Should I keep my Club Membership?

Zascar

When I was younger I used to play a lot of golf but now it’s a pretty rare occasion. I have totally neglected it for years but I have been getting back into it in the last few months as I have joined a Golf Society in work where I get to play about once a month. I have been a member in a nice golf club since I about 18 - for the first few years I played a fair bit, but in the last few years I have literally only played a handful of times. Yesterday I played my course for the first time in over 3 years! I have been paying my fees (about €300-€400 a year) even though I rarely play to keep up my membership. My dad does not play golf but he constantly tells me to keep up my membership cause golf is very important for business and you can’t get into a club when you are older etc.

Last week my club contacted me to say that at I can no longer be a junior member as I am 26, and I have to apply for full/5 day membership. I just found out that there is a €5,000 joining fee – something I did not expect at all. Thinking seriously about it I am just not sure if it is worth it. The fact that I have played there so little in the past, and can’t really see myself playing every week etc in the future, I’m just not sure if I can justify €5,000! If I was a golf fanatic and played dozens of times a year it might be worth it, but it would be such a waste if I did pay it and then didn’t use it. My dad always tells to just to go up there and have a drink in the bar, say hello to a few members and try to make friends etc. Any time I have been up in recent years, the average age of the members is about 65 and I rarely see anyone under 40. Apparently many of the junior members left…

So, what do you guys think? Would it be a terrible shame to let it lapse? Is membership really that important, or can you be an active golfer and not be a member in a club?

Opinions appreciated…

Par72

If you're not planning on playing regularly at any stage in the future then it is probably not worth it.

flanzer

As a matter of interest, what club is it? Howth? I'm had that same dilemma 2 years ago when going into full membership. I was also buying a house at the time, so it was even more difficult to come up with the money. I paid up eventually and swore I was going to get my money's worth! While I don't play much in the winter I try to play at least twice a week during the summer

extopia

No offense, but your father's views on golf and business seem a little out of date. I don't think it's necessary in Ireland any longer to play golf (or hang around the clubhouse bar) with the "movers and shakers" to be successful.

If you have the cash to blow on this, by all means do it. If not, forget about it, or join a less costly club.

slumped

extopia wrote:

No offense, but your father's views on golf and business seem a little out of date. I don't think it's necessary in Ireland any longer to play golf (or hang around the clubhouse bar) with the "movers and shakers" to be successful.

If you have the cash to blow on this, by all means do it. If not, forget about it, or join a less costly club.

Perhaps not in your local club but if we were talking K-Club socialising then that's just a whole different level and worth every penny if you are big business.

S

Zascar

Yes all good points...

What are the chances of getting into another golf club as an adult member in years to come, it it really that difficult?

Aesop

Some musings and generalisations...

I believe there are two different types of members at most golf clubs. There are those that join purely for the act of hitting a little white ball. If you are one of these then issues of interest to you are, the quality of the course, the ease of getting tee times, cost of subs each year. The cost of playing golf at a club and the golfing experience you can enjoy there, are rarely proportional.

The other type of member is the one that plays a handful of times in the year but gains a lot socially from the club. This generally means elevating their standing within a community or gaining and maintaining contacts necessary for business etc. There is nothing wrong with this it's just a different kind of motivation for being a member. These members are more interested in the clubs reputation and the reputation of it's members.

Zascar if I was you I'd figure out which one you are. If you are type A and you judge 5000 to be excessive then there are many cheaper alternatives. If you are type B you just have to ignore the fact you are not getting value for money with your golf and acknowledge you should be getting something else from it.

GreeBo

While I agree with most of the above fable I also think you need to accept the fact that you have no real idea of what your interests will be 10 years down the road.
I kept mine on through the student years and then when it came time to cough up the €5000 I paid it and resolved to start playing again.
I ahve been playing minimum 1 a week for the last 4 years now and am very thankful I paid it.

You can play golf until you are 90, €5000 over 60 years is a pittance.

GreeBo

Zascar wrote:

Yes all good points...

