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

[Hacker Khan]

Disagree with the 2for1 comment. Green fees are a major revenue stream and I'm sure clubs are grateful of any green fee money, especially if the golfers enjoy what they find and they offer repeat business

I agree. I don't tend to use 2 for 1 vouchers as the conditions are often quite restrictive when you can play. But I use teeoff times and other web sites like that a lot. And I am assuming I am not taking the tee time of someone what is willing to pay full whack, so the club is getting some revenue from me. Plus money I spend at the driving range/bar.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Disagree with the 2for1 comment. Green fees are a major revenue stream and I'm sure clubs are grateful of any green fee money, especially if the golfers enjoy what they find and they offer repeat business

If you do make it too cheap on the green fee front would you say it would have an impact on someone joining a golf club. If you can play quality courses cheap then why join?

 

[Slab]

I must ask our secretary if we ask 'leavers' why they are doing so. If we don't we should. I'd like to know. Would make for interesting - maybe uncomfortable - reading for both committee and members. But would give clear insight into problems and pointers on what needs to be addressed.

My bold: That's interesting in itself. Is it the sec that would deal with the turnover of members at a members club.

Wouldn't there be a dedicated Members Manager (or some other weird titled person) whose role it is to manage every membership lifespan from beginning to end i.e from join date to leaving date while also attracting new members, retaining those that are swaying & keeping the current membership suitably motivated so they don't even consider leaving?

 

[Fish]

My bold: That's interesting in itself. Is it the sec that would deal with the turnover of members at a members club.

Wouldn't there be a dedicated Members Manager (or some other weird titled person) whose role it is to manage every membership lifespan from beginning to end i.e from join date to leaving date while also attracting new members, retaining those that are swaying & keeping the current membership suitably motivated so they don't even consider leaving?

In our case its the secretary, you are interviewed by him and the current captain when joining, he chases locker money, direct debits if you pay that way, the whole 9 yards.

I think their should be more structure, and as you say, dedicated people monitoring membership and then reporting back when needed. We have loads of people on our committees but god knows what they all do, if anything. Personally I think some just like the status of being on it. The only real work and time put in I see is Match & Comps, but again, I see the same faces more than I see others.

Jobs for the boys at my place IMO.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

My bold: That's interesting in itself. Is it the sec that would deal with the turnover of members at a members club.

Wouldn't there be a dedicated Members Manager (or some other weird titled person) whose role it is to manage every membership lifespan from beginning to end i.e from join date to leaving date while also attracting new members, retaining those that are swaying & keeping the current membership suitably motivated so they don't even consider leaving?

At a members owned course it would be down to the secretary to deal with all aspects of membership from joining through to leaving, I don't think most clubs have the customer service skills to ask why a member is leaving or to follow it up to see if they can change the members mind. A lot of new resorts have a membership sales team and a few exclusive clubs do but not to many as its another wage to the bill that most clubs don't need right now.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Jobs for the boys at my place IMO.

Robin, You have hit the nail on the head at most golf clubs around our area, 2 have had new secretaries in the last year and both it was a case of who you knew not what you know and can bring the club into the future and increase the revenue.

 

[Fish]

Robin, You have hit the nail on the head at most golf clubs around our area, 2 have had new secretaries in the last year and both it was a case of who you knew not what you know and can bring the club into the future and increase the revenue.

and..there is this fear of failure that some Committees, Presidents and Chairmen display when they clearly know something is wrong but won't address things and instead excuse them every which way they can whilst they hold their posts, only then to leave it to the incoming president or chairmen to address, unless they've come through the same school tie channels and then your stuffed!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

My bold: That's interesting in itself. Is it the sec that would deal with the turnover of members at a members club.

Wouldn't there be a dedicated Members Manager (or some other weird titled person) whose role it is to manage every membership lifespan from beginning to end i.e from join date to leaving date while also attracting new members, retaining those that are swaying & keeping the current membership suitably motivated so they don't even consider leaving?

Not sure - I don't think we have anyone filling your 'Members Manager' role - but quick look on our website and I can't find our committee or officers listed anywhere - must ask.

 

[Slab]

At a members owned course it would be down to the secretary to deal with all aspects of membership from joining through to leaving, I don't think most clubs have the customer service skills to ask why a member is leaving or to follow it up to see if they can change the members mind. A lot of new resorts have a membership sales team and a few exclusive clubs do but not to many as its another wage to the bill that most clubs don't need right now.

You could be right.

I wonder, of clubs leavers how many fall into one of the following reasons

• Personality clash/ Dispute with another member
• Poor communication/lack of understanding
• Financial/can’t afford it/can’t afford it right now
• No suitable tee times/No time to play/can’t get into a group
• Better offer elsewhere
• Unhappy with club/course facilities

As opposed to those who leave due to
• Moving out of catchment area
• Illness or death

You’d think that even without necessarily offering discounts that the first group don’t have to leave/be let go without at least a full understanding by the club & that the sec or whoever manages this aspect needs to have the skills to do so given that they are responsible for thousands of £’s of subs coming/going in a month

I guess there must be a good reason resort type courses have a marketing &/or sales team and a members course asks potential members to an interview/selection process!

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Here is my thinking to that.

• Personality clash/ Dispute with another member (Not that many)
• Poor communication/lack of understanding (Good point and clubs are not good at communication)
• Financial/can’t afford it/can’t afford it right now (The biggest issue apart from Dying)
• No suitable tee times/No time to play/can’t get into a group (Not that many as a good pro and good secretary will find them a group)
• Better offer elsewhere (HMMMM Joining fee spings to mind)
• Unhappy with club/course facilities (A deciding factor)

As opposed to those who leave due to
• Moving out of catchment area
• Illness or death (The majority of our leavers fall into this category)



I guess there must be a good reason resort type courses have a marketing &/or sales team and a members course asks potential members to an interview/selection process!
Its a very competitive market in some areas of the country and they are there to close the sale but also know what discounts and offers that they can put into place. Most of the resort places have very young staff that actually don't play the game but they are cheap to employ.