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  • 23-05-2020 3:00pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭


    Hey guys, any idea of how many new members your golf club has got due to covid 19. I know ours stopped counting at 100. Think it may be over 200.

    Many were regular visitors and younger guys that no longer have access to football, GAA etc and now keen to keep active

    Great for golf but questionable for our timesheet especially with current restrictions


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 140 ✭✭Bottle


    gypsy79 wrote: »
    Hey guys, any idea of how many new members your golf club has got due to covid 19. I know ours stopped counting at 100. Think it may be over 200.

    Many were regular visitors and younger guys that no longer have access to football, GAA etc and now keen to keep active

    Great for golf but questionable for our timesheet especially with current restrictions

    Wow, what club is that?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭gypsy79


    Elmgreen


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,089 ✭✭✭Happy4all


    gypsy79 wrote: »
    Hey guys, any idea of how many new members your golf club has got due to covid 19. I know ours stopped counting at 100. Think it may be over 200.

    Many were regular visitors and younger guys that no longer have access to football, GAA etc and now keen to keep active

    Great for golf but questionable for our timesheet especially with current restrictions

    DELETED


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭finglashoop


    gypsy79 wrote: »
    Elmgreen

    Am a member there too.

    Timesheet rammed alright.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭gypsy79


    The four I have played with this week all did for what it is worth. There is a lot of people living within 5km of there in fairness


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭gypsy79


    Am a member there too.

    Timesheet rammed alright.

    Would be anyway as most members live close by and David was telling me that the capacity is 55% of normal

    Add to that 8 weeks of no golf.

    Only 9 more slots when next restrictions are in place


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭finglashoop


    gypsy79 wrote: »
    The four I have played with this week all did for what it is worth. There is a lot of people living within 5km of there in fairness

    Played wednesday with a new member from well outside the 5k

    Each to their own


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,835 ✭✭✭Golfgraffix


    50 for us this week, that’s us full now


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 568 ✭✭✭irish_man


    Was actually thinking of joining Elmgreen as I'm a distance member elsewhere. Would it be next to impossible to get out? I'd like to play once on a day I'm off Sunday probably and go out at 6.30 pm for a few holes before sunset.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 269 ✭✭doublecross


    Our club won't take new members till August. Not sure why, maybe due to the restricted tee time availability


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,300 ✭✭✭downthemiddle


    Any club open for membership will get a boost over the next few weeks. We calculated that we covered 25% of our total loses for the closure yesterday alone. Our membership is getting a big boost. We also have an additional advantage in that our membership is due on March 1st every year. Some clubs whose annual subscription is due on January 1st may struggle to retain members who had not paid before the closure.
    Golf and Tennis will really benefit from being back earlier than other sports. People are actively looking for something to do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38 rossyd2005


    Our club had 50 new members by the time it reopened on Monday. Probably more since. It meant the timesheet filled up fast but its great to see the club getting a nice windfall after what will have been a lean couple of months. If it means i have to log on exactly when the timesheet goes live to get a spot thats fine by me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 867 ✭✭✭thewobbler


    Our club won't take new members till August. Not sure why, maybe due to the restricted tee time availability

    I take it your club is thriving or at least has a pretty full membership book? If so it’s the right decision.

    For any club that is struggling to make ends meet, this is a rare opportunity to swim with the tide. If they’re ignoring it to keep existing members happy, they’re signing their own foreclosure.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭Ollieboy


    I think it will be very difficult for member clubs to take in new members. Capacity is reduced by 45% so if your taken in new members what are you telling your loyal members that paid the subs during closure and now can’t get a tee time?

    In our club every single member kept up payments during lockdown so I think you need to look after them first.

    If any club can operate on 55% availability on timesheet with its current membership numbers, it probably isn’t viable club anyway. Remember also, some people are not breaking the 5km rule and over 70’s are cocooning so your not seeing all members out yet.

    The clubs that do a lot of green fees and societies should have some capacity but they will still try to honor societies from next month onwards.

    I think subs will go up next year in a lot of places, higher income from less will be the model instead of low and high numbers at the moment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,112 ✭✭✭billy3sheets


    At what stage do clubs decide that members who have not signed up for the year or have cancelled standing orders are no longer club members?


