Catering in the Clubhouse

vedwards

I wonder how many of us are members of clubs that have our clubhouse bar & restaurant franchised out and how many of us have ever considered the legal implications under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 (Registration of Clubs Act 1904-2004)?

With green fees and footfall down it must be a tough time for clubs and franchisees to turn a profit and now it appears that many clubs are looking to the case involving Castlebar golf club and Judge Mary Devins's pending decision. If you've been circling the cosmos for the last few months here is one of the many links to the reported case in the public domain:http://tinyurl.com/cpy5kly

Keano

My club have the restaurant leased out but not the bar. That way no rules being broke

chalkie 501

Keano A Legend wrote: »

My club have the restaurant leased out but not the bar. That way no rules being broke

same in my club,
service is abysmal:(

vedwards

Keano A Legend wrote: »

My club have the restaurant leased out but not the bar. That way no rules being broke

Thanks K A L;

Does your club operate a loyalty purse on your GUI/ILGU/GolfNet Card allowing a discount on alcoholic beverages?
Does your club allow guests to purchase alcoholic beverages?
Does your club have a sign in book present at ALL times?

Keano

No
Yes
No

vedwards

Keano A Legend wrote: »

No
Yes
No

Thanks K A L,

Though times ahead for caterers & franchisees...all they need now is a winter like 2010 and the course closed for two-three months...like a whole in the head.

Then there's the member who doesn't know what the inside of the clubhouse looks like...but then, that's their choice. Not everyone takes a holistic view of what 'a club' means...the comradery...the socialising...having an interest in the success of the bar/restaurant...the course and the myriad of other benefits from being a member.

ssbob

vedwards wrote: »

Thanks K A L,

Though times ahead for caterers & franchisees...all they need now is a winter like 2010 and the course closed for two-three months...like a whole in the head.

Then there's the member who doesn't know what the inside of the clubhouse looks like...but then, that's their choice. Not everyone takes a holistic view of what 'a club' means...the comradery...the socialising...having an interest in the success of the bar/restaurant...the course and the myriad of other benefits from being a member.

You see for a lot of us with kids, wife etc, we would love to go for food/pints after every round but that's not feasible. I do where possible try and bring my mates to the clubhouse after a friendly round but at the same time, the club I am a member of is not a private members club so it is hard to feel part of the "club"

vedwards

Thanks SSBOB; point taken.

ssbob

vedwards wrote: »

Thanks SSBOB; point taken.

I am really interested in gold club management and how golf clubs can manage themselves out of the recession but really think some clubs don't help themselves!

Example: empty time sheet, person on phone says they can't give a discount on green fee!

Keano

ssbob wrote: »

I am really interested in gold club management and how golf clubs can manage themselves out of the recession but really think some clubs don't help themselves!

Example: empty time sheet, person on phone says they can't give a discount on green fee!

Go point bob. Clubs tend off early bird rates but the afternoon could be empty!!

vedwards

ssbob wrote: »

I am really interested in gold club management and how golf clubs can manage themselves out of the recession but really think some clubs don't help themselves!

Example: empty time sheet, person on phone says they can't give a discount on green fee!

It is an area I'm also interested and involved in. The person on the other end of the phone may not have the authority to be flexible with the green fee rates. Some 'types' of clubs/courses have their green-fee structure etched in stone while others have given their pro or secretary permission to be flexible e.g. time of day/week, course condition etc. That's where I see clubs need to be more imaginative and inclusive, not just take money for a green fee but add value by offering soup/sandwich + mini-lesson with the pro. Clubs have, like most of us, made as many cut-backs as possible but now find that green-fee rates are a race to the bottom and are looking to other areas to find income....usually increase in subs or levies!

ssbob

For every empty tee time, there is an opportunity lost.

This week I got a text from a course that normally charge's €40 on Saturdays, they had a society pull out so they are doing a deal this Sat for €25 with a €5 food voucher included, the food voucher will get you to come into the club house so that is a good way of growing revenue.

vedwards

Well done to that club and good marketing! I wonder how much they were charging the society (per head) and it would be interesting to see the ROI or up-take on their deal.
Did you subscribe to the text service or was it random - out-of -the-blue?

I had to laugh earlier when I looked at our time-sheet for BH Monday. Our time-sheets are always busy but the footfall in the clubhouse does not reflect this. There are a large number of seniors who book en-block twice a week, Monday being one of the days. They play their golf and go. None of them would enter the BH Monday club competition and give that little extra income to the club. It's very likely that these are the age group with the most disposable income and get preferential membership rates!

ssbob

vedwards wrote: »

Well done to that club and good marketing! I wonder how much they were charging the society (per head) and it would be interesting to see the ROI or up-take on their deal.
Did you subscribe to the text service or was it random - out-of -the-blue?

I had to laugh earlier when I looked at our time-sheet for BH Monday. Our time-sheets are always busy but the footfall in the clubhouse does not reflect this. There are a large number of seniors who book en-block twice a week, Monday being one of the days. They play their golf and go. None of them would enter the BH Monday club competition and give that little extra income to the club. It's very likely that these are the age group with the most disposable income and get preferential membership rates!

Played an open singles there last year and started getting texts shortly afterwards, not very often maybe 1 every 3 months, didn't bother opting out as I'd always be on the look out for deals.

Ya it's always the same 9/12 names every weekend in our club aswell for comps and the like, out first and off home but that's their choice I guess.

Maybe it would be in your club's interest to offer it's seniors tea & scone after the round for €3 if they have played in the comp or something like that! Get's them in the door anyway!

PARlance

ssbob wrote: »

Example: empty time sheet, person on phone says they can't give a discount on green fee!

See where you're coming from bob, but there is the other side of it that if clubs reduce in this circumstance then people will soon catch onto it and it'll be a (further) race to the bottom that clubs will enter.

Short term, it's makes 100% sense.
Long term, it may be best to stick to their current pricing policy (do they offer discounted tee times as it stands? )

PARlance

Thanks for the post Vedwards,

I may have been drinking illegal pints in the clubhouse so... The thrill of it all