Membership cost increase

[Captain_Black.]

Ours subs are up by 7%
But they have put up our opens by 66% !!!
It's noticeable that bookings are very slow for our opens atm, usually they get booked up very quickly, I think people will be looking to cut costs where they can for the next few months.

I usually play quite a few away opens, but I'm going to cut them right back next year & just play in a selected few where the club hasn't hiked the price right up.

 

[D-S]

With the obvious high level of ‘golf club specific inflation’, clubs either need to raise more revenue or dramatically cut costs. Revenue comes from members and visitors (increasing F&B revenue in the foreseeable future seems a bit of a pipe dream) - either green fees and open prices go up (not an exact science as there is often a breaking point) or membership fees go up.
Cutting costs (assuming a significant profit is not currently made or that not making one at all is an option) means either less staff either due to redundancies or cutting pay and conditions. Most other expenditure is likely to have a significant impact on member/visitor experience - poorer course conditions, less F&B availability etc.. If this results in loss of members or visitors you are into a vicious circle.
It is a tough balancing act.
Do you want it the same price and worse or more expensive and the same?

 

[chellie]

24.3% at an away club (thankfully the full members only see a 12.5% increase)

Eeekk!!

 

[2blue]

Ours subs are up by 7%
But they have put up our opens by 66% !!!
It's noticeable that bookings are very slow for our opens atm, usually they get booked up very quickly, I think people will be looking to cut costs where they can for the next few months.

I usually play quite a few away opens, but I'm going to cut them right back next year & just play in a selected few where the club hasn't hiked the price right up.

Get yer se'll to Scarcroft in Leeds their Opens are a giveaway on an outstanding course

 

[2blue]

Ours are going from £1,040 to about £1,100 next year so not too bad under the circumstances. Good value!!

 

[Jason.H]

Only £650 in Kent. That's super cheap. You on a 9 hole course?

I’m 300 miles from Kent and it’s 18 holes

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I’m 300 miles from Kent and it’s 18 holes

..and a very nice and tidy track it is into the bargain ?

 

[Genu9]

I’m 300 miles from Kent and it’s 18 holes

Oops. Looked at 'likes' instead of where you were. But 300 miles from Kent would be Scotland, and your profile says Midlands. Wishful thinking..........

 

[KenL]

Oops. Looked at 'likes' instead of where you were. But 300 miles from Kent would be Scotland, and your profile says Midlands. Wishful thinking..........

Is Kent not more like 450 miles from South Scotland?

 

[2blue]

Oops. Looked at 'likes' instead of where you were. But 300 miles from Kent would be Scotland, and your profile says Midlands. Wishful thinking..........

But then again, all of us "Up North" are 1,000's miles away from London

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Hardly…

But then again, all of us "Up North" are 1,000's miles away from London

Hardly…but far enough - though depends whether or not up north from London is Sheffield or Wick.

 

[backwoodsman]

But then again, all of us "Up North" are 1,000's miles years away from London

Corrected that for you

 

[SteveJay]

Ours are going up from £840 to £876, so not too bad at all.

Played with our Membership Director this week and he told me that we have offered membership to all those on our waiting list (about 60) after doing analysis on competition entries and tee time availabilty.

They are being offered 15 month membership for a modest premium over the £876, and so far quite a few have taken that up. It is that move that has kept our fees at the level indicated. Without that extra income we would have faced a larger increase.

 

[Captainron]

Ours is £1664 in 2023 which is only a small £100 odd rise from this year so pretty happy with that. 2 very different courses which I enjoy playing.

 

[Jason.H]

..and a very nice and tidy track it is into the bargain ?

Thanks, you’re welcome to visit again next year when the weather is better.

 

[Jason.H]

Oops. Looked at 'likes' instead of where you were. But 300 miles from Kent would be Scotland, and your profile says Midlands. Wishful thinking..........

? correction it’s 200 miles

 

[sunshine]

Strangely clubs often relax their dress codes for large events. I have been to the Ladies National County finals with Gloucestershire many times often held at old fashioned clubs. They was one in Essex where almost all the players from 6 counties contravened a lot of the Ladies dress code but the club agreed to relax them for a week otherwise the event simply could not have been held.

But that was Essex. They had to allow white stilettoes

 

[sunshine]

Budget for 2023:
- Energy costs up 100%
- Insurance up 85%
- Rates up 55%
- Staff costs up 10% (most staff in clubhouse on minimum wage)
- Course consumables (e.g. fertilizer) up on average 9%

The outcome:
- Subs up 10%
- Green fees up 30%

At this rate we will hit £3k in a couple of years. At these prices I will continue to always wear trainers in the clubhouse even though they do not meet the dress code (ok I don't wear trainers to the black tie events).

 

[Crazyface]

Giving up.
They said they might play a few opens but that’s it.

They won't be able to play in Opens if they aren't members of a club, as their H/C will not be valid.

 

[clubchamp98]

They won't be able to play in Opens if they aren't members of a club, as their H/C will not be valid.

I thought that.
But they said your handicap never lapses .
But isn’t that only to join another club.?

They might be in for a shock.