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 23,282 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kiith


    Dunno if its related to an influx of new members or just a high demand, but our course just went to a max of 2 rounds per week from June 1st. Pretty pissed at that tbh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭Ollieboy


    Kiith wrote: »
    Dunno if its related to an influx of new members or just a high demand, but our course just went to a max of 2 rounds per week from June 1st. Pretty pissed at that tbh.

    That’s exactly the issue, then I would only want to paid 2/7 of my sub in that case. I showed loyalty to the club and I expect them to do the same.

    We’ve no restrictions like that as I know members would just leave next year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭Ollieboy


    At what stage do clubs decide that members who have not signed up for the year or have cancelled standing orders are no longer club members?

    Usually clubs have a payment due date, we are 28th February, we remove people around mid March after follow up phone calls to confirm they are leaving and we usually try to do a exit interview on the phone.

    If someone payments doesn’t go through, they get a phone call the next day and payment arranged or removed or new payment plan agreed. Not every club as office staff so smaller clubs ran by members might be less efficient.

    It’s not fair to members who do pay on time to allow others not to pay. Same rule for everyone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭ismat


    Kiith wrote: »
    Dunno if its related to an influx of new members or just a high demand, but our course just went to a max of 2 rounds per week from June 1st. Pretty pissed at that tbh.

    Are you a members or commercial club ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Golfhead65


    I asked the question in pro shop today before I went out as I didn't recognise a lot of names on the timesheet and as it stands we have taken in 230 new members but may have lost a few..A lot are from City West but quite a few are newbies to golf as I spoke to a few new members in carpark before and after my round


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  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 23,282 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kiith


    That seems like an insane amount of new members. Surely your time sheet will be absolutely rammed every single day?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,543 ✭✭✭cozar


    20 in our small club (500 members)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Golfhead65


    Kiith wrote: »
    That seems like an insane amount of new members. Surely your time sheet will be absolutely rammed every single day?

    Working well so far, wait till comps start and we'll see how it's going but atm they say there is about 850 members, We have 7 Day 5 Day and Flexi so weekend tee times should be ok


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭rickis tache


    We took in 60 new members over the last week over twice that since year start.
    Club won't stop anyone with cash and the timesheet fills up daily with 10 or 15 mins.
    First out 7 am last out 8 pm.
    Hope this isn't another race to the bottom like many other industries.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,835 ✭✭✭Golfgraffix


    Ollieboy wrote: »
    Usually clubs have a payment due date, we are 28th February, we remove people around mid March after follow up phone calls to confirm they are leaving and we usually try to do a exit interview on the phone.

    If someone payments doesn’t go through, they get a phone call the next day and payment arranged or removed or new payment plan agreed. Not every club as office staff so smaller clubs ran by members might be less efficient.

    It’s not fair to members who do pay on time to allow others not to pay. Same rule for everyone.

    If you don’t pay your sub are you not automatically deactivated on the tee sheet so you can’t book ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 993 ✭✭✭Stormyteacup


    Anyone know if your clubs are offering deals or are new members paying full rates?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭mike12


    Have been hearing that most clubs it's not much of a discount from full rates.

    Its funny with all the doom and gloom about falling membership numbers to we have too many members even when we get back to full tee times.

    Interested to get peoples opinions on the 14 minutes tee times and will clubs start to change from the GUI recommendation for the next phase to accommodate more members and golfers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Golfhead65


    mike12 wrote: »
    Have been hearing that most clubs it's not much of a discount from full rates.

    Its funny with all the doom and gloom about falling membership numbers to we have too many members even when we get back to full tee times.

    Interested to get peoples opinions on the 14 minutes tee times and will clubs start to change from the GUI recommendation for the next phase to accommodate more members and golfers.

