The problem with golf ....

ring the office "hello im interested in joining the club whats the fees?" fill in your bank details and off you go.

Wouldn't you want to know what the club is like before you joined though? I.e. via an interview to find out what the general make up of the members are, whether people tend to just play golf and leave or if they spend time in the club house after a round etc...
 
Wouldn't you want to know what the club is like before you joined though? I.e. via an interview to find out what the general make up of the members are, whether people tend to just play golf and leave or if they spend time in the club house after a round etc...

Not necessarily, I may wish to visit for a look round but maybe I have played there as a guest or member before or maybe I just want to join. As mentioned anything that looks like a block or issue puts off the potential joiner so an option rather than a must would be enough.

Again the trick is not looking at it from your perspective but from everyone's and many just can't do that. It's all if it's ok for me then it should be ok for everyone else doesn't really work for anyone but the person thinking that.
 
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Wouldn't you want to know what the club is like before you joined though? I.e. via an interview to find out what the general make up of the members are, whether people tend to just play golf and leave or if they spend time in the club house after a round etc...

as stated later on in the thread no I wouldn't

before joining any club I would have played a few rounds there and done my research into if its the right club for me
 
Regarding the ease of being accepted into some of these more popular clubs with traditions and a waiting list when you don't have a proposer and a seconder, one thing that hasn't been mentioned but I'm sure would oil or otherwise the application of the applicant (please correct me if I'm wrong ;)) would be the handicap entered onto the application form.

I imagine that a Cat 1 golfer would find their application treated much more favorably and processed more quickly by the club than that of someone who entered their 28 handicap.
I fully understand the reasons why this might be so (if true!!!) but it puts another slant on the application process and makes it not so easy to gain membership of such clubs for many golfers.
 
I imagine that a Cat 1 golfer would find their application treated much more favorably and processed more quickly by the club than that of someone who entered their 28 handicap.
I fully understand the reasons why this might be so (if true!!!) but it puts another slant on the application process and makes it not so easy to gain membership of such clubs for many golfers.

I'm considering membership at a top 100 club and as I'm under 10 handicap I would not pay a joining fee and would not need to be played in.
 
Regarding the ease of being accepted into some of these more popular clubs with traditions and a waiting list when you don't have a proposer and a seconder, one thing that hasn't been mentioned but I'm sure would oil or otherwise the application of the applicant (please correct me if I'm wrong ;)) would be the handicap entered onto the application form.

I imagine that a Cat 1 golfer would find their application treated much more favorably and processed more quickly by the club than that of someone who entered their 28 handicap.
I fully understand the reasons why this might be so (if true!!!) but it puts another slant on the application process and makes it not so easy to gain membership of such clubs for many golfers.


Aye that does happen or rather did to me. Rocked up with a NZ handicap of 3 and was introduced to the Chairman who then suggested we play 18 holes , no fee, that at the end of he had a cheque from me for myself and HiD :)

Compared to when another forumite joined he had to go through application form, 14 days on the notice board and finally interview with Captain. All was ok but he was chomping at the bit to get playing and did find it a bit frustrating.

Reading through the thread it's apparent ( as was my thread on Fiddles) that all our clubs are different in how they garner new members and the perceived hoops people have to go through. To me not a problem and would have been more than happy to do the full nine yards because nearly 4 years on couldn't be happier .
 
I'm considering membership at a top 100 club and as I'm under 10 handicap I would not pay a joining fee and would not need to be played in.

Really ? A joining determined by what HC you are ? Blimey that's really poor
 
Really ? A joining determined by what HC you are ? Blimey that's really poor

Indeed, they will waive the quite hefty fee provided my handicap is 9.4 or better.

Poor, maybe, or just trying to attract some better golfers to balance the membership? Impossible to say but I hope to take advantage as it's a pretty nice saving... if I join
 
how do they know / find out you have a criminal record?

and why should it ness matter? if someone has say been to prison for fraud a white collar crime.. paid their debt to society why should they be excluded from joining a golf club? not dangerous person like a mass murderer ... just keep an eye on their scorecard lol
 
Indeed, they will waive the quite hefty fee provided my handicap is 9.4 or better.

Poor, maybe, or just trying to attract some better golfers to balance the membership? Impossible to say but I hope to take advantage as it's a pretty nice saving... if I join

It definitely happens. I jumped a lengthy waiting list in '89 because I was a Cat 1. And I know of two clubs that offered subs free golf to County players to entice them to join...
 
I believe the original question was about dwindling numbers at certain golf courses.

Someone mention GC are businesses and like in all sectors if your not keeping pace with the opposition you will struggle and eventually fail.

The other thing that springs to mind is the number of golf courses in any one area,if you are saturated with choice once again the poor ones will lose out.

Once in the club the welcome you get and first impression for me are key.

Do people welcome you and talk to you and make you feel welcome.

Just recently I was at my golf club and was shocked at what I heard,a pay and play group arrived early and wanted to go out before all members and the pro said yes,the gentleman came to the door with his golf shoes on to order 3 bacon rolls to take on the course,before a word came out of his mouth a member said "I hope hes not coming here with golf shoes on,he wasn't but he was angered so not a good welcome.

Then the state of the course it has imo to be looked after wether there are lots of members or a few because your on a slippery slope if you don't a bad reputation is a killer and hard to get back.

Imo cost probably has been the biggest reason and life styles,yes gear can be got cheaper than new but there are many other costs on top I-e comps,food,petrol and drinks.

Every member that can be attracted helps the club considerably with subs,food,comps spending in the pro shop which could be £2000 a year so imagine what 10 or 20 could be thus virtually guaranteeing jobs and quality,losing members will have a massive knock on effect of jobs and the quality of the course.
 
It definitely happens. I jumped a lengthy waiting list in '89 because I was a Cat 1. And I know of two clubs that offered subs free golf to County players to entice them to join...

waiting lists yes , but wavering the membership and joining fee is a new one on me esp with only a handicap under 10.

We let people jump the 2 year waiting list at scratch and better and Inverness, who have a 7 year list let you jump to a year at 3 and better.

Which club is it i wonder???, i might have to join:rofl::rofl:
 
Going back a few years now but I remember contacting golf clubs when I was thinking of moving to a new area. I specified that I worked all week and could only play at weekends. One course advised that I would need to be a 5 day member for 2 years first and appreciated that I would not be able to play much but would be invited to play at weekends a couple of times a year. After that I may be invited to take a full membership. So, pay for 2 years not to play then I may get offered a membership that would allow me to use the course at weekends, unless I was a county player then I was straight in
 
how do they know / find out you have a criminal record?

And technically why should it matter. Unless it's something totally untoward then why should it make a difference other than a club being able to say NO and feel good about itself. Even if word gets out that a person may be "trouble" whatever that is and it's got back, there's usually two sides to most stories but I doubt most clubs would even give a prospective member the chance to even offer an explanation. Some clubs in my mind are still too caught in a time warp and I don't buy this we're TOP 100 as an excuse for why that has to make a difference to how they deal with memberships
 
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