PGA City Golf

[Diehard]

Just been told by the two clubs I play at (Hever and West Malling GC) through a PGA City Golf deal, that the aforementioned company have gone under. This leaves us with a year's subs down the drain and nowhere to play golf. Anybody know more about this situation?? Is there anything we can or should do?

 

[need_my_wedge]

I used to play at Hazlemere through these guys but haven't used them for over 5 years now. Why not contact them directly and ask http://www.pgacitygolf.co.uk/Home/

 

[Diehard]

I used to play at Hazlemere through these guys but haven't used them for over 5 years now. Why not contact them directly and ask http://www.pgacitygolf.co.uk/Home/

Because unsurprisingly they aren't answering their phones.... This will be affecting dozens of clubs all over the country and hundreds of golfers

 

[drutz]

Unfortunately there is not more you can do until the company confirm they have gone or not. Although I would contact some other clubs on their list see what they say. If they say they have gone and no longer accept bookings then you will have to join what will be a long list of creditors and have to accept you won't get even probably 10% of your money back. Even then the wait for that will likely go on for at least 2 years depending on how well hidden the directors are.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Members at my place weren't consulted about entering into an agreement with PGA City Golf and we have been very unhappy - both with the fact that we don't feel we needed the money when balanced against when they would be allowed to play; but more importantly the attitude and behaviour of some groups of players left a lot to be desired. They went some time not paying their dues but when we tried to cancel the contract recently they held us to it. Sorry if they have gone under but being selfish in truth this is good news to me - and sorry if it affects other clubs adversely.

And sorry to the OP - as I have lumped all members of PGA City Golf together and I know that that is not fair. And I hope you get some money back - but as in all these things the individual ls usually well down the list of creditors with HMRC at #1

 

[gazzanuts]

Hi Farnham Member
I am one of those people who joined Pga city at your club , I repair two pitch marks per green and respect the course , being an ex County player I have an excellent grasp of rules and etiquette. Golf course membership is changing, people are leaving clubs at an alarming rate, new revenue streams are being sought. If the club relied on members alone your Green Fees would at least double from the £1500 they are now , would you be willing to pay that I doubt it , they need money from people like Pga city not just on the course but behind the bar also . Pga city members could only play at quiet times surely it would be better to utilise the Golf course. Having said all that Farnham is an excellent course and well worth a visit ( if you can find it )

 

[DappaDonDave]

Homepage appears to be down/lacking content...not looking great

 

[Diehard]

Hi Farnham Member
I am one of those people who joined Pga city at your club , I repair two pitch marks per green and respect the course , being an ex County player I have an excellent grasp of rules and etiquette. Golf course membership is changing, people are leaving clubs at an alarming rate, new revenue streams are being sought. If the club relied on members alone your Green Fees would at least double from the £1500 they are now , would you be willing to pay that I doubt it , they need money from people like Pga city not just on the course but behind the bar also . Pga city members could only play at quiet times surely it would be better to utilise the Golf course. Having said all that Farnham is an excellent course and well worth a visit ( if you can find it )

:thup::thup::thup:

Well said. I think he lives in La la Land

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

:thup::thup::thup:

Well said. I think he lives in La la Land

Sorry - I don't get the me 'living in La la Land' bit. I'm just reporting views of more than one member I know; also that PGA City Golf weren't meeting their financial obligations - and that there had been some unfortunate altercations/discussions on the course with members.

Besides - one of the benefits of being a member of a 'members' club is being able to play by yourself or with a mate when it is quiet. Rather kills that if quiet times are filled. BTW - we are delighted that so many societies wish to play our track and take advantage of our hospitality.

 

[Diehard]

Sorry - I don't get the me 'living in La la Land' bit. I'm just reporting views of more than one member I know; also that PGA City Golf weren't meeting their financial obligations - and that there had been some unfortunate altercations/discussions on the course with members.