    Just on the 14 min tee time gaps, it would be an idea to keep it that way going forward if your club does not have a huge membership as play is much quicker. This week Ive twice got around in 3 balls in 3hr 10 and the longest round was 3hr 25..That's heaven compared to the log jams you get in the normal times..Our club wouldn't be able to accommodate such a move but I'm sure there are other clubs who could.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,850 ✭✭✭Glebee


    Golfhead65 wrote: »
    Just on the 14 min tee time gaps, it would be an idea to keep it that way going forward if your club does not have a huge membership as play is much quicker. This week Ive twice got around in 3 balls in 3hr 10 and the longest round was 3hr 25..That's heaven compared to the log jams you get in the normal times..Our club wouldn't be able to accommodate such a move but I'm sure there are other clubs who could.

    Seems to be flying around with the 14 minute gap alright. Never a hold up.
    30 new members I hear in our small club.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭mike12


    Played 6 times this week, longest round was 3.15 quickest was 2.58 which is super.

    Just think when we go to 10KM or clubs can take green fees it's just going to get worse for members trying to get tee times.

    We are blessed with 2 18 hole courses so looks like we won't really be impacted, but sure how I would take being told I could only play twice a week after missing out for so long.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Golfhead65


    mike12 wrote: »
    Played 6 times this week, longest round was 3.15 quickest was 2.58 which is super.

    Just think when we go to 10KM or clubs can take green fees it's just going to get worse for members trying to get tee times.

    We are blessed with 2 18 hole courses so looks like we won't really be impacted, but sure how I would take being told I could only play twice a week after missing out for so long.

    I wouldn't accept two day rule, if you are full member you are entitled to access timesheet for 7 days if you wish, 5 day members 5 days and so on.I would be asking for 5/7ths of my membership back, don't know what club it is but I'm sure there will be a membership backlash


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭Ollieboy


    Golfhead65 wrote: »
    Just on the 14 min tee time gaps, it would be an idea to keep it that way going forward if your club does not have a huge membership as play is much quicker. This week Ive twice got around in 3 balls in 3hr 10 and the longest round was 3hr 25..That's heaven compared to the log jams you get in the normal times..Our club wouldn't be able to accommodate such a move but I'm sure there are other clubs who could.

    It gets reduced to 13 on 8/6 and then 12 at the end of the month.

    Clubs can decide themselves if they want to reduce it faster.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 867 ✭✭✭thewobbler


    14 min tee times are simply wonderful. Not sustainable but still wonderful.

    ——

    Some odd comments above about having the “right” to play 7 days a week.

    With a 3 ball every 14 mins, the legal capacity of a golf course, even now among the longest days of the year, is circa 160 people per day (assuming 18 holes per player).

    By demanding the right to play every day, whether you like to hear this or not, you are effectively demanding a membership cap of 160 people. And no green fees. And no guests. And no societies.

    Maybe if you’re forking out 20k a year for your subscription, you should be able to make such demands. But I suspect you’re not.


    That the Irish government closed your course is not your club’s fault.

    That the Irish government have imposed social distancing regulations on golf for now, is not your club’s fault.

    Being a touch more understanding and tolerant at this time wouldn’t go amiss.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,711 ✭✭✭spacecoyote


    Golfhead65 wrote: »
    I wouldn't accept two day rule, if you are full member you are entitled to access timesheet for 7 days if you wish, 5 day members 5 days and so on.I would be asking for 5/7ths of my membership back, don't know what club it is but I'm sure there will be a membership backlash

    Just looking at it from a pure numbers point of view, and I'll simplify the numbers, for my own benefit.

    If you have 50 slots a day of 3 balls, that's 150 golfers per day, and 1050 slots for the week.

    If you have an active membership of 700 members, and set the limit to 2 rounds a week, it means that half of your members can only play once a week on the basis that the other 350 get their 2 slots (assuming every member wants to play)

    In normal circumstances, most members are working 5 days a week, so lots of gaps on the sheet for the remainder.

    In current circumstances, you have people furloughed, people out of work, people on short hours plus people working from home, so maybe closer to their course, with no commute.

    That spikes demand that wouldn't normally be there, so if timesheets are suddenly much busier, I don't see a major issue with limits.

    Youre saying it's not fair to you to limit your rounds, but what if you playing 4 times a week is depriving another members of their right to play at all?

