Subscriptions/current course closures - what is your club doing?

[Blue in Munich]

Well, despite not offering the members anything in the way of rebate at this stage, we had a 96% renewal rate, which considering there will be some natural wastage is not too bad. We also apparently have 28 on the waiting list, despite still having a joining fee which we are told is the wrong thing to do.

 

[Robster59]

Well, despite not offering the members anything in the way of rebate at this stage, we had a 96% renewal rate, which considering there will be some natural wastage is not too bad. We also apparently have 28 on the waiting list, despite still having a joining fee which we are told is the wrong thing to do.

Nice place to be in. I was chatting to our club manager the other week and we haven't had any more than the usual natural loss from the club and had 5 new membership applications last week plus some others have joined before that. There's undoubtedly a number of reasons for this but I think it's a mixture of a great course in excellent condition, and the fact that casual nomad golfers may be realising they may not get the chance to play whilst the tighter restrictions are still in place in Scotland.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

So many new faces around the place and on the tee booking sheets so assuming we've had a big membership take up, although what ratio of full membership to the three month scheme on offer is I don't know. Hoping that a lot have come here on a full membership as like every club we need to get new blood in and ideally stay for as long as possible. If not I hope the club are working as hard as possible to turn the temporary scheme into full sign ups. On that I am less confident but remain open to persuasion otherwise

 

[SammmeBee]

So many new faces around the place and on the tee booking sheets so assuming we've had a big membership take up, although what ratio of full membership to the three month scheme on offer is I don't know. Hoping that a lot have come here on a full membership as like every club we need to get new blood in and ideally stay for as long as possible. If not I hope the club are working as hard as possible to turn the temporary scheme into full sign ups. On that I am less confident but remain open to persuasion otherwise

Sounds a great membership that - play for the summer whilst nothing else to do and then just.......

What’s the/is there a long term plan at Royal Ascot? Hope for more Red Bull action?!

 

[IanM]

About 20 names on the new member sheet on our website. No special deals or temp stuff in operation. A quarter of them juniors.

That suggests we had a view leave during the year so far. But encouraging to see a queue to get in

 

[Fish]

So many new faces around the place and on the tee booking sheets so assuming we've had a big membership take up, although what ratio of full membership to the three month scheme on offer is I don't know. Hoping that a lot have come here on a full membership as like every club we need to get new blood in and ideally stay for as long as possible. If not I hope the club are working as hard as possible to turn the temporary scheme into full sign ups. On that I am less confident but remain open to persuasion otherwise

Why the assumption, don’t you post new member applications on your notice board for a few weeks prior to interviews.

Ours also state what membership category they are applying for.

Everything should be transparent for the current membership to see and object about if necessary.

 

[fundy]

Why the assumption, don’t you post new member applications on your notice board for a few weeks prior to interviews.

Ours also state what membership category they are applying for.

Everything should be transparent for the current membership to see and object about if necessary.

yet still they let you in

 

[Fish]

yet still they let you in

I’m a top spender in the bar, money talks ?

 

[2blue]

It was decided the membership would run from May 1st instead of April 1st,

since re-opening we have had a steady uptake in membership, down from last years finishing total but more or less the same as this time last year.

Yes at the 1st Lock-down we had the same offer for the 2020-21 season. Following this further 'golf-ban' in England, is anyone expecting further offers from their Clubs?

 

[clubchamp98]

Yes at the 1st Lock-down we had the same offer for the 2020-21 season. Following this further 'golf-ban' in England, is anyone expecting further offers from their Clubs?

We got sweet FA.
Just had my renewal Full price.
So NO.

 

[Imurg]

From a personal standpoint I'll be happy enough if there's a golf club around to be a member of when we get back to some semblance of normality .

 

[spongebob59]

For the first time I'm considering dropping down to the flexible membership, I've played around a dozen rounds in my current years membership and they were less than helpful when I asked to suspend my membership when I went in for my last op.

I won't be able to play in the weekend comps but can play in the midweek ones ad can't book before 9 at the weekend, so I don't see this as a deal breaker.

 

[need_my_wedge]

We just had to vote on keeping the renewal rate at last years fee with no covid rebate, or a 2% increase with a rebate for the closed period during first lockdown. I voted to keep last years rate.

 

[williamalex1]

I can't imagine any reductions coming our way. I think lots of clubs will really struggle this year, some probable go under. They'll lose more members than normal , because of the Covid constraints causing courses and club houses to remain shut for long periods.
I've heard a few saying they're not getting value for money.

 

[chrisd]

Ours has not been discussed yet but I can see some problems ahead. We are a members club with most paying from April 1st. Just before lockdown an offer was made to give those paying before the end of February an incentive of 3 free vouchers for guest games and because the Club was struggling financially a fair few paid up early.

When lockdown came before the renewal date a fair few didnt or hadn't paid, and didn't pay until June/July etc and because our year runs from the date of payment those members didnt pay anything for the 1st closed period, so many of those who lost out for the 1st lockdown are out of pocket and are expecting some recompense but we recently had a major fire which damaged loads of mowers etc etc as well as buildings, the Club has had insurance excess and some betterment charges which will make giving reductions to the April players difficult.

I'm not sure how it'll sort itself out

 

[GB72]

I think that the clubs with subscriptions due in April are in a tough position. Members will have lost time at the beginning of the year, again in November and may not play again before the subscription is due, feasibly losing nearly half a year. Not sure how you match recompense with that to the shortfall in income.

 

[chrisd]

I think that the clubs with subscriptions due in April are in a tough position. Members will have lost time at the beginning of the year, again in November and may not play again before the subscription is due, feasibly losing nearly half a year. Not sure how you match recompense with that to the shortfall in income.

That's my concern too

 

[brendy]

We had a very good retention in April, this time round I dont see it being as rosey due to several issues within the club politically/services offered etc and then with members finances also.

 

[spongebob59]

I believe there are a fair few.looking to join local links courses and others who will look at other courses with better winter track records.

My course has already responded by saying they are looking to invest in improving the drainage to try and make it more payable during the set months, which would seem wise if we are now looking at wetter winters.

 

[2blue]

We had a very good retention in April, this time round I dont see it being as rosey due to several issues within the club politically/services offered etc and then with members finances also.

Yes, like many others we did fairly badly retention-wise, back last April but did attract a considerable number of new golfers from the ranks of the furloughed & those working-from-home managing their day, as well as footballers & cricketers unable to play their usual game. Now, being so new to the golfing world it's hard to know what they will think of the cost of their 'missed' golf & whether they'll renew membership.