Why don't clubs do much to keep current members?

[Beezerk]

I was discussing renewing my membership with a mate earlier and wondering why clubs don't do some kind of loyalty thing, like maybe 5% off per year if you stay with the club year after year.
My club doesn't do it but I'll renew regardless, just think it would be a nice carrot to dangle to keep members coming back.

Do any clubs do such a thing or similar, would be nice to hear what other clubs do to retain membership numbers.

 

[One Planer]

I can only speak for our club but everything they seem to do is for the current member base.

Lengthening the course. Adding hazards other drainage and play improvements, with membership closed at 280 ( ... And yes we also have a waiting list )

I suppose it depends on your point of view on how your course does things. As I say I'm happy that our place do enough for its current members as opposed to potential members.

 

[GB72]

I have said a few times that clubs seem to focus on the elusive new members at the expense of retaining those it does have. When I have changed club I have never once been asked why or whether there is anything that they could do to change my mind. Then again they may just have been glad to see the back of me

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sadly there are many good quality courses around the area and several decent municiples too and so members have plenty of choice. To be fair to our committee and general manager the course is improving year on year. I was considering my options as the previous green keeper had lost the greens completely and the set up of the course left a lot to be desired. The new guy came in and set out a three year plan. So far so good and we don't seem to be have too many people going and plenty seem to be joining so it must be doing something right

 

[Fish]

Their blasé that's why.

Too many old school, too many cliques, too many wannabe business people who think they know best playing with our money but are still living in yesteryear.

Until young blood is introduced into these old guard committees nothing will change and just like Sky and other large corporations, you get nothing for loyalty but the newbies get deals!

As more and more clubs drop their joining fee's looking for new members, more golfers that have been at clubs for decades will be seen moving around I think as it will not cost them anything to move on!

I know many at my club are looking to move on as they don't like the way the club is being run, the course is excellent, and could be even better but the management of it is not.

I think CHANGE is a dirty word some can't embrace without feeling they have failed in some way so they decide not to change bringing everything down with them!

Who rattled my cage :sbox:

 

[One Planer]

Who rattled my cage :sbox:

Sorry about that Robin.



Bar man another rum and coke please

 

[Fish]

Sorry about that Robin.



Bar man another rum and coke please

Hold the coke :smirk:

 

[Crow]

I can only speak for our club but everything they seem to do is for the current member base.

Lengthening the course. Adding hazards other drainage and play improvements, with membership closed at 280 ( ... And yes we also have a waiting list )

280! Is it a nine holer?

Too many old school, too many cliques, too many wannabe business people who think they know best playing with our money but are still living in yesteryear.

Until young blood is introduced into these old guard committees nothing will change and just like Sky and other large corporations, you get nothing for loyalty but the newbies get deals!

Time to put yourself forward for the committee. :thup:

 

[markgs]

Because they are like mobile phone companies all they want is new members.

 

[Fish]

Time to put yourself forward for the committee. :thup:

Very tight knitted crew that lot, you have to be proposed and all that, if your not of their views and opinions, which I'm not, they see you as a trouble maker rather than offering fresh and new innovative idea's.

I've offered free help and time as a non-committee member to run more comps and input scores etc and I've offered help and time in other areas also, most requests don't even get a response!

 

[zlinuk]

About a month ago my club cancelled a "Board" comp the evening before it was due to take place because somebody had booked in a society for the same time. The club decided to honour the society's booking and the members were left high and dry.

 

[GB72]

Very tight knitted crew that lot, you have to be proposed and all that, if your not of their views and opinions, which I'm not, they see you as a trouble maker rather than offering fresh and new innovative idea's.

I've offered free help and time as a non-committee member to run more comps and input scores etc and I've offered help and time in other areas also, most requests don't even get a response!

