Weather effects on membership?

moycullen14

Hi,

Given that most of us have had very little, if any, golf in the last few months, I was wondering what effect this is having on membership renewals? There must be people out there thinking what's the point of paying money when I can't play golf.

It is really unfortunate with so many clubs struggling.

Boskowski

Not exactly a surprise though isn't it? There is a winter every year.

They'll be out like a shot that first warm weekend in March/April though.

My club not so affected I'd say. Most people on direct debits.

HighLine

Boskowski wrote: »

Not exactly a surprise though isn't it? There is a winter every year.

There is indeed a winter every year but thankfully most of them are not the constant Atlantic train of wind and rain misery that we have been subjected to since mid November.

Record amounts of rainfall have indeed resulted in financial losses for clubs throughout the country. Loss of green fees, competition fees, bar and catering income... all a knock on effects.

redzerdrog

Mostly though how the course generally holds up in winter is already built into the membership price

Boskowski

I know reading it now it sounds like I was trying to be smart. Not intended. Sorry

What I meant was typically whether you play golf or not is often not a spur of the moment ting. Not something you abandon out of the blue. (Well erm, hopefully not anyway) and cr&up wheather happens every year just some years are better than others.
This year has been bad but at least it hasn't killed off half the trees on the course (yet).

moycullen14

I guess most clubs have been working really hard to staunch the loss of members over the last few years. I can't believe that the last few months of incessant rain won't have an effect on some renewals - especially those that were a bit marginal in the first place.

If you haven't been able to play for a few months, you get used to doing other things and maybe consider the 1000+ or whatever it is, for effectively 9 months golf doesn't represent good value.

yipsnomore

If you're paying over 1000 a year and no golf Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb and based on what im seeing March will be out too I think you'd be entitled to question whether membership was worth it.

Pace of play in my club is bad. With a young family I dont get out twice a weekend. My course is good but not that good!!

Hacker111

my club is down substantially from weather, nothing like this ever witnessed before. Competition income is just non existent as well as visitor fees being hit.

regarding membership its surprisingly ok.... a lot of people on s/os and there is actually a strong surplus of new members over resignations which represents a positive start to the year....the weather is a clear negative but it is not having a detrimental effect on renewals or new joiners (Thankfully )

RGS

Thankfully we were just closed for 2 days this winter.
Great knowing course is playable 365 days a year with full greens and tees.

Senna

That's why membership run April to March, no way would anyone dip into their pockets if they had to stump up in January after that weather.

I would guess visitors fees and open fees are considered perishable to a club, they won't make up that lost income when the weather improves.

Hoboo

RGS wrote: »

Thankfully we were just closed for 2 days this winter.
Great knowing course is playable 365 days a year with full greens and tees.

The perks of links golf I've been out 3 days a week all winter, closed one Saturday start of December and that was it. Few holes closed here and there a few days, comp changed to 15 holes instead of two 9's a couple of times. Greens in great nick.

Russman

Senna wrote: »

That's why membership run April to March, no way would anyone dip into their pockets if they had to stump up in January after that weather.

I would guess visitors fees and open fees are considered perishable to a club, they won't make up that lost income when the weather improves.

I think this is a far better membership "year" that the calendar one. I know its hard for clubs to change their year, especially nowadays, but its so much easier for a member to justify the annual sub in the spring, or even better the autumn, than in January when they may not have hit a ball for 2 months. Imagine, its just after Christmas, the bills are in, the credit card is due, and you've to tell your other half that you need to pay the golf club too, and then he/she says, but you haven't played since October because of the weather !!

redzerdrog

Our membership runs August to July, works pretty well because you start thinking about saving for it once the new calendar year starts

Boskowski

I don't think this is an issue.
I think we're actually quite good here. Ok we're not the algarve we don't have golf weather all year round. But we're not Germany or New England either where a course might be closed for months with snow on it. And even at the algarve, I'm sure some would be moaning about it being too hot for golf there in the summer.
Most years we get half decent winter golf well up to Christmas and the season kinda starts paddys day so that's 3 months of dodgy weather and often enough you get 'some' golf during that time.
People must forget the idea of dividing their annual sub by 12 and then thinking I should be paying 3 months less. It's an annual sub. You either like it enough to be a member or you're not.

Senna

redzerdrog wrote: »

Our membership runs August to July, works pretty well because you start thinking about saving for it once the new calendar year starts

I just assumed everywhere worked on a April to March calender

mike12

Our subs due by the end of January. Course has been closed 3 days only one of those at the weekend so no complaints really.

RGS

Hoboo wrote: »

The perks of links golf I've been out 3 days a week all winter, closed one Saturday start of December and that was it. Few holes closed here and there a few days, comp changed to 15 holes instead of two 9's a couple of times. Greens in great nick.

Not a links but a parkland that drains well.