Not renewing club membership this year

fastmover2

fastmover2

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Mar 16, 2009
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Thurlestone GC Devon UK
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I am interested to know how many of you have either not renewed or will not be renewing your golf club memberships this year and also the reasons. I am sure that a lot of people will say "The recession" but is there more to it than this? e.g course condition, lack of oportunity to play due to too many competitions/societies etc.
 
I left my old club eariler this year because

I had to pack at least 2 outfits if i wanted a beer,if i finished playing after 6 i needed a shirt tie and blazer any other time worn golf clothes even if spotless could not be worn in the lounge,there was no such thing as a quick 9 and a beer there

And what it cost for me to play there it now costs the same for me and the girlfriend to play at the new club we joining,there is much more of a relaxed attitude here i dont need a suitcase to go for a game of golf
 
I left a club for the same reason.
After a Saturday medal in July, the tiny spike bar was packed full of people watching The Open Championship on the 14in tv stuck up in the corner of the room.
Next door in the lounge where jacket and tie were required at weekends, the leather sofas were empty, the bar stools were empty,the 42in TV wasn't even turned on.
Just 4 blue rinses sat by the window playing bridge or canasta or whatever it was :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
My own club used to be a little like that, and still is known locally as 'Royal' Brough, but since replaced a very staid old secretary and made the Pro the 'Golf Director', it has changed remarkebly.

Can go anywhere in the Clubhouse now for a beer after playing, unless there is an event on or something.

I would have left too fastmover.
 
I have left clubs for similar reasons, some of the stuffy ideas are just too stuffy for me. I like to wear a collar and tie from time to time, especially something worth while but not for every day golf. I remember one club having a 'shirt tucked in' policy which is fair enough if they know the difference between a shirt and a fleece designed not to be tucked in and designed specifically for golf, especially when a propper shirt was underneath, it was this kind of mental illness that some golf officials display from time to time that needs a-dressing to coin a.....oh never mind. losing all stuffed shirt ideas would not be a loss to golf or clubs, but forcing people away because of it will.
 
I really had to scrape and scrimp this year but glad I made the effort. My course is pretty cool on dress code in the clubhouse but does maintain certain standards which go for onthe course too (shorts tucked in etc). I think we are moving in the right direction on and off the course so its worth staying
 
At the moment I'm relying on the level of my work to increase otherwise I shan't be joining anywhere when my membership runs out on 30th April. Although it'll cost more in the short term, I'll have to pay'n'play and therefore plan games more rather than just turn up when I've got a spare couple of hours to play 13 holes or so.
 
Me and the girlfriend signed up yesterday afternoon very friendly place,met a few members in the pro shop who where kind enough to show us everything.

Played 18 then went for a beer after in my golf clothes that might seem normal to most on here but at my old club i had to get changed.

I think i going to enjoy it here and better still i dont need to book tee times so ill spend the next few weeks playing afternoons getting used to the course.I went 45 out 31 in which was nice

Better still the girlfriend loves it so if she happy iam happy
 
I wasn't going to re-join one of the clubs where I'm a member, but it looks as if I'm trapped in till this time next year beacause of something I wasn't informed of when I joined at the tail end of last year.

So I'll just have to make sure I play more & fork out money I can ill afford to at the moment. Just as well I like the course itself.
 
Cernunnos,
What's the hook they have ito you for this year ?
Joining fee ? or part of the small print on a joining deal ?
 
MEmber of 3 courses:

Dunecht House, Aberdeenshire. Keeping it on, as you can only be a member of you live in the area, or have continuous unbroken mmebership. I don't want to lose it, so will keep paying.

Walton Hall, Warrington: Giving it up I think. This is my home club, and a municipal, but the council refuses to allow season tickets, and last year took the clubhouse lease back off the club, as they needed an overflow venue from the nearby Walton Hall for weddings, functions etc.

Now if I go down on a Saturday, I can;t even have a pint in my own club, as the entire clubhouse has become someone's wedding. They even take down all golf notices etc from the noticeboards. Add to that temporary greens that are liable to be in play at any time of the year, and I've had enough.

Brandon Wood, Warwickshire: Another municipal. I work away from home, so joined here midweek, but having played nearly every night Mon-Thurs last season, it was a waste of money, nearly every night, by the time I got there it was into "twilight golf" and I could have got on for £6. As I never there for the medals at weekends, membership is pointless.

Plan for the season: Dunecht becomes my "home" club again, Brandon is midweek pay and play practice, and weekends I play Opens rather than club medals at Walton.
 
Cernunnos,
What's the hook they have ito you for this year ?
Joining fee ? or part of the small print on a joining deal ?
Click to expand...

Looks like even though I was only going to try out the course over the winter till April 1st. It looks as If I have to be a member for a full season from April to end of March. Looks as if its simply small print in the contract of being a member. I was less than impressed, when I recently found out about this, but happy enough to continue even though I could really do with the course being closer than the 14 miles (20 - 25 minutes) drive I have to make to get there from home.

As I say, its just as well Lichfield is a nice course to play. I'll just have to make sure I get full use out of the membership & make sure I use other clubs in the Club company group during the 2009/10 season.

I'll have to see if there are other members with odd shift systems that co-incide with my own to give me some regular playing partners there, rather than having no choice of who I currently play with unless I get my own 4 ball guest parties together, which isn't that easy, as most of my workmates have too much of a drive to make it worth their while.
 
My golf club Appleby is the best value money could buy. Full membership this year £240 including insurance policy. Gem of a course always in excellent conditon and we still have a waiting list.
 
I really had to scrape and scrimp this year but glad I made the effort. My course is pretty cool on dress code in the clubhouse but does maintain certain standards which go for onthe course too (shorts tucked in etc). I think we are moving in the right direction on and off the course so its worth staying
Click to expand...

Has the prat I met at your place left then?
 
Interesting comments about stuffy clubs i hope these are eradicated in the not to distant future. It is a sport not an interview.
Click to expand...

Yes very true. Interesting that more people are looking at not renewing because of this rather than for money reasons.

Perhaps there is a big lesson to be learned by Clubs in this. The whole golf experience should be focused on pleasure and enjoyment.
 
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