Independent Golfer Ireland

Currently that number is at 0

Absolutely not true.

Go on so

Name a few clubs that are charging more for iGolf members in their opens. Link to their websites/socials etc so I can see?

From what I can see it’s currently all talk from some clubs but they haven’t implemented anything yet

Pre registered on the app or sign in on the pc in our locker room is all that's required. I'm sure it will be the same for iGolfers too.

generally clubs will have 2 green fee prices. 1 rack rate and another discounted one for golf Ireland members

In our club we don't run opens during the winter, so the igolfer issue will be an issue for the incoming committee. But talking to members in the club there is pretty much unanimous agreement that igolfers will not be getting out for golf ireland rate. It's pretty common for opens to stop during the winter so expect to see changes to terms and conditions on websites coming in around next March / April.

The argument about courses not wanting to turn away money, no matter how small, is a common one. The marginal cost of a round of golf is practically zero. However, fill your time sheet up with cheap green fees and you'll go broke quick. Maintaining a golf course to a decent standard is very expensive and this needs to be reflected in the fees we charge to visitors.

That sounds messy to police. Who’s to say the iGolf members didn’t previously pay green fees? It actually makes no sense what you’re saying

Police what? You are saying that we will be getting revenue that we wouldn't have been getting otherwise. In the absence of igolf a non GI casual golfer who wanted to play our course would have to pay green fees - you are arguing that by virtue of joining the igolf scheme they should now be able to avail of a discounted rate - so we are losing out on the difference between a green fee and an open fee.

Alternatively, they would never have paid a green fee and are only interested in golf at open rates. Then they simply want below cost golf.

How common are the golf Ireland rates? Aside from some of the links courses that charge a fortune to tourists basically, I didn't think many clubs do them. Of those that do offer Golf Ireland rates, I've gotten the golf Ireland rates for non-club members in the group before by just asking for it (the Donegal links courses).

But of the regular member clubs charging 50 or 60 euro for a weekend in summer - are they really offering cheaper rates for golf Ireland members? As a guess, I'd be surprised if more than 10% do golf Ireland rates. Clubs knocking a few quid off the green fee is common if you ring up, but I've never been asked if I'm a member elsewhere for that.

You're absolutely right. There is no logic at all.

Nah there’s no logic - just lads getting pissy about something that doesn’t actually impact them. It’s bizarre

OK, so this is the way I see it. A normal club member pays a rate to his club in order to avail of the benefits of that. That membership fee goes towards a multitude of things including wages, machinery, sand etc etc. They also pay a €28 subscription to Golf Ireland for maintaining the handicap and god knows what else.

I can see why many clubs will charge a premium (full green fee plus comp fee for example) for igolfers that want to enter an open comp. As awec says, if these igolfers were to be allowed enter open comps at the same rate as club members then they are not going to be contributing a fraction of what a club member is to the upkeep of that golf course or any other golf course. Why should they be entitled to discounted golf compared to the normal green fee? And I've seen it mentioned that clubs will be cutting off their nose to spite their face by charging a premium to igolfers. No, they are promoting club membership and the benefits of that while protecting the value they place on their fees. These igolfers presumably paid full green fees up to now. Why would clubs offer them discounted rates when it's Golf Ireland are the ones that are profiting the most from it?