Mmmmmmmm! What to do???

[Smiffy]

Cooden Golf Club have recently introduced a "flexible" membership scheme. £495.00 per year which gives you 420 credits which can be used to play club competitions etc.
Depending on when you play, the credit amount per round varies.
For instance, a mid-week round will cost you 26 (or 22 after 1pm) and on Sundays 30 and 26.
Playing in a board competition will cost 30 credits irrespective of start time.
All other comps cost credits dependent on start times.
Sounds like a fair idea to retain club membership.
Even if I only played at the most expensive credit times (30) that would give me 14 rounds of golf for my initial payment which equates to £35.00 a round!
Normal green fee rate for a "visitor" is £50.00 mid-week, £60.00 at week-ends.
If I played at the cheapest credit times, and didn't play in any competitions that works out at £26.00 a round!
The course is literally 5 minutes down the road from me, and I love playing there....always seem to put a good round together.
A couple of recent rounds have proved to me that the old "magic" is still in there somewhere.....
Decisions, decisions.

 

[PNWokingham]

do it!

 

[backwoodsman]

On the figures you've given, you can play somewhere from 14 rounds up to about 20 (?) per year. Ie from just over once a month to nearly twice a month. On a course you like within minutes of your front door. If you can afford £495 where's the dilemma?

 

[Imurg]

The words "No" and "brainer" spring to mind.....

 

[Smiffy]

If you can afford £495 where's the dilemma?

 

[Foxholer]

The words "No" and "brainer" spring to mind.....

My view too!

I recently 'auditioned' a club for (what I thought was) a similar deal. Unfortunately I'm 20 years too old for their 'Lifestyle' package (a restriction I hadn't realised existed) and 5 miles too close for 'country' membership, which I hadn't considered, but would have suited even better!

 

[Smiffy]

I've got to go down there today to sort out final arrangements for the forum meet down there next month. I'll have a word with the Secretary to find out if there is any time limit on the offer.

 

[chrisd]

A few premier clubs in Kent have introduced pretty much the same scheme for the same cost. It makes sense for people who don't necessarily want to play every week and you Rob, should be out and playing a bit, you're a decent golfer and it's great that a scheme such as this can get you out playing and an official handicap as well!

Go for it!

 

[USER1999]

Since you don't play in the winter anyway, this would give you a decent amount of summer golf. Are there any restrictions about using credits over the whole year? If not, it sounds a very good deal for you.

 

[Smiffy]

Since you don't play in the winter anyway, this would give you a decent amount of summer golf. Are there any restrictions about using credits over the whole year? If not, it sounds a very good deal for you.

Hi Murph
No restrictions mate.
Un-used credits (up to a maximum of 50) can be carried over to the following year on renewal of membership, and I can buy additional credits up to a maximum of 200 (for £200.00) if I happen to be running short.
The only playing restriction that I can see is that I won't be able to compete in the Gentlemen's Scratch Medal/Club championships but as I'm neither a Gentleman nor a scratch player that won't be an issue.
I can invite up to 3 playing guests in accordance with the same rules as full members at the members guest green fee rate and have no restrictions on enjoying full facilities of the club and am able to attend all social events.
It definitely sounds like a "no brainer".
Sam has given me the go ahead if I want to give it a go. Just got to find two current members who can propose and second me.
Did I mention that my managing director and finance directors are also members?????

 

[guest100718]

These sorts of deals are becoming more common. I can think of a few clubs round this way that offer a credit based system but stilla full member.

 

[Smiffy]

I rejoined Crowborough Beacon the year before last on a similar scheme but the amount of time spent travelling and condition of the course put me off it in the end.
As I say, Cooden is literally 5 minutes down the road, and whilst I understand that it can be heavy going during the worst of the winter months, for most of the year it is in really nice condition.
As Murph states above, I'm not really a winter golfer, so if I did join I'd make hay whilst the sun shone during the better months.

 

[Hendo007]

I think if its just a second membership your looking for and just somewhere different to play then I guess its not too shabby a deal, however if you were looking for this to be your main club and main membership then its not the kinda deal I'd be looking for.

I'd need a full membership where I could play as and when I wanted and for as long as I wanted. This kinda deal means you can't really nip over after work for 9 holes, well you probably could but you'd waste the credit.

Surely if you were paying out £500 notes then there would be other clubs close by that for that money would get you full membership ?

I also think you would need to be on the ball too much, you'd need to work out when you can play and what comps you'd want to play in and then plan your golf around that for the season.

For me anyway and I'm probably in the minority here but its not the kinda deal that would suit me.

 

[Sir Scoop-A-Lot]

Sounds like a great deal! Very similar to the Crown Golf scheme.

I'd go for it!!

 

[Smiffy]

I think if its just a second membership your looking for and just somewhere different to play then I guess its not too shabby a deal, however if you were looking for this to be your main club and main membership then its not the kinda deal I'd be looking for.

I'd need a full membership where I could play as and when I wanted and for as long as I wanted. This kinda deal means you can't really nip over after work for 9 holes, well you probably could but you'd waste the credit.

Surely if you were paying out £500 notes then there would be other clubs close by that for that money would get you full membership ?

I also think you would need to be on the ball too much, you'd need to work out when you can play and what comps you'd want to play in and then plan your golf around that for the season.

For me anyway and I'm probably in the minority here but its not the kinda deal that would suit me.

Bear in mind that a lot of my time is spent fishing too, (I'm not going to give that up, I enjoy it too much).
Just looking for somewhere that I can keep my handicap active and play in the odd competition etc.
I'm not in love with golf that much anymore that I would want to nip up after work and play 9 holes etc. or play in freezing conditions. I did all that 25 years ago.
But I've still got enough interest in it to want to be a member somewhere where I could invite my mates down for a game every now and then. And on that basis I'd want to be a member of a club that I would be "proud" to invite anyone down to.
Sure there are clubs that I could possibly get full membership of for a similar amount of money.
But for around this area, I wouldn't necessarily want to invite good friends down!
Despite being a keen carp fisherman, there is still a little of the golf snob left in me

 

[full_throttle]

Rob, In your situation as regards golf and fishing, I would guess your only looking to play 2/3 times a month, so what you need to look at is how long does the credit last? Is it until April 2015 or for 12 months, If it's only 'til April will you have used enough credits to have less than 50 left which you could carry over when you have a full summer of golf to enjoy.

I have no shame in admitting it's one of my favourite courses, so if the boss said yes, go for it

 

[rosecott]

Just got to find two current members who can propose and second me.
Did I mention that my managing director and finance directors are also members?????

You'll be struggling to find proposer/seconder then.

 

[Smiffy]

This membership lasts for a year from your actual joining date, not a calendar year, so even if I didn't play this winter I would have loads of credits left for when "my" season would start next April.....

 

[Smiffy]

You'll be struggling to find proposer/seconder then.

Cheeky fooker. That's you going down 5 & 4 around Karsten Lakes

 

[bladeplayer]

This membership lasts for a year from your actual joining date, not a calendar year, so even if I didn't play this winter I would have loads of credits left for when "my" season would start next April.....

No negatives to be found so far , every post sound better , and you know it , your just trying to convince yourself now ha ha , heck im nearly considering joining it ha ha..

End of day Rob only you know , what you save in travelling expenses could easily buy you more credits if needed , id still be at my old club but its a 45 min drive , my new club is 7 mins , save a good whack of the difference in membership on petrol costs alone , plus i can have a drink with the lads after and be straight home ..

We are convinced , Sam is convinced , and if truth be told you probably are aswell .. DO IT mate just DO IT