Next Years Subs

I've been thinking about this the last couple of years, if I was paying a green fee every time I played I'd 'never' play, especially where I play at 340zl (£70) for a Saturday green fee, which is a ridiculous amount for the standard of the course.

But my annual subs are 4,700zl (£940) so it only takes 14 rounds to justify paying annually.
It's the complete opposite here in Kent, bang average courses will be charging near £2,000 for membership next year guaranteed, yet you could easily pay £50 for a green fee. Potentially 40 rounds before you've got your membership fee covered. Some even try and charge £100 green fees, which is a complete joke. The cost of golf here is completely out of hand.
 
It's the complete opposite here in Kent, bang average courses will be charging near £2,000 for membership next year guaranteed, yet you could easily pay £50 for a green fee. Potentially 40 rounds before you've got your membership fee covered. Some even try and charge £100 green fees, which is a complete joke. The cost of golf here is completely out of hand.

That ratio would definitely make me question the value, given that I play once per week at the moment, it'd be quite tight for getting to 40 rounds in a years with holidays, illnesses, bad weather, closures etc.
 
It's the complete opposite here in Kent, bang average courses will be charging near £2,000 for membership next year guaranteed, yet you could easily pay £50 for a green fee. Potentially 40 rounds before you've got your membership fee covered.
Mmm..about a month and a half for me then....... 😋 😁
 
I think my membership also requires me to play about 40 rounds before it 'pays for itself' or however you want to call it - although I try not to think of it that way as there are other intangible benefits as well as pure access to playing the course. But I play most weekends, and all through the summer I've tried to get 9 holes in on a Tuesday night for a bit of extra practice. So if you factor those in I'm certain I've got my money's worth.
 
I think my membership also requires me to play about 40 rounds before it 'pays for itself' or however you want to call it - although I try not to think of it that way as there are other intangible benefits as well as pure access to playing the course. But I play most weekends, and all through the summer I've tried to get 9 holes in on a Tuesday night for a bit of extra practice. So if you factor those in I'm certain I've got my money's worth.
I think the extra you get in on the Tuesday is where the value in the membership is.
If you wasn’t a member you probably wouldn’t bother with the Tuesday.
As a member it doesn’t cost you any more money for those extra few holes a week and if it happens to rain after 5 you can walk in knowing you haven’t paid any extra as opposed to if you have paid a green fee you want to get all the holes in.

Also the extra few opportunities most of us get each year where you find an unexpected few hours spare you can nip up and play a few holes or more
 
I think the extra you get in on the Tuesday is where the value in the membership is.
If you wasn’t a member you probably wouldn’t bother with the Tuesday.
As a member it doesn’t cost you any more money for those extra few holes a week and if it happens to rain after 5 you can walk in knowing you haven’t paid any extra as opposed to if you have paid a green fee you want to get all the holes in.

Also the extra few opportunities most of us get each year where you find an unexpected few hours spare you can nip up and play a few holes or more
Indeed - if didn't have the membership, I'd be spending money on driving range on Tuesdays instead I should think. That is definitely the benefit, being able to quickly nip to the course and play a few holes whenever suits.
 
Visitor rates at weekends (when I play 95%+ of my rounds) are £197. So I only need to play 13 times to make it “worth it”.

I think my main concern with membership costs are that 5%+ increases seem to be the norm at the moment. At 5% increase, within 10 years, our membership costs could be >£4k.
 
Playing weekly its cheaper for me to pay my green fess rather than membership. In my case the 50+ rounds work out better value than the debenture & membership options
 
I am really thinking of going elsewhere. There is little competition in the area. So I would have to drive further.
My main gripes are ..
1. The course care is poor, irrespective of the weather they have not realised the grass cutting is too aggressive.
2. The fairway bunkering is ridiculous they are more than 150yards out and 210-240yards from the tee .. and deep at 6-8ft deep. ( so no challenge for the big boys and penal for normal guys - hitting a green at 180-200 yards is a challenge already but from a bunker that’s taller than most is 1 shot penalty)
3. Too many members as the booking system is always full.
4. Pointless competitions that are won by very low or very high handicaps (28 and 36 was okay)
5. The sand in the bunkers is random - they have not completed the bunker program they started 8 yrs ago - they have removed bunkers but on the advice of a designer who is just looking at it from a visual perspective and not a playing perspective… ( felt tip fairy)

