Slightly annoyed.

[bozza]

Last year at our presentation night we had a prize draw for a free membership for a year which I won, it started from April this year until next April.

Since then our course which was a muni course owned by the council has been sold to a neighbouring private club which was struggling for money and had a course that was prime building location. So in June this year the deal went through and the private club left there course across the road and now have their home which was the old muni course.

Now here's the problem, obviously I still had my free membership which I won but our new club aren't going to honour it by the looks of things and they want the council to foot the bill to cover it, which is around 5
£500 and as far as I can gather the council have said it's not there problem as they no longer have a golf club.

I'm a little annoyed the council aren't willing to pay as I won the prize fair and square but I can also see there point.

I'm also a little disappointed that the club have pretty much said they aren't going to honour it as maybe a goodwill gesture, the membership is full and they got a 6 figure sum off the council for the land they sold them so there not exactly struggling for cash and it's not like they are having to fork out the £500 for my membership it's just they wouldn't receive that extra money.

Sorry for the long rant but it's got me annoyed.

So should I be having a word with the committee or should I complain to the council?

 

[palindromicbob]

Don't think you have much to stand on. Basically the prize was the council letting you use what they owned for free (again didn't actually cost them anything). Now they don't own it so have no grounds to allow it to continue.

New club has no need to let it continue either because they didn't make the agreement. You could probably try and get a reduced sub though. Maybe offer them a reduced amount based on the fact the season is nearly over. Maybe start at £150.

You could try the route of arguing the council should honour the prize but I think that would probably be more hassle than it's worth and if you want to continue at the club next year it wouldn't be wise to get labelled as "the troublemaker"

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Unless you are unbelievably fond of the course, would explain it to the new person in charge and kindly remind them that if they weren't to honour it, you would seek a club elsewhere. This would probably be for at least 10 years and so at the current average at somewhere around £1200 in the north, they'd have lost £12k - as well as a load of goodwill which they'd have received if they'd have honoured your win and publicised it.

 

[bozza]

Don't think you have much to stand on. Basically the prize was the council letting you use what they owned for free (again didn't actually cost them anything). Now they don't own it so have no grounds to allow it to continue.

New club has no need to let it continue either because they didn't make the agreement. You could probably try and get a reduced sub though. Maybe offer them a reduced amount based on the fact the season is nearly over. Maybe start at £150.

You could try the route of arguing the council should honour the prize but I think that would probably be more hassle than it's worth and if you want to continue at the club next year it wouldn't be wise to get labelled as "the troublemaker"

Yeah that's where it's awkward as I want to stay at the club so don't want to get a reputation as such by causing too much of a fuss.

What's strange though is that they have processed my membership on HDID 2 weeks a go so I can enter the comps it was only when I rang them today to chase up membership card and bag tag I found out I'm not actually a member as such, if that makes sense?

 

[bozza]

Unless you are unbelievably fond of the course, would explain it to the new person in charge and kindly remind them that if they weren't to honour it, you would seek a club elsewhere. This would probably be for at least 10 years and so at the current average at somewhere around £1200 in the north, they'd have lost £12k - as well as a load of goodwill which they'd have received if they'd have honoured your win and publicised it.

This is the problem I really like the course, have a fair few friends that play their and it will end up being one of the best courses in the area in the future with the money and plans they have for it.

I only really have the option of one other course as I don't drive.

 

[CMAC]

Your free membership started April 2013, therefore your 'contract' verbal or otherwise started at this time with the owners. The new owners bought the club and I assume all the memberships and associated subs? If they don't honour your official membership what's to stop them doubling the price or changing the current membership subs?
My point is they probably bought everything with a commitment not to change the 2013-2014 subs and that should include your membership regardless of the actual value of it.

 

[Foxholer]

Is the new club honouring the rights of members who have paid subscriptions? IO believe you should be treated in the same way.

Your membership is almost certainly a contract, even if the fee is zero for this year. As the Council no longer owns the facility that would provide the service involved in the contract, the new company is where I believe any 'remedy' needs to be focused. But it depends on how other contracts are worded. You may be able to get free legal advice - oddly probably provided/subsidised by the Council!

 

[pbrown7582]

The new club IMO is being petty and should honour your membership, as its now 2 clubs merged i assume that the membership is pretty healthy number, is there a us and them divide between private club members and muni members sounds like there could be.

