Life Members

[Junior]

Is anyone in here a member of a club that offers life / honorary membership? Eg, To cater for a member who’s been at the club 40/50 years and who can only play half a dozen holes a couple of times a week due to health.

If so, what are the qualifications and how does your club manage such situations?

Thanks

 

[irip]

Is anyone in here a member of a club that offers life / honorary membership? Eg, To cater for a member who’s been at the club 40/50 years and who can only play half a dozen holes a couple of times a week due to health.

If so, what are the qualifications and how does your club manage such situations?

Thanks

The last place I was at had 4 honoury members.
It was decided by the committee who to add once a space had become available.
Time served was one consideration but other factors like any other positions or time served on the committee.
They didn’t pay any fees and had the same rights as any other member.
To be fair to them they always used to buy every one a drink at certain functions throughout the year.

They always teed off first in the first comp of the year and were often seen around the club.

They were always invited to do any ceremonial duties/speeches when playing other clubs or charity days and they always did the draw for the knockouts (in front of anyone who wanted to attend).

 

[srixon 1]

50 years continuous full membership at our club. Not sure how many we currently have. 12 years to go for me. If I’m still here, I’ll be 76 by then.

 

[PaulMdj]

Is anyone in here a member of a club that offers life / honorary membership? Eg, To cater for a member who’s been at the club 40/50 years and who can only play half a dozen holes a couple of times a week due to health.

If so, what are the qualifications and how does your club manage such situations?

Thanks

We have 3, I believe, one is an ex-Chairman who has been with the Club over 60 years and served the Club in virtually every capacity over the years.

The 2nd is a Para-Olympian a local lad who was a member of the Club and has competed in numerous Olympics/World and European Championships and after the last Olympics was recognised by the Council for his efforts and we also gave him life honorary membership.

The last one is a bloke I don’t know, but he’s been an Honarary member for over 25 years and he got it for work he did for the Club in the 1990’s.

All 3 had to be voted on in an AGM.

They just turn up and play like anyone else, the 3rd bloke I’ve only seen once on the course in over 10 years.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Be very, very careful about this. Check the number of people who might qualify, not just now but over the next 5-10 years. A previous club I was at had too loose qualifying, I think it was something like 30 consecutive years of membership. It was a very locals based club where people didn't move house, didn't move club, and so they were losing full paying members every year. More than they could really deal with.

Sounds like a nice idea but tread carefully. Personally, I wouldn't have it. Even if you limit the numbers, how do you choose? What if people are put out because they aren't asked?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We have one Honorary LM…Lottie Woad.

There is no history/expectation of awarding LMs in the club and there are no criteria for awarding LM…so such as longevity of membership or services to the club wouldn’t be automatically recognised - though I can think of a previous finance director who might merit it as some 20yrs ago he basically saved the club from going under.

My previous club gave LM to a group of members who each stumped up a load of £££ to help the club buy the land the club was on when it was up for sale. Truth is I got the feeling that the ‘good’ these members did was rather forgotten over time and their LMs became a bit problematic for some members…and perhaps also ongoing club finances.

As @Lord Tyrion says…I’d be very, very wary about setting criteria for the awarding of LMs.

 

[Junior]

Thanks for the replies folks

I guess to provide some context as to why I’m asking.

A good friend of mine and his dad play at a course close-ish to mine. My friends dad is 82. Been a member of his club for 50+ years but not held any positions of note (couple of committee positions). But he has played for various club teams over the years.

The club is his life really. He lost his wife some years back and the club keeps him going. But, due to ill health, he only plays a loop of 4 holes, 6 max a few times a week. He doesn’t enjoy a chip and putt in the practise area too !

He doesn’t have a lot of money and membership is now upwards of £1300 and he is struggling to justify it. The club do have a few life members but the AGM has passed, so my mate is writing a letter to the committee to see what can be done.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

We have just the one life member and that was given to someone who each year raised at least £20k for charity over the last 20/30 years

We do have reduced fees for long standing members- have to be at the club for 40 years and starts at 70

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I’m not a fan of handing out life memberships with full rights even to those that have effectively served their time. It’s to selective in how it’s done, criteria made up to suit etc. Plus your losing money to effectively give status so people and making them more important other members.

