Joining fees - did you have one?

[Imurg]

Yes but your job does have its compensations.

It does, but it means I can't take golf seriously....apparently

 

[richart]

When I joined my Club there was no joining fee, and if there had been I wouldn't have joined. I hadn't played for about ten years and wasn't sure I was going to enjoy playing again, so would not have forked out the money. Blackmoor was the only reasonable club in the area without one, so they got lumbered with me.

 

[backwoodsman]

We pay a hefty joining fee - currently still 2x the annual sub. And it's pay up front without option to spread payments over a few year. I was happy to pay, as it was the club I wanted to join.

As to what its for, yes its an inducement to stay - but at least the money is spent on the course. It's set aside for the ongoing programme of course improvements. The subs just pay the day to day costs.

I think if they now scrapped it I'd be a bit miffed but could live with it - as long as the course still got the investment

 

[davidg2010uk]

My joining fee was £850 4 years ago but its now dropped to £500. Most in the area don't have one now so I think we had to drop in order to attract a decent number of new players.

 

[JCW]

Yes , mine was £2250 , you can pay in two payments or 3 payments or monthly . I paid mine over 2 years , 2nd one in jan , fantastic golf course in views and condition .............................EYG

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Twenty years ago when I joined I paid a £1500.00 joining fee and was pleased to do so even tho' it was for restricted 5 day membership, took around 2 years to get unrestricted 5 day + another 3 to get 7 day. How times have changed.

 

[Break90]

I'm currently on the waiting list to join Gog Magog GC in Cambridge, joining fee is £900, on top of annual membership of £1125, so a shade over £2000 in year 1.


to my knowledge there are no options to pay the joining fee or annual subs by DD or any way other than up front.


However there are 2 courses, both in quality condition year round, extensive practice facilities etc, and the fact that there is a wait list indicates to me that the standard will be good enough to warrant the outlay.


my only issue is integrating myself into the club, as I am joining on my own and I don't know anyone who plays there. Having read the comment above about members not wanting to play with newbies and not being able to enter comps etc, I'd need to know I would be able to get a game before I laid out the cash.

 

[chellie]

I'm currently on the waiting list to join Gog Magog GC in Cambridge, joining fee is £900, on top of annual membership of £1125, so a shade over £2000 in year 1.


to my knowledge there are no options to pay the joining fee or annual subs by DD or any way other than up front.


However there are 2 courses, both in quality condition year round, extensive practice facilities etc, and the fact that there is a wait list indicates to me that the standard will be good enough to warrant the outlay.


my only issue is integrating myself into the club, as I am joining on my own and I don't know anyone who plays there. Having read the comment above about members not wanting to play with newbies and not being able to enter comps etc, I'd need to know I would be able to get a game before I laid out the cash.

We were welcomed with open arms at our club and hopefully any you join will be the same. Even me who had never played golf previously. HimID asked at the pro shop if there was anyone he could play with on a weekend and the pro knew straight away a group he could join. He also just puts himself down to play with anyone in a comp if friends he's made haven't been available. He's yet to find anyone he hasn't enjoyed playing with even doing it that way. Also, ours has the BRS booking system and unless all four slots are booked the rule is that you can you can just add yourself. If people don't want anyone joining them they will reserve all slots for that time. Will the pro tell you honestly how friendly the club is?

 

[ger147]

I'm currently on the waiting list to join Gog Magog GC in Cambridge, joining fee is £900, on top of annual membership of £1125, so a shade over £2000 in year 1.


to my knowledge there are no options to pay the joining fee or annual subs by DD or any way other than up front.


However there are 2 courses, both in quality condition year round, extensive practice facilities etc, and the fact that there is a wait list indicates to me that the standard will be good enough to warrant the outlay.


my only issue is integrating myself into the club, as I am joining on my own and I don't know anyone who plays there. Having read the comment above about members not wanting to play with newbies and not being able to enter comps etc, I'd need to know I would be able to get a game before I laid out the cash.

As it was me who made that post, my advice would be to ask if you can pop in to your prospective new club for a chat and ask them about the topics above. I did that with the club I joined this year after my 2012 experience and I was more than satisfied with the answers I was given and I haven't looked back since joining my current club.

 

[Break90]

Thanks for the replies, I'm waiting to be invited to meet the committee, I guess I can ask the question then, I've also met and booked some lessons with the pro so I can have a chat with him about it as well.

i honestly don't think it will be a problem, I'm happy to make the effort to meet new people.

Thanks again.

