Surrey golf club membership

Hxck

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Depends how far you're willing to drive really.

Most courses on the top 100 list will have reasonable joining fees and most won't let you in unless you know the owner, 19.3 members, the clubhouse cat, and the captain from 1989.

I play at a private club just North of Surrey and there's a huge amount of competitions. Roll ups Sat/Sun, plenty of club matches, senior leagues, low handicap leagues, knockouts, and various prestige tournaments throughout the year.
 

jim8flog

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I've not heard about NZ closing but I would be very very surprised if that was the case.
Not kept up with what was proposed (but I think it has been shelved) housing and McClaren interested in the land.

 

Hxck

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Members clubs are always a lot cheaper than higher end proprietary ones - 20% cheaper ro start just with vat i doubt there are many proprietary clubs much dearer than this

It’s very cheap for what you get.

My club is 50% more than that, and the place I play in Florida which is a relatively entry level country club is three times the price. I would have expected it to be close to ~£10k with a joining fee up towards 10x annual subs.

No doubt it’s kept artificially low by them severely limiting who’s eligible for membership applications.
 

PNWokingham

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It’s very cheap for what you get.

My club is 50% more than that, and the place I play in Florida which is a relatively entry level country club is three times the price. I would have expected it to be close to ~£10k with a joining fee up towards 10x annual subs.

No doubt it’s kept artificially low by them severely limiting who’s eligible for membership applications.

It is not artificially low, as said, top 1% for a members club. I doubt there are more than half a dozen private members clubs dearer in the UK. While a few new high end proprietary clubs can be 2 or 3 times higher and maybe more, as Queenwood and Beaverbrook could be nearer 15k although I don't have any info. I know Wisley is near 10k per year with the bar levy, meaning year 1 is circa 100k after equity share and joining fee. And The Buckinghamshire is now something like 25k to join and 8.5k per year. No doubt something not gone unnoticed by the "cheaper" 5k per year proprietary clubs! 🤣
 

IanM

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joining fee circa 15k and 3500+ per year - but not easy to get in

Played SGH with a member yesterday. I think he said the annual was that sort of amount. Given some mediocre courses in my area are now charging £1500 pa, "take my money!!!"

I could ask him about how easy it is to get in. £15k for the joining would depend on whether you have it spare, your priorities and or how long you expect to be there! 😁
 

IanM

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The Buckinghamshire is now something like 25k to join and 8.5k per year. No doubt something not gone unnoticed by the "cheaper" 5k per year proprietary clubs! 🤣

Played there and thought, "unremarkable, average greens, some really dull holes, over fancy clubhouse!!"


£8.5k??? No chance? Really? Crikey!!🤣
 

PNWokingham

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Played there and thought, "unremarkable, average greens, some really dull holes, over fancy clubhouse!!"


£8.5k??? No chance? Really? Crikey!!🤣

O only played once 20 years ago and totally agree. Pleasant and undoubtedly has seen investment and now more exclusive but is indicative of the growing number of member only and considerably dearer courses. Just witness Debra JCB 4 man team event next year at 2.4k. That is nearly twice the price of the next dearest events at Woburn, Birkdale, Swinley etc. There is a market for expensive golf, aided by our American tourists, and this is only likely to grow
 

Hxck

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It is not artificially low
They ring fence membership to keep it that way. There's plenty of people out there that would price the current membership out if it was open to all.

I also echo Ians comments re. The Buckinghamshire, not sure how they can justify charging 4 times the joining fee and almost double the subs of Bearwood Lakes...
 

PNWokingham

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They ring fence membership to keep it that way. There's plenty of people out there that would price the current membership out if it was open to all.

I also echo Ians comments re. The Buckinghamshire, not sure how they can justify charging 4 times the joining fee and almost double the subs of Bearwood Lakes...

members clubs are non profit. They charge what they need to provide their members the club, course and services they want. It is not the cost for a prospective member per se but actually getting in. Most of the best clubs have substantial waiting lists and often the lists are closed, meaning that the more exclusive ones are closed shops where you would have as much chance of getting in as getting a job as a tube driver! Compare that to, say, The Buckinghmashire or Centurion and you could probably walk in for a tour, leave a cheque and be a member before you order your first Peroni!
 