Problem in a number of places. New members have the fresh ideas and new ways of thinking that have not been tainted by years of the status quo but you have to have been a member for years to garner the support you need to stand any chance of being voted in

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Problem in a number of places. New members have the fresh ideas and new ways of thinking that have not been tainted by years of the status quo but you have to have been a member for years to garner the support you need to stand any chance of being voted in

Not necessarily so.

In recent years at our club there have been a number of relatively new members elected to Council.

In my experience there is usually a shortage of members willing to serve, regardless of length of membership.

 

[Beezerk]

Just to clarify, my post was an observation rather than having a dig at them

 

[chrisg]

Sadly there are many good quality courses around the area and several decent municiples too

and that's a problem? Many golfers would give there right arm for that choice! and the competition should ensure the club strives to improve surely??

 

[williamalex1]

Not necessarily so.

In recent years at our club there have been a number of relatively new members elected to Council.

In my experience there is usually a shortage of members willing to serve, regardless of length of membership.

Being on a council is a thankless unpaid job that must !!! be done or you will not have a club.
Many think they could just change this and that and that's it all sorted.
When and if you do become involved in council affairs, you'll find all the budget, finance and constitutional restrictions will limit all or most of your ambitious and ideas. to be continued.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Their blasé that's why.

Too many old school, too many cliques, too many wannabe business people who think they know best playing with our money but are still living in yesteryear"

Who rattled my cage :sbox:

We have a small, hard core "old school" band of members who believe that raising the annual fee would do away with the need to allow "outsiders".
They rarely play, only ever wear collar and tie and blazers/jackets and drink mostly wine or scotch.
They don't support club functions as it's all "too loud".
They occupy a "reserved" table in the lounge.
Our annual fee is £1000.

 

[Hacker Khan]

We have a small, hard core "old school" band of members who believe that raising the annual fee would do away with the need to allow "outsiders".
They rarely play, only ever wear collar and tie and blazers/jackets and drink mostly wine or scotch.
They don't support club functions as it's all "too loud".
They occupy a "reserved" table in the lounge.
Our annual fee is £1000.

I think the problem is that if the situation at your club is mirrored at others then it goes a long way to explain why participation is down and the game is struggling to attract new players. It seems a very antiquated and myopic business plan to me (assuming there is some kind of long term plan...)

 

[chrisd]

I'm going to get shot down in flames with this!

Your average golf club membership age is probably in the mid 50's, most clubs look to recruit the unobtainable - loads of 25 to 40 year olds. Most in this age group can't afford golf, membership at £1,000 per year and even with no joining fee and reduced subscriptions most in the target group have little or no money. They are settling down in their 30's more now, with university debts, new mortgages and most delay having kids until they are 30 whereas we did all this ( uni apart ) in our early 20's.

We have precious few members in this age group and most of the much younger members will almost certainly leave when they reach 18' ish and return to golf in later life. So, it is , to me, more important to keep the members you have got and I would be looking to recruit from the 45 to 60 age range who have the money, time and desire to play. There are undoubtedly many in that range who would try golf if the help to learn the game and better integration to clubs were offered. Most of the guys I see at my club were the people I played football with/against or were cricketers in the local area who take to golf when these sports pass them by. I reckon there are loads of 45+ people out there who would love to give golf a try but are put off because they are sure they will not be welcomed! and in some cases ridiculed as beginners - we must help them

I am not saying to ignore the younger men and women but looking after your current members so they stay year on year and recruiting to keep up membership is the lifeblood of a club, lose 30 members at renewal time and the real cost to a club could be £40k easily in a year.

Go on, tell me I'm wrong!

 

[G.U.R]

I have just had to cancel my membership as I couldn't justify the outlay against how much you get to play over the winter. As has been said courses are gagging for people to play them and so being a nomad golfer and booking tee's through late tee's or whatever means you play when the weather is ok on a variety of courses. Also most people between 25 - 65 work 5 day's a week so paying membership just to play at weekends doesn't make much financial sense if you are on a budget.