    I know I'm over-simplifying here, but, im just trying to illustrate a point. I doubt any club is putting in a restriction on rounds, if there is no issue with availability. But if there is enough demand, I would have said a limit is a fair approach to cover the needs of the many over the few.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭gypsy79


    Golfhead65 wrote: »
    Working well so far, wait till comps start and we'll see how it's going but atm they say there is about 850 members, We have 7 Day 5 Day and Flexi so weekend tee times should be ok

    where are you member golfhead??


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭Ollieboy


    Just looking at it from a pure numbers point of view, and I'll simplify the numbers, for my own benefit.

    If you have 50 slots a day of 3 balls, that's 150 golfers per day, and 1050 slots for the week.

    If you have an active membership of 700 members, and set the limit to 2 rounds a week, it means that half of your members can only play once a week on the basis that the other 350 get their 2 slots (assuming every member wants to play)

    In normal circumstances, most members are working 5 days a week, so lots of gaps on the sheet for the remainder.

    In current circumstances, you have people furloughed, people out of work, people on short hours plus people working from home, so maybe closer to their course, with no commute.

    That spikes demand that wouldn't normally be there, so if timesheets are suddenly much busier, I don't see a major issue with limits.

    Youre saying it's not fair to you to limit your rounds, but what if you playing 4 times a week is depriving another members of their right to play at all?

    I know I'm over-simplifying here, but, im just trying to illustrate a point. I doubt any club is putting in a restriction on rounds, if there is no issue with availability. But if there is enough demand, I would have said a limit is a fair approach to cover the needs of the many over the few.

    Some good points but far to simple view.

    Most clubs have the perfect member, only plays a few times a year. A lot of people like me play only 35 times on average a year. Then some others play 2 to 3 times. Nobody plays 7 days a week.

    But if your sold a product of 7 day membership and I honor my sub during closure ten I expect the club to honor the agreement.

    If the club sell more membership on reopening and I now have to suffer after showing loyalty, then that’s bad form and I’ll take my business elsewhere next year.

    I said this a long time ago, I expect membership to go up decent amount next year and clubs to bring back entrance fees very quickly to sort out the demand issues.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭Ollieboy


    mike12 wrote: »
    Played 6 times this week, longest round was 3.15 quickest was 2.58 which is super.

    Just think when we go to 10KM or clubs can take green fees it's just going to get worse for members trying to get tee times.

    We are blessed with 2 18 hole courses so looks like we won't really be impacted, but sure how I would take being told I could only play twice a week after missing out for so long.

    Compared to this time last year you don’t have the same amount of tee times available, it’s actually 1.1 of last years 2 courses.

    So if your club sold a lot of membership and I believe Swords part is already at full membership, you don’t really have much capacity to play with.

    Timesheet restrictions will mean less members allowed to join clubs in the long run.

    It will be very interesting to see how it develops


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,956 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    I know 14 minutes makes for a quick round but I don't think its the only contribution factor. A lot of skins being played which is much quicker also not qualifying helps a lot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭gypsy79


    Yeah I am rarely marking ball etc so that is definitely speeding things up

    Also not waiting my turn


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,636 ✭✭✭the.red.baron


    Surely its the no 4 balls and perhaps less over 70s that has a bigger impact than the 14 mins


    If a group is being slow it would stack up quickly enough


    Our timesheets is full to the brim but outside peak times people dont seem to be turning up, so more 2 balls that 3 balls around, which makes a massive difference


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 702 ✭✭✭Golfhead65


    gypsy79 wrote: »
    where are you member golfhead??

    Lisheen Springs


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭mike12


    Ollieboy wrote: »
    Compared to this time last year you don’t have the same amount of tee times available, it’s actually 1.1 of last years 2 courses.

    So if your club sold a lot of membership and I believe Swords part is already at full membership, you don’t really have much capacity to play with.

    Timesheet restrictions will mean less members allowed to join clubs in the long run.

