Independent Golfer Ireland

Then can join as distance members possibly. Maybe the course is turning away green fees at a revenue loss compared to what the full members contribute.

If Ballybunion and a handful of other elite courses did that, then yes, I think you could make a case that what they're gaining in additional tee time slots / green fees outweighs what they're getting in from full membership. In fact, it would be an almost certainty that those clubs would be significantly better off financially imo.

But for the vast majority of clubs in Ireland, any normal club, it would be absolute madness to write off their full membership base. It would be some stretch to think that Slievenamon are turning away massive income in green fees because their full members have the course at capacity.

From the outside looking it, it seems like its a final money grab by taking advantage of Distant members being "locked in" to a certain degree.

I'm not sure how many distance members are in Slievenamon, but it seems to have been a very popular place for a cheap handicap. If those golfers were to switch to iGolf, it could possibly be the difference between GI being able to spin a succes story out of iGolf or not. With that in mind, I would say GI will be motivated to look at Slievenamon's GI affiliation.

I think GI / iGolf will be eyeing up that group of 900.

What's the difference between a distance membership and a Golf Ireland membership?

Both give you a handicap to play competitions and for GI members they pay full green fee too?

Is it the same with a distance membership you pay the full green fee too?

As I understand it, a distance member still has to play a certain number of games at his 'distance' club each year in order to maintain a handicap and also has to pay for insurance…. whereas a GI member can put in casual golf or open comp cards from any course locally once it is signed off by another GI member and no requirement for insurance is needed.

So, why would anyone join a distance club nowadays, when you can pay €66 as an I-golfer ?

Ya that's what I was trying to work out, is the benefit of a distance membership that you don't have to pay the full green fee in competitions?

How does it work now if you have a GI card from a distance membership you get to play competitions cheaper than GI members?

Crude.. But I have heard Igolfers referred to as akin to social welfare spongers...

Still a lot of olde school in golf.

Don't underestimate it..

GI don't set the prices at the clubs though.

Whether GI like it or not, there are a large number of clubs that are extremely anti-iGolf because they think it undermines their ability to bring in new members.

So GIs intention is almost an irrelevance as far as many clubs are concerned.

There will be some clubs that will offer the same rate, so maybe worth calling ahead before making bookings?

If it's the walk on green fee, it's fair enough to charge an iGolf member that imo. As others have pointed out, its a clubs prerogative to do that but the iGolfers will need to decide if it's better value to keep a distance membership and play courses as a GI member. Even if you play 5 times a year it's a cheap enough way to play competitive golf a few times a year and maintain a handicap.

you’ll find Saturdays are quite busy in most clubs with a lot being closed for everyone bar members

If you have set the green fee rate at €25 for the day (OP said that's what a normal green fee was) and you charge an iGolfer €60 then your competition fee is €35 which is extortionate.

If I was the OP I would have said that I'll just pay the green fee and won't enter the competition. Then the club lose out on €35 extra and wouldn't see me again.

Charging €40 would seem fairer to me and would probably have me returning again.

By the way I'm not an iGolfer so this has no bearing on me in real life.