Lanark_Golfer
Q-School Graduate
I like that idea Iain, rewarding loyalty sounds good to me. As long as they maintain good standards, it should work :thup:
joining fees
- Thread starter williamalex1
- Start date
I like that idea Iain, rewarding loyalty sounds good to me. As long as they maintain good standards, it should work :thup:
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
+1; same club, just wish I had been under 35
A lot of people moved from my previous club, many to clubs that had no joining fee, and a number of those are moving on again. It can leave those clubs in a precarious position year on year, the joining fee does at least indicate that you are serious about staying, which is what was impressed on me when I applied.
T
thecraw
Guest
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Same my place. Apart from the obvious pecuniary advantage - having a joining fee will most likely tie a new member in for at least a year or two, and if to be paid over say three years pay it does mean that a new member is likely to stay for at least three years.
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williamalex1
Money List Winner
Lanark ?
scratch
Q-School Graduate
You pretty much get what you pay for, if you want to be a member of a top quality course then you will most likely have to pay a joining fee. I paid one at my club and I think I get good value for my money.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Lanark it is.
Iain I also like that idea, clubs try and promote loyalty but when loyalty hits your pocket then people know where their true loyalties lie.
williamalex1
Money List Winner
I get 50% off my fees because i paid full fees to the same club for over 25 yrs and i'm now over 65 ,and i paid a JF to start. so loyalty does pay if you live long enough lucky me
Lanark_Golfer
Q-School Graduate
I agree with rewarding seniors with over 25 yrs loyalty but has to be at realistic rates. My present club has free subs after reaching 65 and having 25 or 30 years membership, think there is just a donation of around £70 to be paid. I think that was all well and good in the past, but people are living a lot longer and playing longer, more and more members are eligible for this and the club has less and less money coming in each year. When it is proposed to be changed and increase the amount to be paid by this group at the AGM each year, most of the eligible people and those approaching it vote against it and see it as their right. The big picture will see the course go downhill fast if this continues as the figures just don't add up.
Looks like our fees are going up by 8.4% or £120 as we apparently aren't getting the numbers in. We've ditched the joining fees too and it is becoming increasingly hard for as lot of clubs to entice and more importantly keep them. When we did have the joining fee, it seemed a number of "faces" left and decided the grass wasn't greener at the new place and came back but were exempt from the fee. Personally I don't think it's fair but now the problem has gone I guess its a mute point.
I don't see how increasing the fees will help. It penalises the existing membership for the inability of the board to have a successful recruitment and retention policy. I hope but doubt the new General Manager we've appointed this month will make a difference but we'll have to give him some time to prove me wrong
I don't see how increasing the fees will help. It penalises the existing membership for the inability of the board to have a successful recruitment and retention policy. I hope but doubt the new General Manager we've appointed this month will make a difference but we'll have to give him some time to prove me wrong
Fader
Tour Winner
I get why clubs say they charge joining fees but I don't personally agree with them. Ironically I've just moved to a club that do usually charge a joining fee, but currently they are waiving that for a limited number of new member from January until March wen it's being reinstated. If the fee was in place when I toon up the option to join I'd have looked elsewhere.
The way I see it is a joining fee is like a glorified admin fee! If someone said you had to pay 1k for the privilege of some guy filling out the paperwork to buy a new car or book a holiday you'd tell them where to go. It costs enough as a hobby to pay subs, have decent equipment, travel to and from course with current fuel prices etc for me to be able to justify joining fees as well.
The way I see it is a joining fee is like a glorified admin fee! If someone said you had to pay 1k for the privilege of some guy filling out the paperwork to buy a new car or book a holiday you'd tell them where to go. It costs enough as a hobby to pay subs, have decent equipment, travel to and from course with current fuel prices etc for me to be able to justify joining fees as well.
williamalex1
Money List Winner
Withthe discount i still pay around £300.00
Lanark_Golfer
Q-School Graduate
That sounds a fair deal, 50% is reasonable but free with a voluntary donation isn't feasible to me. Where do you play?
williamalex1
Money List Winner
Bellshill but used to be at Greenburn
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I've been looking at local clubs with a view to a move at some stage and the one that ticks most boxes is the one that has a joining fee. Well it doesn't but it does. Fees are £1221 a year for the first 5 years, then the rate drops to the "members loyalty rate" of £1071 - the difference being £750. So its a joining fee in all but name.........an extra £150 a year.
If a club has a Joining Fee or a pseudo one like above then I would definitely think twice about joining.
If a club has a Joining Fee or a pseudo one like above then I would definitely think twice about joining.
Lanark_Golfer
Q-School Graduate
Bellshill is one of the local course's I haven't played, might try and play if they have an open this year. Haven't played Greenburn for about 10 yrs either but can remember the hole with railway viaduct ob right and water down the left, was a tough hole with my driving
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thecraw
Guest
stevie_r
Tour Winner
Because I believe the broad concept to be that one day people would be subsidising you
Lanark_Golfer
Q-School Graduate
I think that's where the problem comes from, if more and more people are eligible (subsidised), there are less people left to subsidise or the fees need to keep rising and people end up leaving.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Why is it a rip-off?
If you really want to play there, then you'll pay it. If you don't want to pay it, then you you're not that bothered about playing there. No-one makes you pay it?
We still have one - and darned expensive it is too - but that doesn't stop us having a waiting list. And even though I say it myself, our course ain't that great. A decent "club" but only an "ok" course. But, as far as I know, the joining fees are ring-fenced to course improvements.
If you really want to play there, then you'll pay it. If you don't want to pay it, then you you're not that bothered about playing there. No-one makes you pay it?
We still have one - and darned expensive it is too - but that doesn't stop us having a waiting list. And even though I say it myself, our course ain't that great. A decent "club" but only an "ok" course. But, as far as I know, the joining fees are ring-fenced to course improvements.