IanM

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O only played once 20 years ago and totally agree. Pleasant and undoubtedly has seen investment and now more exclusive but is indicative of the growing number of member only and considerably dearer courses. Just witness Debra JCB 4 man team event next year at 2.4k. That is nearly twice the price of the next dearest events at Woburn, Birkdale, Swinley etc. There is a market for expensive golf, aided by our American tourists, and this is only likely to grow

I got the debra email today too. I thought £600 each? Wow.

Buckinghamshire probably take rich folk who don't know any better, and cant get in to one of the decent ones!😁😁
 

Hxck

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members clubs are non profit. They charge what they need to provide their members the club, course and services they want. It is not the cost for a prospective member per se but actually getting in. Most of the best clubs have substantial waiting lists and often the lists are closed, meaning that the more exclusive ones are closed shops where you would have as much chance of getting in as getting a job as a tube driver! Compare that to, say, The Buckinghmashire or Centurion and you could probably walk in for a tour, leave a cheque and be a member before you order your first Peroni!

I'm well aware of that, but it doesn't preclude them from increasing revenue and expenditure together. If anything one would imagine that might be the preferable option for the course, apart from the members who don't want their subs to go up of course ;)
 

PNWokingham

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I'm well aware of that, but it doesn't preclude them from increasing revenue and expenditure together. If anything one would imagine that might be the preferable option for the course, apart from the members who don't want their subs to go up of course ;)

a lot have increased revenue and expenditure but that is all personal and down to the committe at the club but ,like all commuities where a lot of decision making agreemnet is needed (a la living in a block of flats and agreeing plans with other owners), the multi-year plans need to agreed and passed before going ahead. I am sure all of these clubs will have plenty in agreement along with many moaning at "cutting down the trees" or the need to spend on this or that, and many others that want to employ Tom Doak on speed dial and get everything changed asap. Different if you are a proprietary owner - if you want all bunkers redone over the next 2 years etc etc, then that gets passed and you decide how much to hike fees, while members decide if they want to stay for the ride or move. There are pros and cons of both options
 
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sunshine

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Played there and thought, "unremarkable, average greens, some really dull holes, over fancy clubhouse!!"


£8.5k??? No chance? Really? Crikey!!🤣

I am in shock. £8.5k subs plus £25k JF for the Buckinghamshire. The members must be getting other benefits because the quality of the course does not justify those fees.

Maybe membership is capped at 100.
Maybe the members need a way to launder spend their hard earned money.
 

sunshine

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I'm well aware of that, but it doesn't preclude them from increasing revenue and expenditure together. If anything one would imagine that might be the preferable option for the course, apart from the members who don't want their subs to go up of course ;)

It doesn't work like that. There is no point increasing the subs just because they can. There is no objective to make a profit, only cover the running costs.
  • The club defines how much it needs to spend to operate a top notch facility, I'm sure there is no expense spared on maintenance, equipment etc.
  • They define how frequently they want to allow visitors and societies, to manage tee time availability for the members. Revenue from this will be driven by market pricing.
  • Then the deficit needs to be covered by the members' subs.
 

Hxck

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It doesn't work like that. There is no point increasing the subs just because they can. There is no objective to make a profit, only cover the running costs.
  • The club defines how much it needs to spend to operate a top notch facility, I'm sure there is no expense spared on maintenance, equipment etc.
  • They define how frequently they want to allow visitors and societies, to manage tee time availability for the members. Revenue from this will be driven by market pricing.
  • Then the deficit needs to be covered by the members' subs.

Did I suggest increasing subs 'just because'? And did I suggest that a not for profit club has an objective to make a profit? I had a few beers last night so both genuine questions.

In other news, water is wet.
 
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