When club owners just don't care...

[Kellfire]

Quick bit of background - I play at a relatively new, nine hole course that is privately owned with a relatively small membership. Our competitions would usually have between 30 and 40 members playing.

I paid £450 for renewal this year but I believe this has now gone up since 1st March to £495.

Compared to other clubs, we have relatively few comps; normally one medal and one Stableford per month in the golf season with a few 9 hole comps in the winter and a 9 hole winter league.

Last year we had our summer league removed and replaced with a knockout singles and a knockout pairs. Once out, you're out and with a small membership that meant very few games even if you made it all the way. This was done to free up tee times for pay and play. Needless to say we weren't happy, the summer league was the weekly chance to rock up and have a knock with everyone and it stayed competitive all year.

Fast forward one year and we've just been emailed to inform us that the owner has decided four competitions have to go because apparently we have too many competitions; the singles knockout, the pairs knockout and... wait for it... the medal and Stableford finals!

So we now have about six medals, six Stableford and a couple of other days like Club Championship. Other courses in the area charge around £550-650 and have a comp every week and midweek comps for the retired players.

Personally I think this is an absolute joke and a slap in the face. We'd all renewed already and then the decision is taken to remove the only season long (if you'd called a straight knockout that) competitions away and the two season finals.

It just makes me feel totally unwanted as a member. We've already had a qualifier for both end of season finals that are now basically void.

It's so sad that we're just customers and seemingly not valued. Money taken and once it's in the bank effectively reduce the service we receive.

Funny thing is that the pay and players just aren't turning up. The course was virtually dead today when I teed off at 2.30pm. I only saw one group that I didn't recognise as members.

Sorry for the rant but it could make my blood boil to be treated like this.

 

[brendy]

Not nice that this comes to light after you have paid your subs.
If that was me id be playing open comps at other local clubs and leave at the end of the year.

 

[pbrown7582]

Very poor form, it would certainly be my last year and as Brendy says get some opens or forum meets in to give you that edge and at least the opens are qualifiers.

 

[duncan mackie]

sounds like there aren't enough 'members' to have a voice.

logically, and assuming your membership basis permits, you can still book and play at those times so I fail to see the significance of the changes - or are there limits on your course access or booking facilities?

if it makes you feel any better (and it probably won't) you can have situations at 1300 pa courses where, even if you tee off at 0730, you will get chucked off the course at the 10th tee 'cos societies are booked in with a 2 tee start (frequently)...

 

[stevie_r]

Is there no scope to hold a meeting explaining the amount of guaranteed income they are putting at risk? It's a bit naive IMO; they get your money, if it rains all summer they still have your money. Put your faith in P & P income, it rains all summer, panic.

 

[john0]

Get yourself to Billingham next year Kellfire....weekly midweek Stableford on Tuesdays, and at least one comp every weekend during the spring/summer. Then a Winter League/knockout during winter. You will be spoilt for choice :thup: Only a £100 extra

 

[Kellfire]

My mate plays over at Billy, he's trying to talk me over all the time. Can see it happening!

 

[daymond]

If you took out a mobile phone contract for unlimited use and six weeks later you were restricted to a usage limit would you or anyone take it lying down? What your owner has done is out of order. If it were me I would demand a refund for the balance of the year and go elsewhere.

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

If you took out a mobile phone contract for unlimited use and six weeks later you were restricted to a usage limit would you or anyone take it lying down? What your owner has done is out of order. If it were me I would demand a refund for the balance of the year and go elsewhere.

Ditto. Mark you should kick up a huge stink on the basis that they have waited until you have paid your fees to announce it which as said, is like changing a contract.

Inform them that you paid based on the existing comp setup and that if there were any thoughts of changes if should have been announces at the last AGM

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

Also, £450 is very steep for a 9 hole course

 

[beggsy]

I pay £700 we have 3 comps a week and one week of the month we have 4 comps a week around 7 board comps to enter for different category's and a winter league

 

[DCB]

Time to start looking for a new club for next year.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Is it just you that feels like this or is there a real feeling of dissent. If others are unhappy you need to drum up support and tackle the owners face on. If they don't do anything including even meeting you I'd be walking. If you can afford it I'd go sooner rather than later

 

[rosecott]

The question which needs answering is "what is the committee doing about it?". The owner is perfectly entitled to run his business as he sees fit BUT, there remains the question as to whether the committee of the affiliated club is doing enough to ensure that members "must have the opportunity to compete in a reasonable number of Qualifying Competitions". I have no idea of the relationship between the owner and the committee at the OP's club but I'm sure that his attitude would change if the County Union were to be looking at possible disaffiliation on the grounds of failing to provide such opportunities. I think it would be much more difficult for the owner to achieve whatever membership targets he sets if there were no affiliated club as part of the setup.