Loyalty to Golf Clubs

ArielAtom

With the emergence of cheap golf in many clubs does anyone feel we will loose the club atmosphere in clubs.

In the club I am a member we have gained members due to dropping entrance fee's but on the flip side we have lost members who have gone elsewhere to seek cheap membership.

Only this week we have lost four members from the same family because they could get a cheaper deal for themselves elsewhere. So much for building a club atmosphere!!!!!

Is golf going to end up like Soccer with players moving from one club to another or can we maintain loyalty to clubs like in GAA circles where by and large your club is your club for life.

The movement of player if it continues will make for fun at inter club level!!!!

ODwyersGolf

If both courses are in close proximity, and both are of a similar standard and you feel little loyalty to one course over the other, then it makes sense to go for the cheaper one.

It's good for the golfer,not so good for the golf course. It's up to the course to make you feel like you're getting better value for money at their course rather than the one 20 minutes down the road.

death1234567

If there's a good atmosphere at a club and good service/facilities people won't change clubs even if another one is cheaper. Its all about value for money and that includes everything not just the course itself. People will go where they can get the best bang for their buck.

slave1

Simple laws of economics enter the fray.
I think that membership costs are only one factor though, for me when I recently rejoined after a number of years away from the game I also considered the number of friends at a club which makes it easier to arrange a round, the 'atmosphere' as I'm not a snob and don't like that sort of thing, the course itself - is it a challenge, is it too much of a challenge, is the design good, what condition are the tee-boxes/greens etc, how does it play in wet weather, how far is the course from home etc. etc. etc.
Only if all other things are in or around equal would the cost be a deciding factor.
Next year my decision will be done from scratch again, chances are I'll be bored with the course and may want to try another course with say, more dog-legs or better winter playing conditions and that may involve greater cost.
Suppose what I'm saying is I do not intend on having blind loyalty with my golf club membership, a number of factors will be considered each year and each year my home club will need to continue to justify its choice.

ArielAtom

slave1 wrote: »

Simple laws of economics enter the fray.
I think that membership costs are only one factor though, for me when I recently rejoined after a number of years away from the game I also considered the number of friends at a club which makes it easier to arrange a round, the 'atmosphere' as I'm not a snob and don't like that sort of thing, the course itself - is it a challenge, is it too much of a challenge, is the design good, what condition are the tee-boxes/greens etc, how does it play in wet weather, how far is the course from home etc. etc. etc.
Only if all other things are in or around equal would the cost be a deciding factor.
Next year my decision will be done from scratch again, chances are I'll be bored with the course and may want to try another course with say, more dog-legs or better winter playing conditions and that may involve greater cost.
Suppose what I'm saying is I do not intend on having blind loyalty with my golf club membership, a number of factors will be considered each year and each year my home club will need to continue to justify its choice.

I take on board what you are saying, but I would say you are joining a Golf Course as against a club. Would I be right or wrong in this?

slave1

That's a fair point, the club is lower in my personal 'ranking' criteria, the course and all the other points I raised above are probably more immediate in my mind than 'the club'.
I have no personal feelings one way or another about a golf 'club', it is something I consider but something I - as an individual - am less concerned with.

mike12

Once the Joining fees are gone there is little reason to be staying in a club for life. People who are not into the interclub stuff will shift round from club to club no reason not too.
In or around the Airport there are maybe 10 to 15 clubs all charging in or around the same for membership so i would expect in the next 5/6 years the membership will move around rather than go up and down in these clubs untill people decide which suits them the best.
I also think we may see more clubs joining up or giving playing rights on another course like New Forrest and Moyvalley if you are a member in 1 you can play the other for free.
If you had the choice of 2/3 courses to play for your membership fee it would be more attractive than just the 1.
What most clubs need is a greater volume thru the bars and pro shops to keep them ticking over and a big amount of green fees come from members bringing out guests.
Mike

ShriekingSheet

ArielAtom wrote: »

With the emergence of cheap golf in many clubs does anyone feel we will loose the club atmosphere in clubs.

In the club I am a member we have gained members due to dropping entrance fee's but on the flip side we have lost members who have gone elsewhere to seek cheap membership.

Only this week we have lost four members from the same family because they could get a cheaper deal for themselves elsewhere. So much for building a club atmosphere!!!!!

Your club didn't lose four family members this week because they found a cheaper deal. They're not even gone to a cheaper club.

If the people running your club actually gave a sh*t about having a good "club atmosphere" the four guys would still be there.

Russman

I think theres a lot of factors in play nowadays with regard to club membership.