Besides - one of the benefits of being a member of a 'members' club is being able to play by yourself or with a mate when it is quiet. Rather kills that if quiet times are filled. BTW - we are delighted that so many societies wish to play our track and take advantage of our hospitality.

As our friend pointed out, Farnham Golf Club obviously needed the money and wasn't filling the quiet times (perhaps you should have played with yourself more often). Without this revenue your fees would have risen. Most members want to play in the mornings so the hordes of PGA members trampling all over your lawns were restricted to the afternoons or on weekends. As far as I know most PGA members were corporate and therefore weren't used that much and certainly not so much at weekends.
You can't lump all PGA members in together as uneducated golfing oafs either. I was a member with various clubs with PGA City Golf for nearly 10 years and they clearly had a business model that worked up until recently. In fact West Malling GC are now offering their own deal on the same basis as PGA did.
Not surprising that you irk a few people with your attitude towards us having both lost money and a place to play the game we love.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Irrespective of the bitching session that has broken out, it is a sad state of affairs whenever a club gets into trouble especially if you have paid upfront. I hope the OP can get some answers to his questions and find out where he stands. Bad times

 

[Diehard]

Irrespective of the bitching session that has broken out, it is a sad state of affairs whenever a club gets into trouble especially if you have paid upfront. I hope the OP can get some answers to his questions and find out where he stands. Bad times

Thank you. Appreciated. Sadly we are knackered but both Hever and West Malling are being very helpful.

 

[trip998]

Hi all, just joined here to inform all of the golfers stitched up by PGA CITY GOLF that the boss Bob Lewis is at it again using almost exactly the same name as before, "City Golf" and it even has his name on the front page of their web site.
I am in a similar situation as the author of this thread. i paid £500 for 2 years, 8 rounds a month and within 6 months Branshaw told me i cant use it anymore because PGA CITY GOLF had stopped paying them.
I have just emailed the new company CITY GOLF but to be honest i dont expect an answer from slimey BOB LEWIS. I hope that others can harass him but he probably wont care, he's just another one of these muppets that rise like a phoenix from the ashes of administration with out a care in the world.

 

[trip998]

maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, as i have just received this:

"Thank you for your email and, whilst I understand your frustration, you are mistaken. We are simply another victim of the recession. It would have been much easier to simply close down and start up again but that would have meant all our customers would have lost out. We have, in fact, tried very hard to keep in place as many contracts as possible with very limited resources.
We have had to drop the very expensive endorsement from the PGA, hence the change of trading style. Wherever possible, we have switched customers who have lost out to an alternative club and continue to do so. In your case we would be happy to switch you to Test Valley. I am away from the office now in meetings until Monday but will make the arrangements for your switch then.

I do apologise for the inconvenience and assure you that we are doing everything we can to try and resolve the situation as best we can."

Let's see if he can stick to this promise???

 

[Foxholer]

Hi all, just joined here to inform all of the golfers stitched up by PGA CITY GOLF that the boss Bob Lewis is at it again using almost exactly the same name as before, "City Golf" and it even has his name on the front page of their web site.
I am in a similar situation as the author of this thread. i paid £500 for 2 years, 8 rounds a month and within 6 months Branshaw told me i cant use it anymore because PGA CITY GOLF had stopped paying them.
I have just emailed the new company CITY GOLF but to be honest i dont expect an answer from slimey BOB LEWIS. I hope that others can harass him but he probably wont care, he's just another one of these muppets that rise like a phoenix from the ashes of administration with out a care in the world.

I don't believe it's quite like that.

While I'm sure there are some who work like that, I'ts highly likely that any credit conditions would be much more severe for the same people and business model. It's also likely that the environment (clubs willing to use the services) would be much more sceptical too - certainly those that have had issues in the past.

Had you used your 8 rounds a months for the 6 months, you'd be getting pretty good golf for about a tenner a time - absolute bargain! I'd certainly consider the likelihood of losing access when signing up and would 'front-load' my use!

