factories and offices all over the world and this golf course with the luxury lodges will be a great playground for his top customers from around the world to come, visit & play golf.
Fair play to him I say.
