Club membership deals ?

Patrick_K

Hi All,

Myself and a few mates are looking to join a course in the Dublin/Kildare/Meath area. Lets say within a 20 mile radius of Lucan.

It seems that a lot of courses are struggling to get numbers these days which I guess will work to our advantage.

For a share membership I reckon I would pay an absolute max of 8K. Am also interesed in non-share membership, some clubs (not any good ones !) are waiving joining fees at the moment for this.

Please let me know if your own club, or any other you've heard of, are offering any decent deals worth checking out.

Cheers,
PK

milltown

I think I'm the official pimp on the golf board for Rathcore, just outside Enfield. A fine course with a lovely clubhouse and friendly staff. They have a deal going, total €8000, for membership along these lines:
This year - €2000 inc. annual sub +GUI levy
Next Year - €2000 + annual sub
Year 3 - Same as above
Year 4 - €1000 + sub
Year 5 - €1000 + sub

A more painless way to join a club I can't imagine. Free subs in year 1 and 4 years interest free credit, sort of. I'm in lucan myself and it's 25-30 mins away. Do try it before you buy it. In fact try it anyway, it's a great track.

There's also the new(?) Champions Club in Moyvalley, designed by Darren Clarke, a few minutes further down the road. Shares on offer there for €10,000 might prove more bankable in the long run due to the name attached.

http://www.rathcoregolfandcountryclub.com/

http://www.moyvalley.com/index.aspx?pageID=1

ShriekingSheet

South County leases memberships for about 1,800 a year.

Basically, many members have bought a few shares (memberships) and can lease them. It's about 12k to buy a share. If you take a lease you have completely full membership, the only difference from a share-owner being that you don't have a vote at the AGM.

As regards golf, it's a great place with a 7,000 yard+ par 72 course, sheltered driving range, practice putting, chipping and 60 yard pitching areas as well as having a sound pro who spent a year on the European tour.

There's loads of good courses around at the moment. I chose South County for the above reasons.

nige1982

contact Highfield in Enfield for membership lovely club house and nice course I dont have the numbers to hand but I know its a cheaper memership then 8k! as Miltown said Rathcore is a great course

Patrick_K

Thanks for the replies folks.
Miltown I dont get what you mean about the free subs in years 1 and 4 when you said the following:

This year - €2000 inc. annual sub +GUI levy
Next Year - €2000 + annual sub
Year 3 - Same as above
Year 4 - €1000 + sub
Year 5 - €1000 + sub

I havent played Rathcore yet but I have heard its a nice trackbut had been having serious financial difficulties. Any idea on whether its still in danger or has it weathered that storm ?

Cheers,
PK

markymac

Patrick_K wrote: »

Thanks for the replies folks.
Miltown I dont get what you mean about the free subs in years 1 and 4 when you said the following:

This year - €2000 inc. annual sub +GUI levy
Next Year - €2000 + annual sub
Year 3 - Same as above
Year 4 - €1000 + sub
Year 5 - €1000 + sub

I havent played Rathcore yet but I have heard its a nice trackbut had been having serious financial difficulties. Any idea on whether its still in danger or has it weathered that storm ?

Cheers,
PK

He didn't.

He said free sub in year 1, then 4 years interest free credit, i.e. you pay the balance over the 4 years at no extra cost. You still pay your membership each year.

Patrick_K

You're right of course.
I shouldn't ever read or write anything before about 11 am ;-)

Cheers,
PK

copacetic

A few of the clubs mentioned above are rumoured to be in difficulties, personally I would say leasing is the best option at the moment as things may get worse rather than better in the near future

milltown

copacetic wrote: »

A few of the clubs mentioned above are rumoured to be in difficulties, personally I would say leasing is the best option at the moment as things may get worse rather than better in the near future

These rumours have a habit of becoming self fulfilling prophesies. In order to find health, clubs need to find members. If members are not forthcoming because of rumours the club is struggling to find members, it's hard to see a way out. If I was in a position to join a club (sadly I'm not) I would pay close attention to the share terms and whether I own 1 share or €8k worth of a club. Then, at least in Rathcore if things go bad after a year you're not chasing the bank/liquidators for the full €8k.

The other angle to look at: I know a few Millicent members who bought in early for c.€4k. IIRC the club are currently offering membership at €12.5k. The conditions state that if you're leaving, the club get first dibs on your membership at (I think) 85% of what you paid for it, not what it's worth nowadays. Luckily for the members, at the moment the club have no interest in buying back shares so there's a cottage industry in selling shares between what guys paid and the current going rate.

