Reward schemes to increase memberships

[Aldo-it]

Thank you in anticipation of any contributions made to my thread

My golf club is tasked with creating a reward scheme for current members who introduce a new member to the club. We are expecting to pay the reward upon the renewal of the new members subscription.

Have you had any experience of reward schemes that have had a result??
Either positive or negative experiences would be good to read

Cost of membership is £1000 per year so a new member nominated is a significant contribution to the club.
If you need any further information please ask. I would like to keep the club anonymous

Thanks again

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Thank you in anticipation of any contributions made to my thread

My golf club is tasked with creating a reward scheme for current members who introduce a new member to the club. We are expecting to pay the reward upon the renewal of the new members subscription.

Have you had any experience of reward schemes that have had a result??
Either positive or negative experiences would be good to read

Cost of membership is £1000 per year so a new member nominated is a significant contribution to the club.
If you need any further information please ask. I would like to keep the club anonymous

Thanks again

Tell us the club and we'll help you out

 

[Hobbit]

Tried it a couple of previous clubs. It made no difference whatsoever. Basically, its a reward for someone else's choice. The member gets a reward for someone else wanting to become a member... pretty much a waste of time. Where's the incentive for the new member to join?

However, dropping a new member's second year/renewal does reward them for staying, as does pay 9 months for 12 in their first year.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My old club tried it but the members were old, miserable and grumpy and could not see the point of it, yes I proposed the scheme, fought for it in committee and bore the brunt of grumpiness. It lasted one year, 2 members got their rewards and the scheme was dropped. We failed to get our message across strongly enough that a new member is good and necessary for the club and it died a death.

You need the reward to be enough to encourage members but without costing the club much needed revenue. What reward are you thinking of? We went for a straight money off membership but I think that was a mistake. Perhaps money off behind the bar may have been a better option.

Reading Hobbit's post got me thinking. Don't forget to reward existing members to encourage them to renew. A little like Sky, everything gets thrown at the new member. Little, subtle rewards for existing members do a lot for morale and make you feel good about your club.

 

[Coffey]

Tried it a couple of previous clubs. It made no difference whatsoever. Basically, its a reward for someone else's choice. The member gets a reward for someone else wanting to become a member... pretty much a waste of time. Where's the incentive for the new member to join?

However, dropping a new member's second year/renewal does reward them for staying, as does pay 9 months for 12 in their first year.

Agree with this. If I was joining I'd be asking what deal am I getting, not what am I getting for someone else.

My club had a massive offer on last year for people who have no handicap. Was April to January for about £350 and this included 2 group lessons with pro and £25 bar card and you get your GUI handicap and eligible for all comps etc. As you can imagine this was very very popular and it was over subscribed very quickly. They have then said to anyone who joined using that offer last year, will get their next year membership for £550, which a large number of people have taken. They are also running the offer again this year. This has provided the club with a much needed cash boost and we are already seeing the money being spent to improve the course with one of the greens being reconstructed.

A number of other clubs are now running similar offers in the area, with one of them normally at 2.5k for your first year is offering no 1.5k joining fee and a very well priced 25-30 membership and this open to players who currently have a club.

 

[Coffey]

My old club tried it but the members were old, miserable and grumpy and could not see the point of it, yes I proposed the scheme, fought for it in committee and bore the brunt of grumpiness. It lasted one year, 2 members got their rewards and the scheme was dropped. We failed to get our message across strongly enough that a new member is good and necessary for the club and it died a death.

You need the reward to be enough to encourage members but without costing the club much needed revenue. What reward are you thinking of? We went for a straight money off membership but I think that was a mistake. Perhaps money off behind the bar may have been a better option.

Reading Hobbit's post got me thinking. Don't forget to reward existing members to encourage them to renew. A little like Sky, everything gets thrown at the new member. Little, subtle rewards for existing members do a lot for morale and make you feel good about your club.

That is a very valid point. I am in the 25-30 category so get a cheap membership anyway, but a number of the guys I play with have been members for years and are paying nearly double what the new members are paying in their second year. The only reason they were staying is that they live beside the course (and it is in very good condition). But I am sure there will be a very more disgruntled members who will move on.

 

[Hobbit]

A good reward for existing members is, say, £50 on their bar card. They save £50 but it costs the club less than £50 because of the buy-in price.

 

[guest100718]

we offer varyng levels off discount each renewal, depending on how and when you pay.

 

[stevek1969]

If i introduce a full member i get £100 on my card, i did it last year introduced a mate of mine i got it on my card then gave him £100 in cash back.

 

[351DRIVER]

Thank you in anticipation of any contributions made to my thread

My golf club is tasked with creating a reward scheme for current members who introduce a new member to the club. We are expecting to pay the reward upon the renewal of the new members subscription.

Have you had any experience of reward schemes that have had a result??
Either positive or negative experiences would be good to read

Cost of membership is £1000 per year so a new member nominated is a significant contribution to the club.
If you need any further information please ask. I would like to keep the club anonymous

Thanks again

The problem with this approach is you are turning your members into a salesforce and saying, we will give you 15% off if you get a member might sounds like a great incentive, but no one is going to push your club because of this, you either know people who might join or your do not a small amount of money is never going to be enough for people to care (Sure 1 guy might care) but in general it will not even cause a hiccup in your bottom line.


You would be better off creating an affiliate programme and offering a good commission to websites, fb groups etc who source a new member.

BTW if you represent Muirfield, you might try letting women in

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Over the years we introduced a "£200" introduce a friend finder fee as such but people always gave it to the person joining and it was taken off their first years subs - it worked very well and quite a few took it up.

We have someone on our membership committee who is very proactive in getting people to join and to start the game of game - introduced a lot of schemes and membership categories into the club that has helped us greatly - he was rightly given an award by EGU for all his work. It's always worth looking at different options to get people into the game and indeed to become members of a club

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a scheme where you get £100 on your bar card if you introduce someone. Not sure it's been hugely taken up and as others have said, what exactly is in it for the joinee? They still have to stump up the fee (and joining if relevant)