Why should 5 day members pay less

[JezzE]

This is just a bunch a bitter whining because someone is perceived to be getting a better deal.

I can't speak for others who have expressed a similar view to mine, but can assure you I am neither bitter nor whining and understand all the arguments about off-peak, supply and demand, lesser playing rights etc.

I just think it's a little greyer than a black and white issue especially given how traditional membership models are not proving particularly robust at many places in these difficult times.

And I write as someone who has taken advantage of a more flexible scheme at my home club (not 5-day, but reduced fee, limited rounds) fully aware that while it is definitely in my best interests for my circumstances right now, it may or may not be in the best long-term interests of the club, although from what I understand, it seems to be going well for them at the moment

 

[Deleted member 1147]

What about all those 7day members who are retired? They pay the same as me but get to use the course EVEN MORE!!!! This is an outrage.

What if the retirees pay less than you for 7 day membership - as they do at my club?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Add to those comments that the retired may well be on a reduced income.

Come off it - with all those final salary pensions they're earning more than most of us youngsters on pensions alone & they get cheaper golf.

 

[stevie_r]

Come off it - with all those final salary pensions they're earning more than most of us youngsters on pensions alone & they get cheaper golf.

Wow, they're all on a final salary pension? excellent

 

[rosecott]

As any Club Manager will tell you, this is a far from being a clear and simple issue.

All clubs have significant fixed costs based on things such as staff costs, course and clubhouse maintenance, rates etc. etc.. A simple answer would be to do as a small number of clubs do – add up all the costs and divide by a fixed number of members, irrespective of whether the members wants to play 5 times a year or every day throughout the year. That, however, wouldn’t work for the vast majority of clubs. The variable sources of club income are mainly from the bar/catering functions.

The maximum number of members at most clubs is going to be dictated by how many members can be fitted onto the course at the busiest time – the weekend days (no-one is going to shell out a large sum of money to be told there’s no room for you at the weekend). If a club can increase that maximum number by offering a lower fee to those agreeing not to play at the busiest time, then there are significant benefits – there are more members contributing to meeting the fixed costs and increased revenue from bar/catering.

 

[Stuey01]

What if the retirees pay less than you for 7 day membership - as they do at my club?

They get on the bus for free too.
And pay less for their car insurance.

Those damned crusties, getting all this cheap stuff and negatively affecting my life in no way whatsoever. Disgusting.

 

[6inchcup]

5 day members have fewer playing rights than 7day members, and they only get to play on the quiet days of the week, that's why they pay less. The fact that some of them are retired and able to make more use of the facilities is just lucky for them. This is just a bunch a bitter whining because someone is perceived to be getting a better deal.
What about all those 7day members who are retired? They pay the same as me but get to use the course EVEN MORE!!!! This is an outrage.
We'll all get to retirement at some point and be able to take advantage of it then, why whine about it now. Makes no sense at all to me.

Why is it cheaper to go to the pictures on a Monday afternoon? It's the same film.
Why do restaurants offer mid week lunch deals? It's the same food.
Why is happy hour 5-6 in the week and not 8-9 on a Saturday night? It's the same beer.
Why does it cost less to play Woburn in February than it does in July? It's the same course.

Supply and demand, that's why.

when you say the quit days of the week do you mean the days when most full members are at work?,the 5 day members i know (not at my club) can play from dawn till dusk 5 days a week so don't have a restriction on when they can tee up.

 

[stevie_r]

My club operates an off peak rather than 5 day option. Must tee off before 4 Mon - Fri and can't tee off until after 3 on Sat/ Sun.

 

[sev112]

Irrespective of whether it is perceived "fair" or common sense marketing, I have just resigned my full membership because playing once a month is silly money whether it is 5day or 7 day. Our Associate membership has just gone up by £125 at least, so that isn't good value either any more.

So whether it is fair or not, I am sure that there are many other 7 dryers who can't play in the evenings in Summer, who think over a grand for a monthly game is silly.
And that's why courses should be worried about what 7 Dayers think of their value for money proposition inthe current climate