Screwback
Tour Rookie
Screwback = 2 top courses for the price of a pie and 2 pints of heavy.
I wonder if anyone can guess how much i play for two top courses???
Membership incentives for golf's next generation...
- Thread starter JezzE
- Start date
I wonder if anyone can guess how much i play for two top courses???
percy_layer
Challenge Tour Pro
It's not just trying to entice current golfers to be members, there needs to be incentives for newcomers to the game. For someone to take up the game, buy the clubs and shoes etc, join a club, learn how to play............how much would it all cost? and what package can be put together to encourage them to be a part of the club and feel valued?
I read somewhere that golf membership has been declining over the last 10 years or so, enticing members from other clubs and retaining current members can only go so far. With the majority of clubs having membership vacancies and some desperately needing new members, encouraging people to take up the game would greatly help a lot of clubs.
I read somewhere that golf membership has been declining over the last 10 years or so, enticing members from other clubs and retaining current members can only go so far. With the majority of clubs having membership vacancies and some desperately needing new members, encouraging people to take up the game would greatly help a lot of clubs.
stevek1969
Money List Winner
Not sure how it works at my club but my youngest is 11 and is £52 till he's 14 then £100 till 18,i think they have a youths price of £230 till 21 not exactly sure.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
Have to agree with Homer on this one. I used to play a lot with a guy from work who was a member at Clandon Regis. I was 30 at the time, he was 24. His fees at Clandon were about £600, for me to join would have cost £1300. We played the same amount of golf, actually, he probably played more yet they wanted £700 quid more for me to play the same course. I've never understood how that is fair.
I've also never understood how clubs can expect to charge hundreds of quid more for membership just cause someone gets a year older?
If clubs need new members then they need to look at people like me who want to join but don't want to be ripped off. Dropping the joining fee would be a good start.
I've also never understood how clubs can expect to charge hundreds of quid more for membership just cause someone gets a year older?
If clubs need new members then they need to look at people like me who want to join but don't want to be ripped off. Dropping the joining fee would be a good start.
Chopper,that is exactly what certain clubs are trying to do...getting shot down in flames by some while trying to do it but all part of a masterplan.
Screwback,as I have said,the price of a pie and 2 pints of heavy...alright 3 pints of heavy.
Screwback,as I have said,the price of a pie and 2 pints of heavy...alright 3 pints of heavy.
Robobum
Money List Winner
Just to add another point to the argument - If your club doesn't start enticing and keeping the 25 - 35 year old age bracket, who is going to run your club once all the "older" guys have finished doing comittee etc??
You just have to get guys in and keep hold of them so they become keen golfers. Time at a club will forge an affinity with it and then someone will be more willing to give something back, i.e sit on the comittee or captain one of the teams etc.
I'm not knocking them, but you if you don't hook them earlier enough and you lose guys to football, rugby, pub or whatever then they become your occaisional society golfer and have no interest in comitting time and or effort to support the golf club to keep it going in the form it does now.
You just have to get guys in and keep hold of them so they become keen golfers. Time at a club will forge an affinity with it and then someone will be more willing to give something back, i.e sit on the comittee or captain one of the teams etc.
I'm not knocking them, but you if you don't hook them earlier enough and you lose guys to football, rugby, pub or whatever then they become your occaisional society golfer and have no interest in comitting time and or effort to support the golf club to keep it going in the form it does now.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
What we need to remember is that golf courses / clubs are businesses. And like any business, it needs to make money. Of course, that can be achieved in so many different ways.
Clubs can certainly 'target' certain folks on price and quality of course alone. ie make it flipping expensive to add kudos to the club, or lower the price and have more folks use the facilities.
Fwiw. I don't approve of joining fees, I don't approve of 20 somethings paying less than 30 plus somethings. As someones already pointed out, the 20 somethings without kids have more disposable income than a 30 plus something with kids. I agree that juniors should pay less than adults. After all, it's the parents who would normally pay for them. Can you imagine. Dad at £800pa plus two kids at £800 each. That's 2.4k a year!!! And that's before the kit that's required.
