Membership cost increase

[D-S]

I could probably find the answer to this if I trawled all 70 plus pages of this thread, but I'd be interested to hear how other clubs handle price increases. Can you say which of the three options below most accurately fit what happens at your club. The board/committee can...

1) Set whatever price increase they wish without any member input or vote
2) Increase the price by a set amount and only increases over this level require a vote
3) Can only increase prices at all with a membership vote

In the case of 2) it would be useful to know what is used as the set amount; CPI, RPI, a fixed % etc and also what % of members have to vote in favour for it to be carried

In my clubs case, it's 2), membership fees can increase by CPI with any additional rise needing a vote with a 66% majority. Our board are currently trying to change from CPI to something else because they feel it underestimates the clubs real inflation, certainly in recent years.

It would be useful if you could mention whether you are a members club or privately owned, though I imagine very few of the latter would give their members any input on prices.

Members Club, Board have the option to raise prices up to 10% with no vote. Not sure what the vote % would be needed if members voted against a higher than 10% increase as it has never happened in the last 25+ years to my knowledge (we increased 10% last year and 4.3% this year). I would assume a straight majority - AGMs are rarely contentious and we normally only just about get a quorum.

 

[federalexpress]

Members Club, Board have the option to raise prices up to 10% with no vote. Not sure what the vote % would be needed if members voted against a higher than 10% increase as it has never happened in the last 25+ years to my knowledge (we increased 10% last year and 4.3% this year). I would assume a straight majority - AGMs are rarely contentious and we normally only just about get a quorum.

Thanks, useful insight. Are members generally happy with the condition of the course and clubhouse, obviously aside from the recent freak weather conditions and course closures? Out of curiosity, which club? (mine as I think you know is Minch and things here in the past few years have been a bit more contentious)

 

[D-S]

Generally the members are happy enough with most things, we had a major refurbishment of the clubhouse a few years ago and we have made a lot of developments on the course (new tees, drainage, tree planting, scrub clearance, wall rebuilding etc.). We also have just done up and extended the Pro Shop and built an indoor studio as well as improvements to range, short game area and grass practice area. The club is Bristol and Clifton.

 

[federalexpress]

Thanks. Sounds like your extra fees are being spent productively. I think we had an exchange on this, our place is also developing a fair bit, though I recall you didn't notice much happening, but our increases are way more than yours.

 

[upsidedown]

Thanks. Do you never get dissent if set too high (in some people's opinion) or are they generally reasonable for most? What were last year and this year's increase?

Not that I've heard off, been on Board for 5 years now and we've gone from £1085 to £1166 in 2023 and this year up to £1250. We had a new course manager 2 years ago who is doing wonders with the course so members very happy and over 100 on the waiting list. We did up the clubhouse lounge in 23 ahead of the EG under 14 and 16 girls Championship and have a new irrigation system to fund along with bunker renovations over the next few years which will mean more increases but believe we have the backing of the members as they can see the money is being well spent and taking our club forward

 

[Imurg]

Our rise is limited to the inflation rate for September plus 1%
Anything bigger needs a vote at the AGM.

 

[The Lion]

Not that I've heard off, been on Board for 5 years now and we've gone from £1085 to £1166 in 2023 and this year up to £1250. We had a new course manager 2 years ago who is doing wonders with the course so members very happy and over 100 on the waiting list. We did up the clubhouse lounge in 23 ahead of the EG under 14 and 16 girls Championship and have a new irrigation system to fund along with bunker renovations over the next few years which will mean more increases but believe we have the backing of the members as they can see the money is being well spent and taking our club forward

That sounds really positive. Which club are you at btw?

 

[Bazzatron]

Kidderminster.

The offending article:

Club threatens golfer with court over unpaid fee

A PENSIONER is teed off at a "heavy-handed" letter from a golf club banning him over a levy row.

www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk

Please tell me his nickname is Baggins?

 

[upsidedown]

That sounds really positive. Which club are you at btw?
Shifnal, Shropshire

 

[federalexpress]

I'd never heard of that so I looked it up. Lovely looking course and especially clubhouse.

 

[The Lion]

Nice course with some good reciprocals including Conwy over the bay from my own club North Wales.

