Your thoughts on this...?

Dodger

Dodger

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Winter Membership is available at my place and it runs 1st Nov to 31st March.I heard a wee whisper at the weekend that due to the course being shut a few times over the winter with the bad weather the winter members have been given an extra months play til the end of April to compensate.

Now unless I am mistaken they play the same course as I do,the same one that was shut for myself and countless other bog standard members so I wonder what us bog standard members are geting in compensation,maybe say £35 credited to our club card,possibly another month on our sub??Havn't heard that we are getting anything yet but I would reckon it to be sweet fanny adams.

Fair?? What is the forums thoughts?
 
I would have thought that a nice gesture, nothing more. The winter members paid and got basically no golf, the ordinary members will have the regular season to play as much as they want.
It was an extraordinary winter, the club have recognised that and acted out of a sense of goodwill by extending their season. They may well keep those winter members who may have thought of quitting (or even convert them to full members) thereby keeping a revenue stream going.

Is it really an issue?
 
1st Nov - 31st March is the winter membership and thats it!!! Its a chance you take in being a winter member so if the weather is bad then its tough. If the course was shut for all the winter then would they get all the summer to compensate?? Typical of your club Dodger..........fools ;-)
 
Interesting, especially since most of the winter members probably have only signed up to play there as their own tracks normally will be badly affected by the winter weather.

I'd certainly have thought it was a "pay your money & take your chance" type of membership, after all, it is a winter season and we do get winter weather.
 
Sounds like your club is trying to make sure they get the winter memberships back next year by keeping those that bought it this year sweet. They know that the full members aren't gonna leave because the course was (surprise surprise) shut for a few weeks during the winter months, but they know the winter members may not come back.

It doesn't sound fair on the full members but from a business perspective I can see the sense. Also, presumably the money they get from the winter members goes some way to keeping your fees down so it's in your interests that they keep them sweet as well?
 
It's about marketing. Sky TV or banks or whoever are always giving offers to non-customers that aren't available for existing customers in the hope that they will sign up for the long term. Not always fair but a proven business model. From a golf club angle it's about getting more members overall which has got to be a good thing. Many clubs are waiving joining fees which most existing members had to pay, again you can argue it's not fair but most clubs badly need more members and these initiatives do work.
 
If they didn't retain the winter memberships for next year by not offering this extra month, would that have an affect on your subs for the following year??

For the sake of an extra month of "intruders" it might be worth it to retain your annual subs at a similar level.
 
I think it's extremely fair and a good decision. Full year members get most of their value during the summer so a few weeks of no play doesn't make a massive difference to them but to a winter member it has a huge impact.

If it entices the winter members to come back next year or even encourages others to join, then that should help keep the money coming and the subs down for full members.

Decision to be applauded!
 
If your course was closed for only a week or so then I wouldn't be bothered but if your talking 4-5 weeks over the winter period then maybe you deserve something.
How long was the course closed for over the winter????
 
But even if the course is closed, there is an expense to the business, and someone has to pay for it. My track was effectively closed for 6 weeks. I don't expect anything back, they still have staff to pay, whether I play or not. It is a nice gesture to try to get next years business for winter membership, but the full members have to bear the brunt of it.
 
Dodger, I think your onto a losser here. It's unfortunate but I think the club have acted right here. Whats another 4 weeks, It's not as if their going to be playing the whole 4 weeks some people may work. Well done that club. Dare I said it, Club's can't please everyone, let alone anyone.
 
So, what were they charging Dodger ?

I may just join the mass exodus of club golfers from E'mbra and decide not to support my own club next winter and head off down the coast to get a game on a Saturday morning. Aye Right !

That's the problem at the moment, there are offers for guys to drive down the coast to play winter golf. Trouble is, it's the home clubs that suffer due to lack of footfall at a weekend.

It's an hours run to Goswick from here, so it's just on the verge of making it worth it.

There are already many folks who have membership at clubs down the coast, Gullane, The Glen, Dunbar etc, so Goswick isn't that much further really. Put it this way, I'd play Goswick before playing The Glen.
 
I think it's pretty fair and reasonable of them to tell the truth.

I joined my new club on January 1st and have only had 5 rounds since! I know i'll make up for it in the summer though and hopefully it'll be worth the expenditure. Everyone is in the same boat the length and breadth of the country and a bit of leeway won't do anyone any harm!
 
it's no different to a lot of things; the better deals are always for new members than for old, whether it be club membership, car insurance, broadband or anything else.
the thinking always is that they've got you, they want the new guy (well his money).
is it fair - no. is it understandable - yes.
can it change - yes - if we start walking.

loyalty is a two way street - about time some of them realised that.
 
I understand their thinking but can see how it looks to those paying the full whack. Mind you in theory you do get the benefit of the course at its best for the summer and the lighter nights to enjoy extra games so I guess its swings and roundabouts. Seems a good move to retain interest
 
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