There is a cost of entry to any sport, be it football, running, rugby, sailing. But unlike sailing for example, there is little choice in entry level golf clubs. All start at £600 pa and then continue upwards around here.
I can join a local sailing club for £100, hire a club boat for a fiver a session and use the facility anytime I want, and take part in the comps at no extra cost. Show me a golf club where I can do that. The sailing club does have staff, but a fair chunk of its income comes from training. Sadly that's something that golf clubs appear to be very weak on. Despite having resident Pros. Where's the group lessons, where's the 'this month on Saturday at 4pm, there'll be a Pro on the practice green for an hour for putting lessons. Sign up now, places limited to ......, cost £10 or £5 or whatever' type thing. Christ. The Pros may even get some private lessons because of it, or even sell a putter or two if they took some demo stock with them! It's not difficult. Stop whinging about flogging Mars Bars, and get out there and do what you trained to do, with a passion and enthusiasm that you used to have when you were younger.
Clubs lack imagination, Pros lack imagination and drive, and clubs need to do more than just look at membership fees and age based fees.
Surmon over. You'll be glad to hear!!
Who's toes have I stepped on this time?
ps. Not all Pros, you understand.
Clubs can certainly 'target' certain folks on price and quality of course alone. ie make it flipping expensive to add kudos to the club, or lower the price and have more folks use the facilities.
Fwiw. I don't approve of joining fees, I don't approve of 20 somethings paying less than 30 plus somethings. As someones already pointed out, the 20 somethings without kids have more disposable income than a 30 plus something with kids. I agree that juniors should pay less than adults. After all, it's the parents who would normally pay for them. Can you imagine. Dad at £800pa plus two kids at £800 each. That's 2.4k a year!!! And that's before the kit that's required.
There is a cost of entry to any sport, be it football, running, rugby, sailing. But unlike sailing for example, there is little choice in entry level golf clubs. All start at £600 pa and then continue upwards around here.
I can join a local sailing club for £100, hire a club boat for a fiver a session and use the facility anytime I want, and take part in the comps at no extra cost. Show me a golf club where I can do that. The sailing club does have staff, but a fair chunk of its income comes from training. Sadly that's something that golf clubs appear to be very weak on. Despite having resident Pros. Where's the group lessons, where's the 'this month on Saturday at 4pm, there'll be a Pro on the practice green for an hour for putting lessons. Sign up now, places limited to ......, cost £10 or £5 or whatever' type thing. Christ. The Pros may even get some private lessons because of it, or even sell a putter or two if they took some demo stock with them! It's not difficult. Stop whinging about flogging Mars Bars, and get out there and do what you trained to do, with a passion and enthusiasm that you used to have when you were younger.
Clubs lack imagination, Pros lack imagination and drive, and clubs need to do more than just look at membership fees and age based fees.
Surmon over. You'll be glad to hear!!
Who's toes have I stepped on this time?
ps. Not all Pros, you understand.
stevek1969
Money List Winner
I think getting them in and keeping them is the hard part,the average at my club was 63 a few years ago ,it was a bloody Gin palace full of oldies moaning about the youngsters winning everything.Have just checked at my club and the price they pay isn't a huge difference compared to some of you guys down South,my fees for next year are only £530.
To be honest it doesn't bother me much as it adds a bit of fresh air to the place with younger guys playing,some are doing really well at the game and are the future of the club,these guys are the guys who keep the pro shop going speneding money and in the clubhouse not these OAP'S with a pot of tea between 10
To be honest it doesn't bother me much as it adds a bit of fresh air to the place with younger guys playing,some are doing really well at the game and are the future of the club,these guys are the guys who keep the pro shop going speneding money and in the clubhouse not these OAP'S with a pot of tea between 10
What I find these days is that there isn't the member for life players around these days. Even going back 10 years guys would join one club and unless they had a serious falling out (usually their own fault) with the captain or committee would stay there for ever and a day.