So back to my original post, I think Moyvalley could be the more potentially marketable share further down the line, if the Ts&Cs allow.

Patrick_K

Interesting thoughts Milltown, I appreciate your input.
Cheers,
PK

copacetic

milltown wrote: »

These rumours have a habit of becoming self fulfilling prophesies. In order to find health, clubs need to find members. If members are not forthcoming because of rumours the club is struggling to find members, it's hard to see a way out. If I was in a position to join a club (sadly I'm not) I would pay close attention to the share terms and whether I own 1 share or €8k worth of a club. Then, at least in Rathcore if things go bad after a year you're not chasing the bank/liquidators for the full €8k.

The other angle to look at: I know a few Millicent members who bought in early for c.€4k. IIRC the club are currently offering membership at €12.5k. The conditions state that if you're leaving, the club get first dibs on your membership at (I think) 85% of what you paid for it, not what it's worth nowadays. Luckily for the members, at the moment the club have no interest in buying back shares so there's a cottage industry in selling shares between what guys paid and the current going rate.

So back to my original post, I think Moyvalley could be the more potentially marketable share further down the line, if the Ts&Cs allow.

agree with what you are saying there Milltown, and that deal does look interesting. However when I said rumours I didn't mean stock exchange made up ones I meant the ones I have heard either first or second hand from members of various clubs.

These good deals are indicative of the difficulties some clubs are in and imo it is a risk to sign up to anything longer than a year at the moment. Look at Macreddin, 80 people pay 30k and now they are selling them at 8k and not building a club house. Although they are giving the early members extra memberships to make up for it that may not be a great deal of use to them.

Hogger67

Would have to agree with your comments copacetic.This is a very interesting thread at the moment especially the way some of the new big clubs are going. I personally wouldn't committ to anything long term at the moment. A lease of a share is an option but thats only for a year and you may not get to stay in the club the following year depending on what the person leasing you the share decides.. Have you considered joining a club that only charge an annual fee?? There's a few in the Dublin Kildare Meath area doing this. It'd leave you in control of whether you wish to rejoin the following year and you wont risk loosing money.

Patrick_K

Yes we are considering that too Hogger. However there arent too many courses that you'd really like to be a member of which dont have joining fees. You get what you pay for I guess.
Of the courses I've seen who do this City West is probably the best option I see so far and I'm not sure how great they are for members comps, tee-times etc.
PK

Paulzx

Most comments so far have been about share memberships.

What are peoples opinions on the traditional type membership of members owned courses were your membership dies with you.

Is this a better way to spend 10 grand joining a club or is the share option better?. From what i've seen it seems impossible to get your money back on the share schemes due to the amount of them out there

Hogger67

Well for what its worth Patrick K, I was going to join the Glebe in Trim last year but have since moved away from the area.Its one of these that have no joining fee. I have a few mates who joined it and they seem very happy.
I'll be chatting to one of them later tonight and I'll quiz him up on it and see what the story is as he asked me to come up to play in an Open there some time next month.

slumped

i contacted Moyvalley but they are not GUI affiliated and have less than 50 members.

read the prospectus and you are not joining a 'club' with a constitution

there is no official club strcture - no allowance for election of officers etc.


Hollywood Lakes is a good club - new clubhouse nearly done and I think they have membership available, 6,500 I think...??

Kilcock also selling membership - some cheap deals going with members selling

S

Patrick_K

We actually played Glebe on Saturday Hoggers and got the info on m'ship from them afterwards. Its a pretty featureless course but has potential if they want to plough a bit of money into it. It's on our list of possibles.

Will check out Kilcock slumped, been meaning to. Whats the course like ?

clg23

slumped wrote: »

i contacted Moyvalley but they are not GUI affiliated and have less than 50 members.

read the prospectus and you are not joining a 'club' with a constitution

there is no official club strcture - no allowance for election of officers etc.


Hollywood Lakes is a good club - new clubhouse nearly done and I think they have membership available, 6,500 I think...??

Kilcock also selling membership - some cheap deals going with members selling

S

You can get share membership in hollywood lakes for less than 4000 at the moment if you check the buy and sell. Nice course might be a bit too far away for you.

joxers25

Hogger,

I'd be interested in the feedback from your mates as I am considering joining Glebe. Hoping to play it next weekend.

