Annual sub 2023

big_drive

Just wondering has nearly everyone's increased for 2023 due to increased costs of maintenance, etc

Mine has gone from €850 to €960

Feel free to list your own clubs fee

swededmonkey

My club went up €40.I felt this was very reasonable in light of how everything else has increased in recent months

blue note

Interestingly, for a private club I'd be of the opinion that the market essentially sets the price, but for a members one the members share the costs. So subs for a private club should be based on what the owners can get the members to pay whereas for a members club they should be set based on the revenue the club needs.

But in reality, while members own a club, many don't think of it this way. And the members clubs are in competition with the private ones.

Anyway, ours is a rolling membership. I think it has increased from 325 to 345 since I last paid. That's a pay and play option, I pay another 20e per round or so. So for last year I paid about €65 per round. They did well out of me. The real comment on the change to the members though is that they have allocated most of Saturday to visitors / societies. The last members time to book on a Saturday is 9:20 I think. After that it's blocked off for visitors.

coillcam

My local sub went up €200 but it's offset by €100 of this being a bar/food set aside as a mandatory subsidy.

dan_ep82

Up €100

wildwillow

Up €500. Offset €250 spent anywhere on club, food drink, pro shop etc. On loyalty card which entitles one to 10% off all spend, not confined to to the €250. Pretty steep but was under priced for a good while, so no real surprise.

token56

I think mine stayed the same at 650 and they are doing an offer to new members of 1000 for 2023 & 2024.

bakerbhoy

Sub has stayed the same for now . Egm tried to increase across all areas...subs levys, insurances, lockers etc .......Heavily defeated...

Entrance levy introduced at subsequent Agm. €1000

TheRoomWrecker

Paid €2176 for 2022

Paid €2976 for 2023 🤢

big_drive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120282143#Comment_120282143

Same club?

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Ours stayed the same at 950. Our Finance Director does trojan work keeping the costs under control though, despite a big investment programme over the last couple years.

Frisbee

Ours stayed the same but Entrance Fee for new members went up 50%. The club is already way oversubscribed with members and even with that there is a huge waiting list.

TheRoomWrecker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120282154#Comment_120282154

Yep same club!

Mantis Toboggan

Our sub went from 1070 to 1220.

Just enough of an increase to make me realise that I cannot justify the expense or the time anymore especially now with 2 little nippers.

Will just play society golf and a few opens.

Kiith

Our place has nearly doubled this year (tbf, its only €400 to €790, so still cheap), and they've also apparently said it'll double again next year.

Not sure i'll be renewing this year. Pain in the hole having to drive an hour each way, and with saving for a mortgage, i may just stick to society golf this year. Then join Waterville next year if i can afford it.

slave1

is the mortgage for Waterville?

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330402#Comment_120330402

What the Jaysis is that increase about? Especially back-to-back years..

That’s gouging - even without looking into it with context

golfguy1

€790 is expensive for that course. hardly playable for 6/7 months of the yr.

heard they planned on doubling again for next yr. won't be left with many members

Kiith

Yeah, its a mad jump. New owners apparently had said nothing would change, clearly that was a lie.

I know a lot of the members have it as their 2nd club, so i expect a mass exodus by next year.

BraveDonut

€200 increase but the bar levy was reduced by €50

It's becoming very pricy but very hard to think of leaving a club that is 3 minutes away

big_drive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120332623#Comment_120332623

What is the club?

Kiith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120333333#Comment_120333333

Ring of Kerry.

Ronney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330402#Comment_120330402

Out of curiosity do you know what is the cost for Waterville? I would have thought it would be closer to Dublin prices at €2000+

Is there hello money/difficulty to get in?

Kiith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120333564#Comment_120333564

Last i heard the annual sub is around €800, and the joining fee is €10.5k. May have gone up since i talked to that member (early last year).

Joining fee can be spread over 3 years apparently (not sure if that's a local only thing).

big_drive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120334288#Comment_120334288

If you're living local and going playing there long term it's probably a decent investment for a course of that quality

Kiith

Yeah, i'll join if/when we buy down here. Its a cracking course, and having it 4 mins away would be fantastic.

GolfPar

Portmarnock Links gone up to €3,500 and they have development work going on at the moment. Very steep for a course that accommodates a lot of green fees.

Mac_Lad71

Last time I remember golf clubs charging extortionate joining and membership fees was in the dying days of the Celtic Tiger.

We all know what happened next.

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120335921#Comment_120335921

what works are they doing out of curiosity?

Ronney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120336156#Comment_120336156

It never went away inside the m50

El Guapo!

I'm lucky to be on an intermediate membership in Headfort so the cost is reasonable considering the quality and that there are 2 courses on site. Even though fees did increase this year by 100 ish.

Having said that, when the intermediate membership runs out and I need to pay full price I can see there maybe better value in 5 day memberships elsewhere. Or society golf for the year instead.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120333564#Comment_120333564

The annual subs are surprisingly reasonable in some of the big name clubs. Granted you have to pay an decent chunk of cash to get in but the likes of Tralee and Ballybunion's annual sub was around 400-500 up until a few years ago anyway iirc.

Think the entrance fee was approx 7-10k. Spread over 10 years it's great value and a steal if you're there longer imo.

AFAIK the likes of Co. Sligo has a very reasonable annual sub as well. Not sure what the entrance fee is for it though.

blue note

I still think we're on a temporary high in membership (and golf interest) due to COVID. Golf had been declining in popularity for years and clubs doing okay due to the economy, but at high risk of being in trouble in the case of a downturn. The reasons for the declining playing numbers haven't gone away - cost and lack of time being the biggest ones. I'd say the clubs are probably right to make hay while the sun shines, but I reckon people will gradually drift away from the game now that they can do things again and spend their money on other things.

OEP

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120336469#Comment_120336469

The membership money is probably a drop in the ocean compared to what they make from green fees. I'm assuming they operate on a locals only policy?

Ronney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120336469#Comment_120336469

Yea that seams fair enough. I'd guess the likes of Tralee and Bally B are member owned essentially and subs kept as low as possible. Think Waterville is owned by a few Americans and the "Club" is really just a tenant on the course with playing rights. Just look at the price increase in Portmarnock Links discussed here. Always a risk a rich owner might not want the locals euro anymore. Hear this is happing down Limerick way.

mrskinner

Slievenamon GC 5 day membership €275!

doublecross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120334341#Comment_120334341

I was there last year and chatted to them about membership out of curiosity. It's a long waiting list. Got the impression you'll be waiting for people to die before getting in.

Kiith

Ah i know a few committe members, so i figure i'll be able to get in that way.

The Healy-Rae way! 🤣

blackbox

1450 including insurance and Golf Ireland levy. Same as last year but I reckon there will have to be an increase next year. Members' club.

Xander10

Thought I'd ask here rather than start a new thread.

The earliest I will be able to look at taking up membership of a local club will be 1 June. Do clubs in general pro rata the annual sub or would they still expect you to pay the full annual sub?

spacecoyote

Will vary from club to club. A lot of clubs, I'm the 2nd half of the year are more likely to offer a deal for 15-18 months for the price of 12. Some clubs also run their year outside of a calendar 12 months

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120387845#Comment_120387845

Thanks. I've seen clubs throw in the winter months for the following year.

If it's a case of full fee for June onwards I might just pay and play a bit and wait for next year.

I've a couple of club options in mind, so probably best to ask them their policy

swededmonkey

You'll probably find most clubs will be amenable to getting in a few extra quid. While they may not specifically advertise it, a quick call into the office should see you right. The only challenge I would expect is if the club has a joining fee, otherwise, you should get sorted ok