 

[Fader]

Was the free membership prize confirmed in writing in essence to perform like a contract between you and the council? If it was then the new private owners would have bought the club with that contract in place and should have to honour it as they do for all the agreements in place with full paying members!

If there is no contractual evidence and was essentially a gentleman's agreement then I cant see how you'd have a leg to stand on because if there is no physical proof then from their point of view and that probably from a legal standpoint there was no actual binding agreement in place.

this is all merely just imo and based on reading the OP but id also be pretty miffed about it.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

As Fader says if you have 'written proof' you are in a strong position.
Complain [nicely] to your local councilor is probably the best way forward. Try to seek some compensation.
New club do not have any obligation to honour the prize as it has nothing to do for them

 

[Sweep]

As others have said, it seems to be all in the contract between the new club and the council. If memberships and subs are being honoured, then yours should be no exception. Citizens advice is the way to go, or a solicitor if you are flush (but this would negate the free subs lol). My main point though is not to worry about being a trouble maker. You are only asking for what is yours by right. There will probably be 500 or more members and you will very probably be one of a large number of issues in a move of this nature. In my experience of serving on committees, people in situations like this are not seen as trouble makers. The issue is resolved in one way or another and everyone moves on. All will soon be forgotten and it sounds like you are the kind of member they will want.

 

[DaveyG]

I wouldn't let this one go mate,

Honouring the past prize for one season shouldn't be any issue to the club surely.

Good Luck!

 

[Pin-seeker]

Poor form from the new owners IMO. Having won a years membership you should be treated the same as any other member. Good luck with it mate.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne..._hell__on_Darlington_golf_club_greens/?ref=mr Judging by the local paper Bozza is not the only one to upset by the changes to the golf club. Blackwell Grange have not got off to a good start at Stressholme!!

 

[bladeplayer]

I wouldnt let it go , under some act ( lottery or gaming or something) the people who sold you the ticket have an obligation to honour the prize you won or substitute that prize to one of equal value , if the course closed down or something it would be different but it just changed owners so contracts should switch over ..

As others have said if youd payed your subs in March or April would your membership be intact , as you purchased a ticket for the chance to win your sub and won , then technicaly you have your member for this year and they should not be able to revoke that on non disciplinary [sp] grounds

 

[Hobbit]

Your membership contract started on April 1st, and runs for one year. The zero fee has no bearing on the contract, and its that simple...

 

[bozza]

The members of Stressholme were told they would be offerd membership when Blackwell came over and if they had paid a years subs they would be refunded from the council for the remaing months they had left on their subs. Then they could decide if they wanted to join the new private club that was taking over or move elsewhere.

And no I don't have it in writing about my free membership, it was just a tradition that on presentation night everyone who came got a raffle ticket and one was drawn for free years membership.

I paid monthly so the club at the time informed the council I had won it so they stopped taking my direct debit after March.

 

[pbrown7582]

The members of Stressholme were told they would be offerd membership when Blackwell came over and if they had paid a years subs they would be refunded from the council for the remaing months they had left on their subs. Then they could decide if they wanted to join the new private club that was taking over or move elsewhere.

And no I don't have it in writing about my free membership, it was just a tradition that on presentation night everyone who came got a raffle ticket and one was drawn for free years membership.

I paid monthly so the club at the time informed the council I had won it so they stopped taking my direct debit after March.

This surely puts the situation in a different light? No one is having their membership transferred and thosae that have paid are getting a refund, so you should suggest to the council that they refund you the remaining months on your membership along with all the existing members.

 

[bozza]

This surely puts the situation in a different light? No one is having their membership transferred and thosae that have paid are getting a refund, so you should suggest to the council that they refund you the remaining months on your membership along with all the existing members.

Can't see that happening to be honest but I see where you are coming from, they have offerd a prize of a free years membership and they haven't fulfilled it but without having it in wrignting I'm kinda stuck.

Also I'm not the only one in this situation, the captain of Stressholme for this year also get's free membership for a year but obviously he is no longer captain as Stressholme GC is no longer.

 

[jp5]

I'd take my membership elsewhere, but as you said if you don't want to do that then you aren't left with much choice but to take it on the chin.