Pay and play time

[MVP]

Well.. didnt want to have to say it but im probably going to go pay and play soon after christmas...! My current club although affordable is only 9 holes and is becoming a bit 'tee'dious!

The only real affordable 7 day memberships are at the pay and play courses ! although they arent as cheap as they should be, i would still have to book tee times and theres usually the wrong crowd attracted in general!

The half decent local clubs are charging too much for me too afford now! eg. my old club west malling are now charging 1250 a year plus 100bar charge(although this is to spend) its not that great either! and im too skint for that now!

So unless i join a P&P course which is unlikely im pretty much stuck and will be a free man!

 

[Herbie]

Its a pity you dont live nearer Linconshire/Humberside, there are many clubs here for half that price and 18 holes, mind you there are one or two around that price too but not too many, its a good area for most of the year golf ( by that I mean longer period of play before winter greens introduced, if at all in some cases)

I hope you get sorted, As keen as I am for golf, I wouldnt like to be living in some areas where they think everyone is really wealthy with money to burn.

 

[MVP]

Just having another look pay n play prises have gone up loads .. seems to be the places which were 19-22 pound a round are more like 22-30 now !! it gets worse! The only thing that hasnt gone up is my wages!

 

[medwayjon]

Southern Valley is £695 for a years unlimited.

Good course, absolute [****]-hole of a clubhouse, shop, etc as it is basically a portakabin village.

I think cobtree do unlimited for around £850 a year which is pretty good value for that course.

As much as I am chuffed off with where I am, there is no way Im going p&p.

 

[MVP]

cobtree is my best bet jon http://www.medwaygolf.co.uk/charges.html
providing this is up to date at 799! thats not too bad.

Its just the fact i like to tee off first thing saturday morning i dont want to have to phone up for tee times all the time and cobtree is littered with societies!

Although it is the most convenient location! and not a bad course!

 

[Parmo]

I am joining my Muni 9 holer as a club member and in April getting a season ticket for about £400, the savings will mean I can still pay and play other courses and not be restricted to the one course and though 9 holes its a great track in mature park land.

You are right though, clubs are asking far too much for members or new members to pay, theres one near me Wike Ridge (Leeds golf centre) which is £730 + £450 Joining fee, its the most boring track ever and always windy and more like a pub with a golf course rather than a club.

 

[haplesshacker]

Just to put the cat amongest the pidgons!!

What's so bad about p & p? You guys are sounding quite snobish regarding it. Maybe that's not your intention.

Just think of the advantages. You can go and play many different courses, without the need to shell out annual membership for your own club and then green fees for elsewhere.

You can take or leave a week without playing, without feeling that you have to get your 30 odd games in to cover the membership.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but we've all got the job / money issues at the moment. I might be without a job come Christmas as the owners have had an offer, and all support staff are likely to not be required. Somethings gonna have to give on expenditure, and if it comes down to putting food on the table or playing golf, then the family will just have to eat less.

 

[GolfOffshore]

Our pay per play courses are between £30 and £40 for a round.

Out of interest how expensive are your joining fees? I had to pay £1200 joining fee and then I pay £83 a month for unlimited play, granted this gives me 'country club' access which allows me to use the gym and health suite etc...

 

[Parmo]

haplesshacker, I think its more than just golf isnt it, when you join a club be it a upmarket one or a Municipal club its about being part of something in terms of the social side and comps within it, well thats how I see it and thats why I am joining a club. Being a nomad isnt a bad thing it just means you dont have the club enviroment and benefits that go with it.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I feel sorry for you guys in the south, I really mean it.
If I had to pay what you guys pay then there's absolutely no way I could justify being a member of a club.
It would definitely be P&P for me too.
It's not all bad news though. You get to play many different courses and if you get some 2for1 vouchers then it may not work out that expensive.
Certainly not £1250 per year anyway.

 

[USER1999]

The problem I always had as a nomad was finding regular playing partners. This is one of the best things about club membership as far as I am concerned.

 

[SammmeBee]

The problem I always had as a nomad was finding regular playing partners. This is one of the best things about club membership as far as I am concerned.

and regular (or actually any) competitions too......

 

[Smudge]

I have been pay and play for sometime now and find that the lack of proper competative golf is the major problem, but when times are hard something has to give.

 

[medwayjon]

My issues with P&P are definately not snobbish, those who have met me will vouch that "snob" is definately no an adjective that could be associated with me.

My problems with p&p are as follows.

1) Freedom to play, members clubs look after members. Pay & Plays are profit focussed and as a result the £ is to hard to resist for them so actual playing availability can be very restricted.

2) competitions are not great at a lot of p&p courses, yes they have clubs affiliated to the course but this is nothing like a members club.

3) Yobs, unfortunately at every p&p I have ever visited regularly, I have always come accross absolute morons who want to get pissed whilst playing, cant play at all and wont budge to let anyone through, view course vanadlism as part of the game, have no concept of rules/etiquette and I could go on. Becuase moneyh is the priority, standards can be non-existant.

4) Snobbery (Im not joking) is rife at p&p's. 2 local to me have affiliated clubs and many captains/committee bods I have met have been the most OTT snobs ever, proper hitlers who think they own the place because they have a named parking space.

On the plus side there are many, truly fantastic p&p courses or proprietry owned courses such as Princes for example where anyone of a competent standard with a respect for rules, etiquette and common sense can have a nice game of golf.

Lewis, as for cobtree it could be a good move for you, they do like a comp and as a course, I find it pretty good for what is available locally.

Have you had a look at the Marriott Tudor Park??? Nice course, no idea of fees but of course pretty local for you.

 

[haplesshacker]

MWJ.

I was just playing devils advocate. Non meant btw!

I agree with your last post. But I was trying to put a bit of positive spin on your (and many others) prediciment.

The club I belong to has a bronze membership option for £60 a year. This includes £3 off a round of golf, entitlement to take part in comps, earlier booking priority (we also have p & p at the club), and a club h'cap. Though I do have to pay £3 for the comp entry fee. The club champs which is over both 18 hole courses, I was only charged for one round and not both, and it included lunch. I buy my Z-URS balls at a very good rate from the pro, and they generally look after me. Oh, and the night golf which we recently did.

This bronze membership is ideal for me, as I can never be sure of playing once a week, and it means I can visit other courses without the 'but I've already paid to play elsewhere' mentality of full membership.

I've not come across many clubs with this sort of membership option.

 

[MVP]

Jon i have had a look at marriot tudor park but like you not sure on the prices although i think its not too cheap!! Im swaying more to cobtree the more i think of it purely due to location! Also it will be a good venue for a forum meet! I'd host one at my club but i feel that it would not excite you guys much, so i will wait till the new year i think!

 

[medwayjon]

We did a meet a cobtree this summer. Was absolutely scorching hot so we had buggies. Was a good day though and a good course.

 

[USER1999]

Yeah, I enjoyed it. As a p&p it is alright. Especially if you get sunshine thrown in with the green fee everytime.

 

[Mawgan]

MVP

I know you must be a little further north than me, but I am considering joining Kings Hill, and noting your comments about West Malling I wondered if you have tried/considered KH?

With regard to the comments about P & P and snobbery, in some cases certainly near me, the local course is actually a very good layout if somewhat short, but like most low-lying areas of Kent is little more than a puddle at this time of year and in this weather! Hence little golf...

 

[SammmeBee]

Isn't Chart Hills down that way - that's a good course?