rosecott
Money List Winner
And, of course, they are answerable to those who hired them.
What is a "members" golf club?
- Thread starter sjw
- Start date
And, of course, they are answerable to those who hired them.
louise_a
Money List Winner
we have a marketing committee, greens committee, bookings are taken by the honorary secretary, head greenkeeper and head of greens liaise on equipment, subject to budgets set at start of year.
KenL
Tour Rookie
You are fortunate to not spend much on running the club.
doublebogey7
Head Pro
This is not as straightforward as it would sound. Private members clubs are generally seen as those who's course and club assets are owned by the members. Then you have propriety clubs where a private company or individual owns the course assets. Very often these have private members clubs operating from the course, as my previous club did. So "members" paid an annual subscription to play the course and a small fee to join the club, which enabled us to play for club teams and in competitions. The only assets we had were, cash trophies and the computer system that we ran the competitions from. Many municipal clubs operate that way, but may also responsible for operating the bar & catering. . Some courses in Scotland have multiple clubs running from one course. I am guessing there are many variations around the world.
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RichA
Well-known member
Yep. That's how I used to describe the situation at my previous club. We were subscribers to the golf course rather than members and our "club" was essentially a society that ran lots of events there. The course and the club were totally separate entities.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Not normally the case.
Many council courses have more than one club using the facility.
I know of one council that has over 30 clubs playing on 8 golf courses.
Councils will generally manage the courses and allow clubs to play on them, some may have booking preferences some not.
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sjw
Well-known member
So, no visitors then?
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Not really been a member in golfing terms so I don’t speak from past experience
I always thought that members were all part of a group (the Membership) and in terms of a private golf club that it was The Membership (the group) that owned the club, not the members (individuals) I didn’t think there was any real sense of member ownership
I thought being a member of a private golf club meant you were primarily a custodian responsible for the condition of the club for its current and future members/visitors etc
I always thought that members were all part of a group (the Membership) and in terms of a private golf club that it was The Membership (the group) that owned the club, not the members (individuals) I didn’t think there was any real sense of member ownership
I thought being a member of a private golf club meant you were primarily a custodian responsible for the condition of the club for its current and future members/visitors etc
Robster59
Tour Rookie
Pretty much the same as ours (also a members club).
3 jabber
Well-known member
I think you are getting slightly confused, there are basically 3 types of club.
1. A private members club, owned by all the members and how it is run is decided by a committee who usually employ a general manager who carries out their instructions.
2. A proprietary club owned by an individual or a company ( Wentworth, Queenwood, Bearwood Lakes, Loch Lomond etc) and the members pay their annual fees and have very little input to how the club is run. These places generally look to make a profit for the owner(s)
3. Municipal courses run by local councils or trusts. They do what they want, you basically pay your green fee and play. Very little else. Many municipal courses have clubs attached but they are stand alone entities. You pay a small annual sub, typically about £100 and that money covers competition fees, clubhouse, county/national subs etc but NOT green fees. All maintenance of the course is paid for by the council/trust.
1 and 2 can decide if they want to accept visitors or not, most do some don't. I think pretty much all of them allow members to bring guests. Municipals is usually an annual ticket or pay each time you play, same rate for everyone.
Hope that clears it up for you
hambugerpete
Well-known member
Generally was an exclusive place where you had to be recommended, seconded have interviews , name put on a board for a week so any could protest about you and stop you joining.
Not so much these days though and clubs you couldn't hope to join 30 or 40 years ago will now break your hand off to get your cash.
Not so much these days though and clubs you couldn't hope to join 30 or 40 years ago will now break your hand off to get your cash.
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jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
Yes one of the big things for us is that when they want to do a big project then they raise the money by a levy on the members.
In my time I have contributed to building our 9 hole course, new office, new pro shop, driving range, a club house extension, locker room renovation.
Although sometimes we get some back when the club is in a financial position to do so e.g. when there was the big VAT refund.
The seniors often pay for some of the smaller projects from retained comp entry fees.
doublebogey7
Head Pro
No, non of these terms describe whether clubs allow visitors or not, purely the degree of ownership of the assets. Very few golf clubs in the UK don't allow any visitors, I would struggle to name half a dozen and non in the whole of the Midlands where I play most of my golf. In fact the only places I can think of are in the South East and Scotland.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Visitors being allowed or not is not determined by the membership status of the club
There are some members clubs that are very restricted in regards the visitors they allow
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
JCB ?
Don’t tbink you can book a tee time there as a visitor
There are a number down south
Bearwood
Queenwood
Wisley
Beaverbrook
Wentworth
Loch Lomond
Centurion
Skibo
Renaissance
Ardfin
They are the ones that I can think off that don’t allow someone to book a tee time as a visitor
D-S
Well-known member
However the number of clubs quoted here is vanishingly small versus the number of private (no guests without being a guest of a member) clubs in the US. I have heard that up to a third of clubs fit into this category. In relation we are very fortunate to have the access that we have.
sjw
Well-known member
Thanks all. My hang up is the use of the word "private". In my experience, private things aren't open to anyone to just go and use/do/play.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
doublebogey7
Head Pro
Oh ye, JCB the exception that proves the rule
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Well - that's how I view being a member of a private members club...but a good number of members of my club might not see their membership in such a light.
I am generally comfortable with the club making decisions about changes to course and facilities that will cause short term (could be many months) disruption and that change the way things look and/or play - if I can see that the changes are to the longer term benefit of the club and course, and will be of benefit to future members. This year we spent six months in a marquee as our clubhouse ground floor was completely refurbished. Major disruption for members. Now fully reopened what we have done is ab fab - even those members who were sceptical or opposed the work admit now that what we have done is tremendous for members and visitors alike.
Even more extreme. When a member of Filton GC in Bristol mid-80s to mid-90s the club carried out very major changes that caused massive and significant disruption for a few years. When I look at the changes now I see a course that has gone from being the very poor relation of members clubs in Bristol to one that nowadays holds local and regional championships. I was proud of Filton when a member - and I am pleased and proud of that club it has become - even 30yrs since I left.