Clubs should certainly entertain more income streams, but they need to be a bit careful to neither over/undervalue their asset, nor upset too many existing members.

I don't think I'll be joining City Golf though!

 

[trip998]

Foxholer, is he one of your mates???
come on, real world now. i have been emailing them for 6 months without a response.
they made no attempt to contact me to offer alternative services from their new company
they have only reacted now because i have caught up with them.
Yes it's cheap golf but i dont have access to a crystal ball so "front-loading" was not a consideration at the time of payment

 

[Diehard]

maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, as i have just received this:

"Thank you for your email and, whilst I understand your frustration, you are mistaken. We are simply another victim of the recession. It would have been much easier to simply close down and start up again but that would have meant all our customers would have lost out. We have, in fact, tried very hard to keep in place as many contracts as possible with very limited resources.
We have had to drop the very expensive endorsement from the PGA, hence the change of trading style. Wherever possible, we have switched customers who have lost out to an alternative club and continue to do so. In your case we would be happy to switch you to Test Valley. I am away from the office now in meetings until Monday but will make the arrangements for your switch then.

I do apologise for the inconvenience and assure you that we are doing everything we can to try and resolve the situation as best we can."

Let's see if he can stick to this promise???

That's interesting.....I don't believe he has tried to keep any contracts for existing customers....I mean you hadn't heard from him and nor had I or another company I know. We had been with them for 10 years so he ought to have known us!! I looked on his site but there are no courses in Kent, so if he does offer us something it would be in Essex or Surrey......far from ideal. However, it is better than nothing if it honours our existing deal until August. I won't hold my breath!

 

[Foxholer]

Foxholer, is he one of your mates???
come on, real world now. i have been emailing them for 6 months without a response.
they made no attempt to contact me to offer alternative services from their new company
they have only reacted now because i have caught up with them.
Yes it's cheap golf but i dont have access to a crystal ball so "front-loading" was not a consideration at the time of payment

Nope. No mate - never heard of him.

I the change to Test Valley (never heard of that either) is a no-cost, then could well be worthwhile, but I'd certainly be reluctant to pay cash up front - and this is the down-side of restarting with effectively the same model as one that has failed in the past!

If you do sign up, don't waste time taking advantage of the benefits!

And you could always approach your favoured club directly and try negotiating your own deal along those lines.

Nice 'spin' on the dropping of 'PGA'. I'd think it was either declined because of the previous failure (as per my post), no cash to fund or deemed unjustifiable expense.

Good Luck with it though!

 

[newtothissite]

I think you shoulf call or email them, i also lost my golf at West Malling GC and they transferred me to another course, based on my dealings with Citygolf they have been very helpful the lady i spoke to explained to me what had happened and was more then happy to transfer me to another club (however you need to be prepared for the fact that it wont be on your doorstep like the clubs you orignially joined) to me personally i dont mind as i am still playing golf and they have assured me that they will honour the golf their customers have lost. they arent hiding at all and the lady explained to me that as they were victims of the recession (as many of us have been) they choose to stop having the PGA endorsement because it costs alot of money and they would rather put that money into getting the company back on track, also Hever were honouring the golf until Feb 13 so you could have still used it there I hope this helps but i'd say give them a call 03335 770 077 if they dont answer leave a message (thats what i did and the lady called me back) hope you get your transfer

 

[Mortz]

I have reported these guys to both Trading Standard and BBC Watchdog Rogue Traders. I've done some digging, this guy has a list of 'failed' companies as long as your arm. I'm going through the official channels first as requested by Trading Standards. City Golf will get their just rewards when a leather clad Motor Biked Reporter starts turning up at their offices. However i'm also going after PGA themselves for sticking their head in the sand when these crooks decided to breach their own contract. I gave them every chance to assist but they simply said it was nothing to do with them, depsite their logo being all over the documentation. Lets see how they change their tune when Anne Robinson rips them a 19th Hole!