Membership these days is more transigent. People come, get their handicap and stay for a few years and often decide either through home/work committments or recommendations to swap clubs. We pick some from Windlesham, Downshire (P&P), Sand Martins etc but then lose some to these and others as well.
The point is, why should clubs entice these 25-30 year olds with cut price membership when the chances are they won't be around long enough to want to serve on committee and be the backbone of the club going forward anyway.
Personally I'd be looking at retention rates. People will join if they want to and our club have done a great job with their membership days (9 holes with committee members, guided tour etc) to get new faces through the door. The test is keeping these and the members they already have.
Membership these days is more transigent. People come, get their handicap and stay for a few years and often decide either through home/work committments or recommendations to swap clubs. We pick some from Windlesham, Downshire (P&P), Sand Martins etc but then lose some to these and others as well.
The point is, why should clubs entice these 25-30 year olds with cut price membership when the chances are they won't be around long enough to want to serve on committee and be the backbone of the club going forward anyway.
Personally I'd be looking at retention rates. People will join if they want to and our club have done a great job with their membership days (9 holes with committee members, guided tour etc) to get new faces through the door. The test is keeping these and the members they already have.
percy_layer
Challenge Tour Pro
ps. Not all Pros, you understand.
Phew........
One of the clubs i teach at is very proactive about getting kids and new adults into golf. We do a series of sessions where the first hour is for the kids and the second hour is for the parents and any other adults to have a go, proved very successful. Now the weather is getting colder and wetter and the dark nights starting to draw in, the club have got the use of a hall for some indoor coaching to take place over the coming weeks.
The club has been fantastic in organising the whole setup and the secretary and members have been very friendly and encouraging to everyone learning the game.
It's not just about the cost of golf, but how much a member is made to feel part of the club and if they feel they're getting value for their money and time.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
It's not just about the cost of golf, but how much a member is made to feel part of the club and if they feel they're getting value for their money and time.ps. Not all Pros, you understand.
Summed it up in a sentence.
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
As per hackers quote that is spot on. I joined a club in 1998 and was happy at paying just under 1200 for the year. After 3 months I cancelled my membership ad members were too up their own ****. If you wasnt one of the older members you was just outcasted.
muttleee
Tour Rookie
£1200 for 3 months' golf?! Blimey!
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
If it wasn't for the under 30s Intermediate category and no joining fee I wouldnt be playing golf this year. The only reason I was able to get back into this game after 7 years (uni and moving to a new job) was the reduced fees!
I still have 4 more years of cheaper golf but I do expect when I am 30 I will be able to afford the extra, right now the cheaper deal means I can buy some nice new clubs and get some lessons.
What I do not agree with is the gulf being vast, it should be relevant to the situation of the club.
I have no idea what it is at my club, maybe I should find out!
I still have 4 more years of cheaper golf but I do expect when I am 30 I will be able to afford the extra, right now the cheaper deal means I can buy some nice new clubs and get some lessons.
What I do not agree with is the gulf being vast, it should be relevant to the situation of the club.
I have no idea what it is at my club, maybe I should find out!
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
I think that is a good thing for the under 30s, a lot of young people move about the country a lot before finding their career, settling down in an area and buying a nice house. Before that its all renting and moving either at University or the first few bottom rung jobs.
I think that the golf clubs have got this right and making the rates fit the need of modern living.
I am myself very sure that once I settle in I will be at the club I am at then for a LONG time.
Is it not better that the person is in the game, whatever the club, rather than not in it at all?
viscount17
Money List Winner
The problem with these schemes is that there are (have to be?) winners and losers - and nobody likes being the loser.
If clubs are going to offer discount schemes to juniors/students/under 30's or any other group then the full fee paying members must get some 'extra' benefit or you could start to lose those. Probably the only way is by restrictions on playing times.
