Prepaying for use of clubhouse restaurant and bar

[AidenSmith]

Anyone else's club operate a system like this, whereby a fee, in my case £50, is compulsorily added onto your annual membership subscription so as to, it's alleged, encourage use of the bar/restaurant? My club issues cards with the £50 automatically credited onto them every year.

 

[Macster]

Ours too, but £70.

I agree, it encourages members to mix in the bar and spend it, and helps promote a good atmosphere.
Ive topped my card up a few times already too !

 

[Twire]

Yep, we have a £50 bar/food levy at our place. I think it stops the 'car park golfers' gets people to use the clubhouse, and therefore contributes to the overheads. Which in turn keeps the subscriptions down.

 

[Imurg]

They don't have this at any club I'm planning on joining and I'm not saying its wrong - but isn't it penalising those who either don't want to or can't take advantage of the facilities? Maybe they love the course but don't like the clubhouse?
I know it only takes a few minutes to have a drink but we moan like hell about having to spend 4 hours on the course and then dashing away to keep HID happy - what if you only really have enough time to get changed and go? Is it not an extra subscription?

 

[need_my_wedge]

We have a £50 levy payable too. Doesn't cover food in the clubhouse, but does drinks. You also get the drinks at 20% off the price you'd pay if you paid cash.

 

[USER1999]

We don't have this, but as I spend a fortune there anyway, I wouldn't mind.

Thing is, it is a golf club, not just a golf course. It also needs money through the bar and catering, or these facilities would disappear.

For those who never use the bar, then yes, it is a tax, but then others spending 1000s in the bar are subsidising your golf.

 

[Smiffy]

We have this at Highwoods, and I think it's £80.00 per annum.
I was going to pay for Sam to join as a "social member" which is £30.00 but baulked when they said I had to load her card up with an additional £50.00 on top of that.
She's never been to the bar in her life

 

[freddielong]

I cannot believe they get away with this, is it legal?

You should not be able to force someone to spend their own money without them choseing to do it. Next you will have to pay for £100 credit in the pro shop - scandalous

 

[Smiffy]

Next you will have to pay for £100 credit in the pro shop - scandalous

Doesn't everybody do that anyway???

 

[Macster]

freddielong: Of course its 'legal', Golf Clubs are private and therefor able to stipulate what the heck they want.

I'm in agreement, but then again, I like a beer after I play.

 

[freddielong]

I'm in agreement, but then again, I like a beer after I play.

It should be your choice though, I have not come across this before and it doesn't feel right to me. I don't think I have spent £50 in our clubhouse over the last three years.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I thought this was the norm for most golf clubs. It certainly applies at mine, and I am very much in support of the idea as something like £50 on top of your yearly subs is a fairly minimal proportion and will certainly be used by most. It's a good point whoever said it as well about encouraging socialising within the club after the round, as no doubt this makes for a better atmosphere.

 

[jammydodger]

£75 for us and it gets you an 8% discount in the bar

 

[HTL]

Yep we do it at LGC. However, its £250 paid back in two instalments. Like JammyDodger we also get a discount on food and drink with it.

I like the set up and it definetly speeds up getting drinks etc. Also makes things easier not worrying about having to take your wallet to the club , unless im playing Smiffy or Leftie and have just been beaten.

 

[Macster]

freddielong: You're exactly why Clubs have introduced this

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

we have a similar but we choose how much we put on it. however, hardly use it because the only drink i have is on a friday night on the long par 5's

 

[vig]

My club doesn't but a £50 levy wouldn't go very far.

We have a card that they zap every time we use the bar etc..

I think I have done my bit for the club these last few months.

 

[laffalot]

My place has a £30 levy which is easily spent over the year.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have one at our place too. I like it as it means I'm never worrying about having enough cash to buy my partners a drink and I can get food on it too. Its quick and easy and simple to top up. I can't see any problem with it at all

 

[AidenSmith]

I'm not totally adverse to the idea. I certainly spend more time, occasionally somewhat begrudgingly, in the bar/restaurant now that what I once did. When it was initially rolled out, I didn't use any of the £50 allowance.
One thing does get my goat, though, which is the fact that if one doesn't use the £50 allocation in one year, it's not carried forward to the next. I was told, however, by someone who's friendly with the bar manager, that the secret is to add a few pounds to the card and then the total balance is carried forward to the next year. That little trick seems to be a secret, which I utterly resent.