- I got this reply back from Admin there:

Thank you for your enquiry regarding membership of our club.
We charge No Entrance Fee.
The Annual sub for 2008 is 912euro.
This is inclusive of Vat, Golfing Union of Ireland Levy and 100euro worth of vouchers for the restaurant.
It equates to approximately E17.54 per week for your membership.
We now have implimented an easy payment scheme for people who wish to spread their subscription payment. Details can be forwarded if required.
There are NO green fees or additional charges to be paid to play the course when you are a member.


Family options are also available on request.

The club is affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland (G.U.I.) so you can obtain an official handicap.
You can also bring friends to play the course at a reduced green fee.
Competitions are held on a weekly basis, with a very friendly group of members competing.
A nine hole competition takes place every wednesday evening also for people who enjoy a game after work.

Application forms are available in the clubhouse or on receipt of a postal address.

The course itself opened in 1993 with a new state of the art clubhouse opening in 2005.
The clubhouse includes spacious locker and shower facilities and an impressive restaurant overlooking the opening holes and practice range.

If you have any other queries please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help you.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Patrick Bligh
Tel: (046)9431926

www.glebegolfclub.com

Joxer

Mister Sifter

I'm keen myself to join a club in the next few years where i don't need to pay each time i play on top of the annual joining fee.

Hollywood Lakes would be one of my first choices i think. Love the course!

The Glebe is a good price, but the course is pretty ropey. I played it last summer and it was in reasonable condition. I went back a few weeks back and it was a complete mess... so much so that i walked off after 9 holes and went home!

Very bland course and never going to bring the best golf out of you. Some tough holes there on the front nine too, particularly if the wind is blowing.

Patrick_K

I think Hollywood Lakes at the price is a good buy in.
I've played it a good few times and It's a very good course but as you say location wise its just a bit far away for me anyway.

Patrick_K

Whats Dublin Mountain GC like TWoods ? Have never played it.

Jeffm587

Hollystown have 3 different payment options, but nobody ever seems to mention them as an option for membership, in this or any other thread as far as I can see. Wondering if there is any reason for this as they are on my very short shortlist??

slumped

Patrick_K wrote: »

We actually played Glebe on Saturday Hoggers and got the info on m'ship from them afterwards. Its a pretty featureless course but has potential if they want to plough a bit of money into it. It's on our list of possibles.

Will check out Kilcock slumped, been meaning to. Whats the course like ?

been renovated at the moment - complete redesign - promises to be good I hear.

around 4k for membership there.

slumped

TWoods wrote: »

Dublin Mountain GC, about 10mins drive from The Square shopping centre ~ €799 for the year, including vat,gui and insurance. No entrance fee or extra fees every time you play and if 3 people join together it works out at only €650 per head.

very strange to post that it includes VAT!

Mister Sifter

slumped wrote: »

very strange to post that it includes VAT!

No it isn't. Very useful information.

copacetic

Graeme1982 wrote: »

No it isn't. Very useful information.

either way, twoods banned for spamming, second time with same content.

slumped

Graeme1982 wrote: »

No it isn't. Very useful information.

when you see green fees advertised, you take it that they are inclusive of VAT?

when you see a gym membership advertised, you take it that it is VAT inclusive?

Why would a golf club advertise (to the general public) an ex VAT price??

Mister Sifter

slumped wrote: »

when you see green fees advertised, you take it that they are inclusive of VAT?

when you see a gym membership advertised, you take it that it is VAT inclusive?

Why would a golf club advertise (to the general public) an ex VAT price??

Quite alot of clubs do so... Druid's Glen, K-Club amongst many many others.

Kaisr Sose

My two cent on the issue of VAT...
Commercial clubs -those that issue preference shares (south Co Dublin, Millicent, Carton etc are run as a company,and must charge VAT on annual subs.
Member Clubs (in the traditional sense-Naas, Grange, Miltown etc.) do not have to charge VAT-obviously due to the way they are run by members and not as a profit making entity.
Greens fees would be VAT inclusive/VAT exempt in the same way.
Obvioulsy Dublin Mountain GC is run as a private company, with a view to making a profit on the supply of goods and services, and therefore has to charge VAT on all fees. Not a bad deal to get out often.

Trampas

Kilcock GC is €4,750 for the 1st year. It didn't say what it was for every other year after that but I would guess around the 700 - 800 mark