Seen it 2 previous clubs and neither worked or ended well. One had the criteria set at 35 years continuous, that didn’t go down well when one year they 12 people qualify for it at the same time which effectively put the club down £12,000 on membership income in one go but weren’t accepting new membership! By the time I left they had something like 31 LM and were having to change their club constitution to remove the LM option which then meant they lost other members who were due to qualify for it and had only stayed as it was on their horizon.

We do have reduced fees for long standing members- have to be at the club for 40 years and starts at 70

Seems the fairest and most sensible way to do it. Can’t see how anyone would have issue with that and keeps some revenue in the club.

 

[irip]

Thanks for the replies folks

I guess to provide some context as to why I’m asking.

A good friend of mine and his dad play at a course close-ish to mine. My friends dad is 82. Been a member of his club for 50+ years but not held any positions of note (couple of committee positions). But he has played for various club teams over the years.

The club is his life really. He lost his wife some years back and the club keeps him going. But, due to ill health, he only plays a loop of 4 holes, 6 max a few times a week. He doesn’t enjoy a chip and putt in the practise area too !

He doesn’t have a lot of money and membership is now upwards of £1300 and he is struggling to justify it. The club do have a few life members but the AGM has passed, so my mate is writing a letter to the committee to see what can be done.

Hi mate.
Just thinking out loud but maybe the old chap could offer his services to the club in return for free/reduced membership?

Either being a starter/marshall or helping with the junior section.

Even collecting balls on the range (if they have one).

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Thanks for the replies folks

I guess to provide some context as to why I’m asking.

A good friend of mine and his dad play at a course close-ish to mine. My friends dad is 82. Been a member of his club for 50+ years but not held any positions of note (couple of committee positions). But he has played for various club teams over the years.

The club is his life really. He lost his wife some years back and the club keeps him going. But, due to ill health, he only plays a loop of 4 holes, 6 max a few times a week. He doesn’t enjoy a chip and putt in the practise area too !

He doesn’t have a lot of money and membership is now upwards of £1300 and he is struggling to justify it. The club do have a few life members but the AGM has passed, so my mate is writing a letter to the committee to see what can be done.

Might be worth seeing if they can do some sort of social+ type membership. My dad’s whole world revolved around the Golf club, when he was struggling with his cancer and couldn’t walk the course properly the club offered him a social+ membership. This allowed him full use of the clubhouse facilities and attend all the socials etc, it also allowed him use of practice facilities to chip, putt and have a knock on the practice area with so he still got his fix and was still to the end an integral member able join the roll ups maybe not on course but in the bar and practice area before and after. It worked amazingly well for his physical and mental health at a time when he was struggling and none of the members had issue with it.

I can’t remember the exact costs but I think a social membership there was £100, and I think we paid £200 to have Social+, it was effectively a category they made up for him but they have since kept it for people that can no longer walk the course and has been embraced by the membership as it keeps guys like you fiends dad in the community and gives them purpose.

 

[Springveldt]

Just had a look at the latest financial statement for the club and it would appear there are 21 honorary life members. 17 men and 4 woman based on the titles given. I know a few of the men’s names, most appear to be past or current President/Chairman/Captain’s who have served the club in some capacity for the 10 years since I joined.

One of the men on the list is a guy who donates a ridiculous amount of money nearly every year to the club. Club donations last year was £164K and I’d imagine most of that was him, it’s not uncommon to look at donations and him giving nearly £100K a year. I don’t know him but obviously know of him. I believe he’s in his mid/late 70’s now and will be a massive miss by the club when the time comes that his donations stop.

One of the woman is a young lass who I guess they thought was going to go on to be a top pro but seems to have disappeared for a bit.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I am an honorary member of a club, along with a Ryder/Walker Cup player, three England Golf Internationalists and a retired long standing club secretary
I have all the playing/handicap rights as a paying member.
I do not think I have voting rights, never asked and would not dream of applying them

My Brothers old club gave him free membership after 40 years membership [he was a committee member for around 10 years]
I think he had to pay SGU and County fees only

 

[Imurg]

We have 7 Lifers...
All people who have poured enough of their lives into the club to warrant it...
Plus our recently retired Head Greenkeeper who, although he'll soon be moving to Yorkshire, will never have to pay for a round at Ellesborough.
We don't do many.....and I guess the process involves someone being suggested to the Committee who then put it to a vote....

