Non golf club member opinions wanted...

[JezzE]

Afternoon all,

GM Towers is looking to wrack the brains of any forumers who aren't currently members of golf clubs for whatever reason, via the two questions below.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

** Just making this post a sticky for a couple of days to see if we can get closer to 100 votes in each question. Thanks for bearing with me **

 

[BrianDamage]

Might sound daft this but I'd be interested in a winter membership at a reduced rate.
I play cricket during the summer and I'm lucky to get out once twice a month.
I'd be out nearly twice a week in winter if I wasn't paying green fees every time.

 

[Tiger]

Hi Jezz,

I think if it wasn't so

a) daunting
b) expensive
c) inflexible

I would have joined a club back in August. In fact if it wasn't for Project Scratch I might not even be joining a club in April.

I am so surprised that in this day and age you have to:

a) have an interview before you can pay for a service
b) there is no 'try before you buy' option
c) few clubs offer a monthly direct debit for a slightly higher fee
d) pay an outrageously expensive joining fees at some clubs

In the current economic climate most clubs are doing themselves no favours. I feel very fortunate to have one on my doorstep that is taking a modern approach to membership.

 

[Sneds]

The only reason that I don't currenly have membership is because of my knee operation so I let my club membership run out.

However, I would be more tempted if clubs actively helped you find games and meet new people that would be nice. But I'd imagine that would tie in with a generally welcoming club x

 

[RichardC]

Due to work commitments I do not want to pay a large annual fee, and im now rather enjoying being a nomad. Im a country member at my old club so can get on there at a discounted green fee when ever I want.

 

[Parmo]

I am so surprised that in this day and age you have to:

a) have an interview before you can pay for a service

I think the interview helps, it also stops a club becoming a pay and play course which accepts anyone. In the end everyone suffers due to the volume of people wanting games and not getting them.

Also its about weather you will fit into the club, a bit like a job, no point taking a job if you wont fit in.

 

[CrapHacker]

I'm in the limited money, and no time group.

Give me a decent lottery win, and I'm signing up immediately.

When it came to things that could tempt me, I ticked the lower cost and small fee/green fee option. Although I was tempted with the off peak option as well.

 

[Tiger]

I am so surprised that in this day and age you have to:

a) have an interview before you can pay for a service

I think the interview helps, it also stops a club becoming a pay and play course which accepts anyone. In the end everyone suffers due to the volume of people wanting games and not getting them.

Also its about weather you will fit into the club, a bit like a job, no point taking a job if you wont fit in.

I joined a football club you pay your annual membership fee up front, if it didn't work out you left and they gave you a proportion of your fee back. Same with cricket. It just doesn't help golf lose that snooty image and could quite possibly put a lot of people off considering applying. Besides I've interviewed people at work. They came across really well. Then you hire them and wish you hadn't.

 

[Doh]

I am so surprised that in this day and age you have to:

a) have an interview before you can pay for a service

I think the interview helps, it also stops a club becoming a pay and play course which accepts anyone. In the end everyone suffers due to the volume of people wanting games and not getting them.

Also its about weather you will fit into the club, a bit like a job, no point taking a job if you wont fit in.

I joined a football club you pay your annual membership fee up front, if it didn't work out you left and they gave you a proportion of your fee back. Same with cricket. It just doesn't help golf lose that snooty image and could quite possibly put a lot of people off considering applying. Besides I've interviewed people at work. They came across really well. Then you hire them and wish you hadn't.

Is it because you didn't ask the right questions?
Most club Interviews these days are more like an exchange of information which is useful for both parties, at our club you can also try before you buy free of charge.
there are also felxible payment methods.

Since we have brought these into operation we have had a substancial increase in membership.

 

[big_mean_bunny]

its all very well saying that a membership works out at 7 pound a round etc however I have no interest in playing during the winter or every weekend. I would love the idea of being part of a club and being surrounded by like minded golfers for a social beer or two in addition to the golf however I am not wearing a blazer just to have a pint when there are plenty of nice non golf establishments that don't require this.

 

[Tiger]

Is it because you didn't ask the right questions?
Most club Interviews these days are more like an exchange of information which is useful for both parties, at our club you can also try before you buy free of charge.
there are also felxible payment methods.

Since we have brought these into operation we have had a substancial increase in membership.

What you are describing at your club is exactly what I'd look for in a club. However, most in my neck of the woods don't operate like that. I suppose I'd ditch the interview and replace it with 9 holes with a couple of members of the committee. You can explain local rules, they get to try before they buy and you lose the term interview. Perhaps call it an induction. The members should agree the maximum number of members and when the club us full you have to join the waiting list. I think more clubs should follow your clubs example.

 

[big_mean_bunny]

I rang a few places last year and most of them offered me a free round to try the course which I thought was very reasonable.

However I never went through with any of them as one of the reasons I am after a membership is I currently have no one to play with where I live and am looking at expanding my "golf network" If they had said we will give you a free round and have one of the members accompany you then that would be a massive first step in capturing my signature.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I think if it wasn't so

a) daunting
b) expensive
c) inflexible

I would have joined a club back in August. In fact if it wasn't for Project Scratch I might not even be joining a club in April.

I am so surprised that in this day and age you have to:

a) have an interview before you can pay for a service
b) there is no 'try before you buy' option
c) few clubs offer a monthly direct debit for a slightly higher fee
d) pay an outrageously expensive joining fees at some clubs

In the current economic climate most clubs are doing themselves no favours. I feel very fortunate to have one on my doorstep that is taking a modern approach to membership.