What are the chances of getting into another golf club as an adult member in years to come, it it really that difficult?

Getting into a good established club that is anyway near you *is* that difficult.

My club is advertising for about 5 members this year, the most in a good while.

BrianD3

When you became a junior member at age 18, what was the entry fee for full membership then? Was it less than it is now? TBH I think it's bad form on their part if you have been a junior member for the best part of 10 years and they are charging you the same entry fee as they would to some stranger who just turns up wanting to join.

In your situation I would expect some sort of gesture/discount. If there is none, it's no wonder that all the junior members leave and that the average age in the club is 65...

rick_fantastic

im in the same sort of situation, played a lot as a junior and am currently on student membership of 86euro a year until im 26.

when im 26 i will have to start paying full subs which are about 800euro a year. dont have to pay any joining fee as im already a member. i dont have a vote and im not welcome at agms or the likes, but in all fairness i wouldnt go anyway.... im only in it for the golf

Aesop

GreeBo wrote:

Getting into a good established club that is anyway near you *is* that difficult.

My club is advertising for about 5 members this year, the most in a good while.

I guess the OP should do a bit of research and find out if there are clubs in his/her area that would be more reasonable. I think it's a generalisation to say it is very difficult to get into "good established club that is anyway near you" as that would depend on where you live.

steelbar

I think you should keep it, its a great asset to have, especially for the GUI Handicap.
You should approach your club and see if you can strike a deal and say pay it over a couple of years.That should ease your cash flow. I know a few clubs do it that way, mind you they might put a 50 or 100 euro levy on it, but its not much.

GreeBo

Aesop wrote:

I think it's a generalisation to say it is very difficult to get into "good established club that is anyway near you" as that would depend on where you live.

Well it has to be a generalisation unless I go and check all the clubs near him...

But anyway, by definition I would say for a club to be good and established it has to be around for at least 20 years. Do you know many clubs like this that its easy to get into?
Dont forget that unless you are very lucky (like me ) there wont usually be that many club within 30 mins of you.
I have
Edmonstown
Hermitage
Grange
Castle
Stackstown
Beechpark
Milltown
all within scratching distance of me.
I think it would be pretty damn hard to get into them any time soon.
Even then it would probably be as a pavillion/5 day for a few years before it would even be possible to get voted in...
But thats just me.


The other option of course is to be young and very good.
Then lots of clubs will take you in but I dont think the OP falls into that category.

Zascar

hehe, no I don't unfortunately... My club is actually Rathfarham which is not far from the ones you mentioned...

GreeBo

Zascar wrote:

hehe, no I don't unfortunately... My club is actually Rathfarham which is not far from the ones you mentioned...

oops forgot that one
Like I say, good luck getting into anyone of them as a 40 year old guy who hasnt played in 20 years

Nev

keep the membership.

bigtimecharlie

Is the joining fee of €5,000 less than the real joining fee, i.e. are they giving you a discount for been a junior member?

I'm not a member anywhere so just to clarify:
1. you pay a one off joining fee when you join along with the yearly membership (or sub)
2. every year after that you only pay an annual subscription.

Is this correct? I'm thinking of joining a club soon so I want to be clear of what I will be signing up for.

(don't mean to hijack the thread, just want some pointers)

Zascar

I just got clarification and the joinging fee to go from Junior/Student member to 5 Day member is has now gone up to €6,000. It is €10,000 to go to Full Member (I assume less the 6k you pay for 5 day). You have to be a 5 day member for a number of years to be able to then become a full member. This is just a joining fee - your membership fees are €850 and €1200 for 5 day and full membership respectivly.

I'm still undecided. Most people I talk to think it is silly and I should not do it. My dad is really encouraging me to do it and pay it off over a few years. The benefits being that there is a big social aspect in golf clubs. I have plenty of friends and don't need a golf club for more, but as he says in years to come this may be different. Mainly if I fork out 6k it would make me play a lot more golf as obviously it would be a huge waste otherwise. However my current interest may not last forever and I could emigrate in a few years!