 

[Albo]

I’m a member at 2 courses, both option 1 as far as I’m aware one members club, one privately owned.

I have no idea how the members feel about the costs going up as I tend not to talk to many if any other members at either club

 

[PJ87]

Must say very surprised.

It's steadily increased due to opening the back 9 in 2020, didn't charge us during COVID and then went up due to the cost of living .. slowly but surely went from £80 odd a month to £120 a month (5 days)

But staying the same is very welcome

Considering they are constantly working on the 3rd 9 (yet to open) it's very surprising

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

View attachment 52993

Must say very surprised.

It's steadily increased due to opening the back 9 in 2020, didn't charge us during COVID and then went up due to the cost of living .. slowly but surely went from £80 odd a month to £120 a month (5 days)

But staying the same is very welcome

Considering they are constantly working on the 3rd 9 (yet to open) it's very surprising

Sounds great news on the surface but thinking a little deeper I’m not so sure.

The cost of everything has gone up over the last year and these costs have to be met from somewhere - and I am sure all your members would expect and understand an increase in subs commensurate with the increased costs. Eating into reserves your club might have just to make members feel good - whilst very admirable in these straightened times, is not I might suggest particularly financially prudent.

If a proprietary club what is the owner concerned about…owners of businesses aren’t usually known as the most philanthropic to their customers unless they feel they have to be.

Sorry if that comes across as excessively negative…but as you said…very surprising.

 

[PJ87]

Sounds great news on the surface but thinking a little deeper I’m not so sure.

The cost of everything has gone up over the last year and these costs have to be met from somewhere - and I am sure all your members would expect and understand an increase in subs commensurate with the increased costs. Eating into reserves your club might have just to make members feel good - whilst very admirable in these straightened times, is not I might suggest particularly financially prudent.

If a proprietary club what is the owner concerned about…owners of businesses aren’t usually known as the most philanthropic to their customers unless they feel they have to be.

Sorry if that comes across as excessively negative…but as you said…very surprising.

We have gone up steadily the past 2 years so they can afford that hold this year

I mean it is £120 a month for 5 days

In 2022 it was £100 a month
2021 was £83
When I joined in 2020 it was £77

So it's risen with the cost of living and now leveled out

Plus on top you have all the gym only members who provide an income

The wedding bookings

They can stomach not rising it this year to stop members leaving as when they raised it last year a chunk left (all replaced with new members)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We have gone up steadily the past 2 years so they can afford that hold this year
…

They can stomach not rising it this year to stop members leaving as when they raised it last year a chunk left (all replaced with new members)

Ah…there’s the rub…

 

[D-S]

We have gone up steadily the past 2 years so they can afford that hold this year

I mean it is £120 a month for 5 days

In 2022 it was £100 a month
2021 was £83
When I joined in 2020 it was £77

So it's risen with the cost of living and now leveled out

Well going by your figures, if the fees had risen with the cost of living, using CPI, you should now be paying £94.20. So actually prices have risen by over twice the cost of living, which might mean that they made a shedload last year, hence the hold.

 

[PJ87]

Well going by your figures, if the fees had risen with the cost of living, using CPI, you should now be paying £94.20. So actually prices have risen by over twice the cost of living, which might mean that they made a shedload last year, hence the hold.

There are other factors

The 2020 figure was for a 13 hole course before the back 9 fully opened

They then didn't charge as a penny during COVID

The rise to £83 was when the course was a full 18

I'm sure it will rise again when the final 9 is completed in a couple of years time. With a few small increases before then.

I'd say we have been treated very fairly

 

[D-S]

The rise to £83 was when the course was a full 18

I'm sure it will rise again when the final 9 is completed in a couple of years time. With a few small increases before then.

I'd say we have been treated very fairly

£83 in 2021 just by cost of living should be £99 today, so still way over cost of living.

 

[Golfnut1957]

We received an email from the club chair yesterday. The club have received applications to re-join from ex-members who were on a pay over 12 months scheme and left late last year, cancelled their direct debits and failed to pay the full fees. This occurred when the rain started and course closures started to kick in.

The club wrote to inform everyone one that anyone who left under these circumstance will be barred from re-joining until they have made good the debt.