 

[cookelad]

I'm currently on the waiting list to join Gog Magog GC in Cambridge, joining fee is £900, on top of annual membership of £1125, so a shade over £2000 in year 1.


to my knowledge there are no options to pay the joining fee or annual subs by DD or any way other than up front.


However there are 2 courses, both in quality condition year round, extensive practice facilities etc, and the fact that there is a wait list indicates to me that the standard will be good enough to warrant the outlay.


my only issue is integrating myself into the club, as I am joining on my own and I don't know anyone who plays there. Having read the comment above about members not wanting to play with newbies and not being able to enter comps etc, I'd need to know I would be able to get a game before I laid out the cash.

I'll agree with Chellie speak to the pro about which swindles readily accept newbies in my experience these groups accept anyone with the stake money in their pocket, just be careful which groups you approach at my club the stakes at can vary from £2 a round to a £15 Nassau (fiver front, fiver back and fiver overall) which is a bit rich for my taste!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm currently on the waiting list to join Gog Magog GC in Cambridge, joining fee is £900, on top of annual membership of £1125, so a shade over £2000 in year 1.


to my knowledge there are no options to pay the joining fee or annual subs by DD or any way other than up front.


However there are 2 courses, both in quality condition year round, extensive practice facilities etc, and the fact that there is a wait list indicates to me that the standard will be good enough to warrant the outlay.


my only issue is integrating myself into the club, as I am joining on my own and I don't know anyone who plays there. Having read the comment above about members not wanting to play with newbies and not being able to enter comps etc, I'd need to know I would be able to get a game before I laid out the cash.

I'd ask the secretary about the roll-ups that members or the club have arranged through the week. we have a roll-up most days - and two on saturdays and sundays. Times of these are known to all members and any member can roll up to any of them. No restrictions - no questions asked - other than 'hi - you new to the club? - welcome'

 

[macca64]

£860 at our place, bit steep, but wanted to join the club so I had pay it !

 

[PNWokingham]

Ours was a grand when I joined in 2006 - I think it may be £1,800 now. You also have to have a debenture - mine cost a grand but has a face value of 9k

 

[Liverbirdie]

I got my joining fee at half price (£250 instead of £500). I was a bit miffed that 3 months later they had a "membership-drive" where they dropped the joining fee altogether, but I was happy to pay it at the time, so hey ho.

Honestly, I'm not too sure if we still even have a joining fee.

Where was that, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Hobbit]

Paid £330 nearly 30 yrs ago, when just about every where had a joining fee. Paid it because there was little choice back then but obviously would have prefered to keep the money in my pocket.

Nowadays I wouldn't pay unless it was truly outstanding.

 

[Alan]

Just paid £450 to join Auchterarder right next door to Gleneagles with a yearly fee of £515 although I'm getting £100 off that.

I think that's fine,for such a good club already starting to feel an affinity to it already as between the members, staff and pro I've felt very welcome, it's a cracking course too.

I used to be in a club that was similar fees with no joining fees but I felt I was just a cash cow with no appreciation of my membership.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

A joining fee is just like anything else we buy..... There are many categories of golfer out there and many golf clubs. Someone who doesn't take it too seriously and only wants to play occasionally will go for a club where there are no joining fee amd low annual subs, someone who is serious about the game and wishes to play at a top course with all the practice facilities etc will expect to pay a joining fee and much higher subs, that's just how it is supply and demand.

With respect, that is complete nonsense!

Are you suggesting that everyone that is a member of The Berkshire for example is more serious about their golf than those who play down the road at the muni Pine Ridge just because they pay high subs and a joining fee? Or am I more serious about my golf now I've joined RAGC than I was when I was a member of muni Hoebridge?

There are a lot of very serious golfers who can't afford to join a club or decide not to join a club. There are also a lot of not so serious golfers who join more expensive clubs for the perceived status and nothing to do with golf.

I'll let you know when I win the lottery and join Sunningdale and have become a serious golfer.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Mine was £6000 and its worth every penny

We have lots of non serious golfers at the club

 

[Deleted member 17920]

A joining fee is just like anything else we buy..... There are many categories of golfer out there and many golf clubs. Someone who doesn't take it too seriously and only wants to play occasionally will go for a club where there are no joining fee amd low annual subs, someone who is serious about the game and wishes to play at a top course with all the practice facilities etc will expect to pay a joining fee and much higher subs, that's just how it is supply and demand.

It is also about affordability in these times. We have a few guys in the area who are off +1 and +2 who just cant afford to join our club. I am sure that they pretty serious about the game.