Strange Membership Structure

[Craggles89]

A new ‘Complex’ is to open in June after being developed from scratch for the past 5 or so years, less than 3 miles from my house.

Naturally I have been keeping my eye on the progress for some years and was delighted when I got a call to invite me into the marketing suite to inform me of their prices now the course and clubhouse have an official opening date (1st June).

So the bloke goes through the marketing bit (Range, bunker practice area, putting green, par 3 course – all open now / gym, restaurant, health suite, spa etc.) explains to me it is going to be the whole she-bang, proper country club, I tell him the salesman thing doesn’t work on my I just want to know how much for 5 day / 7 day, if there is pay and play option, what the green fee will be, joining fee etc.

Salesman - “No” he says - £80 a month for the membership (includes all of the above)
Me – “What about just golf, I don’t want gym membership.”
Salesman - “We only do one type of membership - where you get everything”
Me - “What if the Mrs wants to go just the gym, does she have to pay for the golf too?”
Salesman – “No she can pay £40 a month for just gym”
Me – “But I can’t pay £40 a month for just golf?”
Salesman – “No if you want golf you have to pay for everything”

So there is either £40 gym membership or £80 everything membership.

I left bamboozled. Has anyone else experience this one membership for all theory? It’s not the amount per month I’m raising concern about, it’s the lack of other options that surprised me.

Or it may just be a bold sales strategy to see how it goes before they are fully up and running, and may consider reviewing this at a later day?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

It sounds a bit like a Sky bundle. From your persepective I hope they struggle at which point they will separate the sections into chunks and you can pay for what you want. Probably worth sending an email / letter etc advising the bosses that you are interested in joining the golf club but don't want to pay for everything else that you will not use. The more they hear this the more chance that they will listen and change the system.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Does sound strange.

In the end if you are happy to pay the amount for just the golf you are not forced to use anything else.

Pay it, play golf and forget about the rest until you want/need it.

 

[spongebob59]

Pretty sure I've seen a joint membership type thing where you can 'share' facilities at a lower rate.

Think it was at Nizels in Kent.

 

[Qwerty]

Presuming the course is half decent I'd be signing up while there are places still available.
£80 a month seems an absolute bargain.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Presuming the course is half decent I'd be signing up while there are places still available.
£80 a month seems an absolute bargain.

Yep - sounds good to me too.

I think I've seen others like this. The ones I'm aware of have positioned it as gym usage being free for golf members, and to be fair, £80 for golf membership isn't bad at all for the south east. If you were a gym goer too, it would be like stealing.

EDIT: From a quick google, this place works in exactly that way: http://www.ingrebournelinks.com/golf-membership/

9 holes only until June 2018. Not sure I'd join before they have 18 holes to be honest.

 

[Lazkir]

Is it just a par 3 course or does it have that plus a full size course?
If the former then the price doesn't look that good, if the latter then I'd get my name down quick!

 

[User 105]

Sounds like a Crown golf course. That's how they work.

Did ask same questions when i joined Chesfield downs originally as I was a member of another gym already and had no intention of using theirs.

But £80, if it's a full course, seems a bargin to me. Think Chesfield Downs was about £110-£120.

 

[Nickrat]

Let me know where it is and I'll mention it to my mate who develops property, the land might be a good investment when it closes in a year or two

 

[Papas1982]

If there was some guarantee on price structure then it looks a great offer.

If come 2018 the cost is going to jump significantly as it'll be a proper course I'd have reservations.

 

[Craggles89]

Yep - sounds good to me too.

I think I've seen others like this. The ones I'm aware of have positioned it as gym usage being free for golf members, and to be fair, £80 for golf membership isn't bad at all for the south east. If you were a gym goer too, it would be like stealing.

EDIT: From a quick google, this place works in exactly that way: http://www.ingrebournelinks.com/golf-membership/

9 holes only until June 2018. Not sure I'd join before they have 18 holes to be honest.

Well done, Sherlock!

I wasn't going to name the course as that isn't my style, but it is indeed this place mentioned. :clap:

 

[Craggles89]

Is it just a par 3 course or does it have that plus a full size course?
If the former then the price doesn't look that good, if the latter then I'd get my name down quick!

It currently has a par 3 course (9 holes) and is opening the Full course in June - just 9 holes.

And then a 9 hole course once a year until its 27.

You are right, if the price rockets to double or even more than that in 3 years time, securing a place now is a steal.

But it could, of course, go the other way - only time will tell I guess.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Well done, Sherlock!

I wasn't going to name the course as that isn't my style, but it is indeed this place mentioned. :clap:

Sorry! I didn't think there was any reason not to name it, it actually looks pretty decent.

As someone posted above, I'd want some commitment around future price increases because the deal being offered at the moment seems to be very good value compared to prices generally in the South East.

 

[Craggles89]

Sorry! I didn't think there was any reason not to name it, it actually looks pretty decent.

As someone posted above, I'd want some commitment around future price increases because the deal being offered at the moment seems to be very good value compared to prices generally in the South East.

It's fine, no skin of my nose, just didn't want to lead my post with having a pop at the club, as I go there a lot to use the range, and my 5 year old likes playing in the bunker.

Just thought it was funny that you posted a link of the exact place with me giving away not a lot I thought; I was impressed.

As you say, I am worried about the hikes in prices, and although we aren't blessed with many a beautiful courses around here, for golf alone, that is a bit more expensive than competitors, but they do have all the initial costs to cover.

Watch this space!

 

[Canary_Yellow]

It's fine, no skin of my nose, just didn't want to lead my post with having a pop at the club, as I go there a lot to use the range, and my 5 year old likes playing in the bunker.

Just thought it was funny that you posted a link of the exact place with me giving away not a lot I thought; I was impressed.

As you say, I am worried about the hikes in prices, and although we aren't blessed with many a beautiful courses around here, for golf alone, that is a bit more expensive than competitors, but they do have all the initial costs to cover.

Watch this space!

I wish I could claim the glory, but it's more the ability of google to work in exactly the way you would hope it to. I searched for "Essex new golf and country club". And Bob was my uncle.

 

[BubbaP]

I think you should join just so you can have a weekly debate on whether it is a links or not
������

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's fine, no skin of my nose, just didn't want to lead my post with having a pop at the club, as I go there a lot to use the range, and my 5 year old likes playing in the bunker.

Just thought it was funny that you posted a link of the exact place with me giving away not a lot I thought; I was impressed.

As you say, I am worried about the hikes in prices, and although we aren't blessed with many a beautiful courses around here, for golf alone, that is a bit more expensive than competitors, but they do have all the initial costs to cover.

Watch this space!

Surely the question has to be "what will happen when you extend? What is your price structure going to be" and see what they say and whether you can "protect" your subs by signing up now

 

[chrisd]

Pretty sure I've seen a joint membership type thing where you can 'share' facilities at a lower rate.

Think it was at Nizels in Kent.

Yes, i played Nizels and am pretty sure it was golf and gym too. I also asked at Tudor Park in Maidstone and there was a price for everything too but I'm not sure whether you could just pay for gym only

 

[TheJezster]

I don't think it's that strange. It's not a separate price for each thing, it's 80 a month for the golf and everything else is included in the package. If, however, you only want the gym it's only 40 a month. I can't see why they'd separate it out even further. If you don't want the gym don't use it, but you're price won't reduce because it's included in the golf package.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Yes, i played Nizels and am pretty sure it was golf and gym too. I also asked at Tudor Park in Maidstone and there was a price for everything too but I'm not sure whether you could just pay for gym only

I'm pretty sure Nizels works on the same basis as this place. You can be a health club only member, but if you're a golf member, that includes use of all facilities.