Basically it’s muni golf for £1400 🙄
 
I am really thinking of going elsewhere. There is little competition in the area. So I would have to drive further.
My main gripes are ..
1. The course care is poor, irrespective of the weather they have not realised the grass cutting is too aggressive.
2. The fairway bunkering is ridiculous they are more than 150yards out and 210-240yards from the tee .. and deep at 6-8ft deep. ( so no challenge for the big boys and penal for normal guys - hitting a green at 180-200 yards is a challenge already but from a bunker that’s taller than most is 1 shot penalty)
3. Too many members as the booking system is always full.
4. Pointless competitions that are won by very low or very high handicaps (28 and 36 was okay)
5. The sand in the bunkers is random - they have not completed the bunker program they started 8 yrs ago - they have removed bunkers but on the advice of a designer who is just looking at it from a visual perspective and not a playing perspective… ( felt tip fairy)

Basically it’s muni golf for £1400 🙄
But apart from that? 😂
 
It is all about VFM and life balance, I pay £1300 for 7 day membership but usually play 3-4 times a week. But then agian I also pay £1000 for my Man City season ticket (25 years going!) .... I am still working full time.....hopefully when I retire soon I will play more golf. :D I do know members looking at Golf Now option as only play 1-2 a week.
 
I'm almost certain I won't be renewing my membership next year. Since I moved house and had to change clubs I've just not found somewhere that suits me. Currently at my third different club in three years and either me or my wife have disliked each club.
We are probably going to take a year out and play nomadic golf for a while and take it from there. Golf Now and the driving range are going to be my go to until I can find a club that suits me and the missus.
 
I’m £1350 a year, and play once a week. Rarely a full 18, don’t play medals, handicap lapsed about 10 years ago, in the summer time mostly 7/8pm at night, alone, maybe say 12,14 holes, winter time usually a couple hours on the range.
Can see folk probably thinking that’s a bit daft or a bit much £££ but way I see it is it’s only thing I do outwith work/family. And my whole week revolves around/looks forward to that couple hours hitting a ball. To be honest I depend on it to clear the head, like a therapy almost.
That for me is more than worth the money and fortunately for now still in a position can afford it.
 
I wont be renewing my membership at the end of the year, I stopped playing a few years back but with pressure from family and friends to play I decided to rejoin. Worst decision I made, in 18 months I've hardly played and with so many members it's nigh on impossible to get a tee time when I'm available and if I could, the car park is appalling with tiny spaces and not enough room to maneuver, I've played twice on a Saturday since rejoining, twice my car has been damaged in the carpark. Not trying for a third time.

Thankfully the club has now introduced a joining fee, so there is no chance when I leave I'll make the same mistake again.
 
I'm a member at 2 courses, usually play twice a week at each. The course closest to me I'm thinking about dropping (again)....wettest of the area courses during the winter, and pretty busy during the summer. Our little group ends up getting bumped off the course pretty regularly (once a week?) for Opens, business days, charity days etc. I might just add the first course I was a member at since it has the best practice field. I've hardly practiced the last couple of years because of the lack of a big enough practice area. Only problem with this plan is that right now it is a 7 min drive to the nearest course and 25 min to the further course. If I drop the 7 min drive I would be adding about a 20 min drive....so 20+25 min drives....it won't kill me but....
 
I've pretty much decided I'm going to be moving from my course to a local members club. The fee is going to change from 1000 to 1666 (based on this years fees) but I feel like its worth it with the standard of the club. Only thing I'm slightly concerned about is finding a group to play with, took a while at my current place.

There are much better practice facilities at the new place, and my son is really into playing and they actually have a junior section and a perfect par 3 course for him.
 
I wont be renewing my membership at the end of the year, I stopped playing a few years back but with pressure from family and friends to play I decided to rejoin. Worst decision I made, in 18 months I've hardly played and with so many members it's nigh on impossible to get a tee time when I'm available and if I could, the car park is appalling with tiny spaces and not enough room to maneuver, I've played twice on a Saturday since rejoining, twice my car has been damaged in the carpark. Not trying for a third time.

Thankfully the club has now introduced a joining fee, so there is no chance when I leave I'll make the same mistake again.
What size is your car? Can you park on a street?
I am very particular about where I park. Thankfully we have a grass overflow area. I park there even when there are next to no cars in the car park.
 
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