    It will be very interesting to see how it develops
    Neither course was full any day last week so plenty of room.
    Both have limited membership so are full at a much lower number that your normal club.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,027 ✭✭✭Euphoriasean


    Surely its the no 4 balls and perhaps less over 70s that has a bigger impact than the 14 mins


    If a group is being slow it would stack up quickly enough


    Our timesheets is full to the brim but outside peak times people dont seem to be turning up, so more 2 balls that 3 balls around, which makes a massive difference

    Played plenry of comps limited to 3 balls which took well over the 4 hour mark. The 14 minute gap is bliss. It's infuriating that it takes less than 3.5 hours for a round now but could take 4.5 hours for a Sunday comp. People just spend so much time pi33ing about. It's the thing that will likely turn me away from golf,just too much time to be spending there when you have a young family.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 699 ✭✭✭davegilly


    I know 14 minutes makes for a quick round but I don't think its the only contribution factor. A lot of skins being played which is much quicker also not qualifying helps a lot.
    Another factor is not touching the flag. Prior to covid, the messing around with the flag in, flag out, flag in nonsense. Just leave the damn thing in.

    I think 3 balls, 12 mins apart and no touching flags is the way to go in future. Sub 4 hour rounds will become the norm then.

    Having said that, yesterday when my group arrived at the 9th, there was a group (3 ball) just finished teeing off and another (2 ball) waiting. Thats piss poor in all fairness for a 28 minute gap to be gone in 9 holes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,119 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    Ollieboy wrote: »
    It gets reduced to 13 on 8/6 and then 12 at the end of the month.

    yea thats what i thought and then i saw an email from one of my clubs yesterday about increase of tee times by 8% and today when tee times went live for week 1st june to 7th june it was at 13 minute intervals. :confused:

    i just checked the gui documents and it does indeed quite clearly say that is against the rules and should not be implemented till the 8th. however i think the club in question is just more concerned with getting more space on the time sheet as they have taken in a rake of new members and have never once even mentioned the 5km restriction... which is probably why half the tee sheet is filled with members from just outside the limit to way outside the limit!

    no cares given.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,119 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    about the restricted times. i am not bothered about being asked to only play 3 days or 2 days or whatever.... sure id normally never play more than twice a week anyway as i am sure would be the case for the vast majority

    i do realise though that lots of people have lots of time on their hands at the moment so times are a bit different and people want to try and get out. i know... i'm one of them, but 3 times a week is plenty

    some clubs seem to be full to the rafters and don't care about their existing members and only have eyes on a big pot of subs from new members and don't know when to say we are full. this is just bad form.

    i know that tee times are reduced, but i would hazard guess that in the 2 clubs im a member of, for the last 8 days and the next week or 2, despite less times being available to the same weeks last year....... there will be a hell of a lot more people playing. not a bit of daylight to be seen on either sheet. and thats for casual golf! on a normal week in may, i could play more or less at any time i fancied during the week over multiple comps as there is always availability, saturday gets busy as it is the main comp, but you will nearly always get a game

    i think for the moment golf has become a sort of a novelty for many people (new members moreso), an excuse to get out of the house in a way. i just wonder will all these new members renew their subs next year or the year after when life gets back to normal. some maybe, but for the majority....... i doubt it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭finglashoop


    Was working so missed the openeing of tee times for week starting first june. Was none available when i checked a couple of hours after opening


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,370 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    gypsy79 wrote: »
    Hey guys, any idea of how many new members your golf club has got due to covid 19. I know ours stopped counting at 100. Think it may be over 200.

    Would that not completely overwhelm the timesheet with the current gaps (and even when back to normal gaps?)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,622 ✭✭✭blue note


    It's great reading about all the new members clubs are getting. And it's not just this years sub they'll get, plenty will stay on next year if they enjoy it.

    I suspect a lot of the new members will drift away after the lockdown in which case you'll have gotten a years membership out of them for giving up a handful of slots on a timesheet!

    It'll really help to balance out the lost revenue from the lockdown.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭twounderpar


    Incredible numbers being mentioned here regarding new members joining clubs. 230 in one club and 200 new members in Elm Green.
    How did all these clubs survive before covid 19,if there was all that space for new members.

    As somebody who has been involved in recruiting new members, 200 new members would mean that maybe 300 or more enquiries
    were made. Amazing level of enquiries in just a few weeks. Enquiries are one thing, but converting enquiries into fully paid up
    members is a different matter.

    Some clubs will have to cope with an extra 65 three balls.
    Will clubs have to limit members to maybe a max of 2 games per week.

    Interesting times ahead.


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