Most of those who continually slate the seniors forget that they have been paying full fees into these clubs for 20, 30, 40 years and being retired doesn't magically mean that you can afford to keep doing so.
If clubs are going to offer discount schemes to juniors/students/under 30's or any other group then the full fee paying members must get some 'extra' benefit or you could start to lose those. Probably the only way is by restrictions on playing times.
Most of those who continually slate the seniors forget that they have been paying full fees into these clubs for 20, 30, 40 years and being retired doesn't magically mean that you can afford to keep doing so.
Why do clubs offer reduced rates to the wrinklys?
I was horrified when my old man gloated to me that this year he was paying x amount less cos he was 65......most of these guys have more money to dispose of than the rest but I think that hopefully in a year or so's time the discrimination laws will rule that they must pay the same as full members
The club I work at offer reduced rates for 0-30 year olds recently as we are vastly under represented (5 between 18 and 30 before it was brought in) but wrinklys pay full.I believe this is the correct way.
We have picked up around a dozen in the age groups since it was brought out 2 months ago but we have to pick up many more as we really need them,the biggest percentage of the club is aged 60 plus and these guys are not going to be around for ever so without younger guys coming through I would fear for the future.
I was horrified when my old man gloated to me that this year he was paying x amount less cos he was 65......most of these guys have more money to dispose of than the rest but I think that hopefully in a year or so's time the discrimination laws will rule that they must pay the same as full members
The club I work at offer reduced rates for 0-30 year olds recently as we are vastly under represented (5 between 18 and 30 before it was brought in) but wrinklys pay full.I believe this is the correct way.
We have picked up around a dozen in the age groups since it was brought out 2 months ago but we have to pick up many more as we really need them,the biggest percentage of the club is aged 60 plus and these guys are not going to be around for ever so without younger guys coming through I would fear for the future.
percy_layer
Challenge Tour Pro
GB72
Money List Winner
Our club has a discounted rate and I have no problems with it. The issue I do have is that it us not unheard of for people to make use of this then go hunting for a better deal elsewhere once the reduced rate has expired. Clubs need to have an eye to retaining members as well as brining in new ones.
It is actually not the younger age group that we have a problem with though. We have a fair number of juniors up to aged 25 and plenty in the over 50 bracket but it is the group in between that we are really lacking. How do you attract that age group, many of whom only have time for one round a week and have young families so even less disposable income available. This is where clubs need to be more creative with reduced memberships that do not allow unlimited golf but rather allow a round a week.
It is actually not the younger age group that we have a problem with though. We have a fair number of juniors up to aged 25 and plenty in the over 50 bracket but it is the group in between that we are really lacking. How do you attract that age group, many of whom only have time for one round a week and have young families so even less disposable income available. This is where clubs need to be more creative with reduced memberships that do not allow unlimited golf but rather allow a round a week.
Marko77
Q-School Graduate
can't say I'm in favour of this age related memberships. I see and appreciate how it can be a success but as mid thirties member would be well hacked off to know some mid twenties earning the same as me was getting their golf for say 20% less and getting the same access to the course, etc.
An increased use of direct debit for the "spend it now" generation may be an aid in promoting memberships and take the pressure off having a fair chunk saved away where it is tempting to spend, especially when most fees are due around xmas/new year time when there are plenty other needs or wants for the cash.
Clubs could do an order of merit and the higher up the order you finish the bigger a discount you get off next years fee's lol - would certainly encourage more participation in competitions but cheating would go through the roof!!
An increased use of direct debit for the "spend it now" generation may be an aid in promoting memberships and take the pressure off having a fair chunk saved away where it is tempting to spend, especially when most fees are due around xmas/new year time when there are plenty other needs or wants for the cash.
Clubs could do an order of merit and the higher up the order you finish the bigger a discount you get off next years fee's lol - would certainly encourage more participation in competitions but cheating would go through the roof!!
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