If someone leaves one club for another because of economic circumstances, thats perfectly understandable and is happening more and more in these times. I think the increasing number of good, modern courses offering annual memberships at similar levels now to more established clubs has lead to a huge body of potential members who are happy to go where the deals are and, often in small groups of 4 or 8, move from club to club each year.
And its hard to argue with someone who, say, can join a club for €1,000 when his/her current one is looking for maybe €1,500. If someone has lost their job or on reduced salary etc etc its very hard to say to the other half in January, "oh, and I need to write a cheque for €1,500 for the golf club too"

I think the "club" thing will always have some premium attached and will be of some value to most people. And its good to see fees coming down to more affordable levels as it will hopefully enable guys/girls to stay with the club they want to rather than having to leave. Playing for your club and feeling pride in your club is a huge thing for a lot of players and probably always will be. I guess it depends on what each individual regards as an acceptable price for that.

Membership fees alone won't make or break a club atmosphere, a club is far more than just the price the annual sub. There's planty of clubs with very high fees that are reputed to not have a great atmosphere and, likewise theres many clubs with very affordable fees that have a great vibe. Ultimately it depends on how the members run their club and engage with each other as to whether the atmosphere is good.
Sheet's point above about the people running a club giving a sh1t is very valid.

Matt Santos

Three years ago I switched Clubs. It wasn't because it was cheaper and it wasn't for a better deal. I can understand in this new economic environment that cost may be becoming an increasing factor but with the exception of Dublin and the Premium courses around the cost is about €600/€800 so the difference is minimum.
I left because the lunatics had finally taken over the asylum and it was only a matter of time before self destruction. After being a member of committee for four years and working hard to keep the ship on course I finally had a moment of clarity and realised that nobody cared! The Club had lost its "atmosphere" and was over focused on money and the making of it. This was an attitude that genuinely was not needed as the Club was in relatively steady financial footing. But, a Committee with an incredible lack of business acumen was determined to delve into this sphere.
It had been brought up on several times at AGM's that the Club was beginning to become less personable and that an effort should be made to address it but it never happened. This Club finds itself in freefall membership at the moment and internal squabbling that is frankly embarrasing to any of the members that are left!
The Club I switched to have been a more progressive unit in combating this with several functions held in the past two years to bring and encourage it's members into the Clubhouse and to participate in events as a Club.
Basically, I think that Golf Clubs should look at their Clubhouse as more than a bar and changing room facility. Encourage the player that seems to go from car to course and back again to give the Clubhouse a visit and support their Club as it was meant to do...

The_Architect

Does anybody even care about the quality of the course any more?

My order of preference:

1. Course quality
2. Proximity to home
3. Atmosphere in club / at competitions
4. Economics

For most people I've seen posting, this order appears reversed.

Which is their perogative.

mag

The_Architect wrote: »

Does anybody even care about the quality of the course any more?

My order of preference:

1. Course quality
2. Proximity to home
3. Atmosphere in club / at competitions
4. Economics

For most people I've seen posting, this order appears reversed.

Which is their perogative.

id be 1,2,4,3

Russman

I think its a combination of them all to be honest.

Some guys will happily join a "good" course with 3 of their mates and play at weekends in the same fourball without any inclination to play interclub or join in the whole club thing, others will maybe stay with (or join) a slightly lesser course because they're involved or would like to be involved in teams etc etc and a lot of their friends are there.
From what I've seen, and there's no offence intended, it seems to be more recent converts to golf that go for the better course as opposed to the club atmosphere. I see it with mates of mine that, say, played football up to their early 30s and have now taken up golf, they're much less concerned with the club scene and would rather have a regular fourball on a good course.

Each to their own I suppose.

dcrosskid

With money being limited for me(a student) economics is always first on my list, saying that Templemore in Tipperary is dirt cheap and i wont go there cause its just plain ****e! mine would be 4-2-1-3. To be honest 3 doesnt come into at all for me.

shamco

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Your club didn't lose four family members this week because they found a cheaper deal. They're not even gone to a cheaper club.

If the people running your club actually gave a sh*t about having a good "club atmosphere" the four guys would still be there.

If it is the same club and members I'm thinking of. I know that the club looked after those members as juniors, allowing them to play unlimited golf,paying for entry into inter-provincal competitions and sometimes paying for accomodation.

f22

shamco wrote: »

If it is the same club and members I'm thinking of. I know that the club looked after those members as juniors, allowing them to play unlimited golf,paying for entry into inter-provincal competitions and sometimes paying for accomodation.

Nothing strange there, most clubs do the same for elite juniors

joe golfer

matt i would be interested to know what club you joined,as i am thinking of changing club this year, and there seems to be a good set up there.i would be looking for one on the north side

charlieIRL

1. Course quality
2. Proximity to home
3. Atmosphere in club / at competitions
4. Economics

I changed clubs this year, mainly for economic purposes (but wanted a change for the last while anyway) I was put on a 3 day week late last year so economics came into the equation when renewal time came. I had a look around the local courses and was going to give membership a skip this year and play society / casual golf but a deal came up which i couldn't turn down, hard but good course which is close to home and has friendly staff so i would put it 4, 1, 2, 3 for me. I am a high handicapper so will probably never be part of inter club competitions etc.