Daunting Most new things in life are daunting - a new job, getting married, your first child.
Expensive Have a shop around. I was looking last year and I found clubs that ranged from £100 a year with reduced green fee to £3,500 a year with a £6,000 joining fee.
Inflexible What do you mean by inflexible? Are you referring to tee times or payment structures.........

a) have an interview before you can pay for a service

No interview at my club. Some do them, some don't. As has been said, it's not an interview as such, more of a chat.

b) there is no 'try before you buy' option

I had a free round at my place. When you phone the club, ask for a round. Some will get one of the committee or a senior member to accompany you.

c) few clubs offer a monthly direct debit for a slightly higher fee

Mine does. Once again, shop around.

d) pay an outrageously expensive joining fees at some clubs

No such fee at my place. Shop around.

Joining a club is a big thing in my opinion, there are loads of factors to be considered. It took me almost a year to find my club as I wanted a good, challenging course, A nice practice area which included a grassed area, a chipping green and a good putting green. I also wanted a friendly, approachable club that didn't stand on ceremony. I didn't want a 'blazer and tie' atmosphere.

Perhaps I'm lucky that such a club existed so close to where I live.

 

[Tiger]

I wouldn't quite put it on the same level as getting a new job or getting married !

I agree with all the points above that there are lots of clubs out there that have sound approaches but there are equally a lot that don't. If it's not an interview why call it as such? The reason is the club can choose not to invite you to be a member it still seems a little old fashioned to me. Why not call it an induction as part of a 14 day introductory period?

In terms of inflexibility it kind of echoes earlier comments about the lack of flexible membership options. For example there could be a seasonal rate providing incentive to go for the full year but a less expensive option for fairweather (no offence) golfers. Or maybe options for those who bulk buy a set number of rounds at a reduced rate. As a newbie it just seems so antiquated.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I wouldn't quite put it on the same level as getting a new job or getting married !

I agree with all the points above that there are lots of clubs out there that have sound approaches but there are equally a lot that don't. If it's not an interview why call it as such? The reason is the club can choose not to invite you to be a member it still seems a little old fashioned to me. Why not call it an induction as part of a 14 day introductory period?

In terms of inflexibility it kind of echoes earlier comments about the lack of flexible membership options. For example there could be a seasonal rate providing incentive to go for the full year but a less expensive option for fairweather (no offence) golfers. Or maybe options for those who bulk buy a set number of rounds at a reduced rate. As a newbie it just seems so antiquated.

That's my point - joining a golf club isn't daunting. There are far more things in life that are daunting.

Each and every club is different. Some are more popular than others. Mine is a relatively new club so it accepts people no questions asked. Royal Blackheath is one of the more exclusive clubs around my way and can therefore charge the joining fee and huge yearly subs, plus, hold an interview process because they can afford to turn people away. If their popularity wains then they may well find that they have to ditch the interview and reduce their fees.

I did try and find a club that offered a weekend membership but there's none in my area that do that. The only one I found was Littlestone (near my parents) and I was tempted to join there as a weekend member.

I guess the memberships offered comes down to the logistics of offering different membership structures. For example, let's say your club offers 7 day, 5 day, weekend and 'summertime' only membership options. From a cost perspective it'd be easy to take the money from the respective individuals but, how would it be policed??? At the weekend it'd be fine because there'd be loads of people milling about the club but in the winter in midweek the summertime only members would be able to sneak on and grab a cheeky 18 holes without paying.

One further point, I would imagine that from a balance sheet perspective, the people running the club need to know exactly how much money they're going to get from membership. For example, 500 7 day members at £1,000 is £500,000. They can then budget the year accordingly. If there are 5 different membership options then budgeting becomes slightly harder and, perhaps more importantly, less profitable.

 

[Tiger]

It's difficult to think about what other models could be used as I don't know the operating costs and what they are dependent on. Either way AW you are right that a lot of the decision on pricing depends on supply and demand.

But for those undersubscribed clubs I would be interested to see whether a completely new business model could generate more profit, by not only changing membership options but introducing things such as bulk purchases. Jezz are you planning on doing a feature on this? I would be fascinated to find out whether there is a better, more profitable model that could work.

 

[DCB]

Refrained from adding to this, until now

As a member of a private members club I've been fortunate to play most of my golf in a good club atmosphere. It's been a good experience and one I would urge all those thinking about club membership to consider.

I think that nowadays people don't look at a golf club membership as a long term commitment. There are too many players nowadays who jump from one club to the next on a season by season basis. That's not belonging to a golf club, thats a glorified pay & play solution.

Joining a club and being a member of a club are different from joining a club and taking part in a club

There now, said my piece ....next...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think that nowadays people don't look at a golf club membership as a long term commitment. There are too many players nowadays who jump from one club to the next on a season by season basis. That's not belonging to a golf club, thats a glorified pay & play solution.

I quite agree and what do you actually achieve from switching from club to club. You have to spend time getting known and I can't believe that most normal clubs differ that greatly. I can understand say if you went from a mid sized club to a prestigious one that it could be a good move in terms of a more challenging course etc, but for me its about being able to rock up at anytime and get a game. Its about regular competitions (drawn) and playing with different members and coming back into the bar afterwards and having a few drinks and a laugh about it all

 

[Parmo]

There are three types of golf club:-

1 - Municipal, which are good for access and cheap.
2 - Pay and play courses, which are cheaper than Private and you just turn up pay your subs and join meaning unlimited numbers hacking the course.
3 - Private, you pay more for a prestigious one and you know you will not get the Dunlop fair weather golfers wrecking the course.

I play Muni golf, I like the social side that all local clubs in Leeds lack, the course is in good nick and I have good mates there. I really don't like pay and play courses in terms of membership, I find some of the like pubs with a golf course attached. I just can not afford £1k a year in subs with the wife nagging about home improvements in terms of the private.

 

[DCB]

Parmo,

Although you play on a Muni your club must be a private club which plays over the Muni course ?