 

[Lord Tyrion]

One of the woman is a young lass who I guess they thought was going to go on to be a top pro but seems to have disappeared for a bit.

I remember that decision and I didn't see how it made any sense. What if she doesn't want to turn pro, or doesn't make it? What if she returns as a regular member. She gets free membership for the next 40 odd years . At £1k or so a year, plus inflation, how popular will that be with the members?

 

[IanM]

Newport has a few. One was the Amateur Champion, one a Ryder Cupper, etc. Previously there were Welsh Internationals etc.

A mate of mine is a life member of Tredegar Park having completed 50 years as a member.

 

[backwoodsman]

Our constitution allows for 25 life members. We currently have 5. There is no automatic entry to the category - to be become as such you need to have long time membership under your belt, and more importantly, to have contibuted to the club in a significant manner, and to be elected into the category at the AGM.

In practice, names & reasons get suggested to the club 'Council' - who then debate and decide. If they agree, the name is put to the AGM for election. Which is really a formality - don't think a Council recommendation has ever not passed. But its not unusual for names to not get past Council.

 

[The Squirrel]

. But, due to ill health, he only plays a loop of 4 holes, 6 max a few times a week. He doesn’t enjoy a chip and putt in the practise area too !

This is going to sound brutal, but if he’s not done much beyond pay his fees and play the course then it rather weakens the argument for special treatment …

He’s still getting in 18 holes or so per week and several visits. Lots of working members with families will play once per week - I’m probably around that, or less. Why should he get a discount for limited use when he’s still using the course and other facilities just as much, if not more, than probably half the membership?

If he’s did reach the point where course play was not possible then a range/practice membership or a social membership, which nearly all clubs have already, would surely suit perfectly. I don’t really see how you/he can say “the club is his life” and he’s there several times per week, but in the same sentence that he’s struggling to justify the value of membership. He’d certainly like the idea of paying a lower cost, of course, and see other costs in his life rising, but that definitely applies to every single other member too; and you have to be fair to all.

 

[Junior]

This is going to sound brutal, but if he’s not done much beyond pay his fees and play the course then it rather weakens the argument for special treatment …

He’s still getting in 18 holes or so per week and several visits. Lots of working members with families will play once per week - I’m probably around that, or less. Why should he get a discount for limited use when he’s still using the course and other facilities just as much, if not more, than probably half the membership?

If he’s did reach the point where course play was not possible then a range/practice membership or a social membership, which nearly all clubs have already, would surely suit perfectly. I don’t really see how you/he can say “the club is his life” and he’s there several times per week, but in the same sentence that he’s struggling to justify the value of membership. He’d certainly like the idea of paying a lower cost, of course, and see other costs in his life rising, but that definitely applies to every single other member too; and you have to be fair to all.

His health has deteriorated badly, and he thinks he’ll struggle to play as much as he did (which as I said was a few loops of 3-6 holes) per week.

He’s there several times a week, but will often go for lunch and a chip and a putt.

You make valid points along the same lines as other members at the club.

 

[The Squirrel]

His health has deteriorated badly, and he thinks he’ll struggle to play as much as he did (which as I said was a few loops of 3-6 holes) per week.

He’s there several times a week, but will often go for lunch and a chip and a putt.

You make valid points along the same lines as other members at the club.

In my place he could get a membership category with 10 9-hole rounds included as well as access to range, practice facility and clubhouse for less than 20% of full membership, or even a social membership for a nominal fee. Something like that would suit well it sounds like, [and I’d bet they’d change 10 9-holers to 15 5-holers (we have a natural 5-hole loop) without a murmur]. Does this club have something similar?
I’d certainly expect any club to be understanding and flexible in allowing a member to move between membership categories where poor health has clearly intervened, with some pro rata refunds where it is clearly fair to do so.
The crucial thing is that the deal they move on to should be part of the published price structure of the club, not some hidden special treatment for one person that will inevitably come to light and lead to feelings of unfairness and inconsistency from others.