Why do we pay hugh amounts of money for membership fees to a golf club?

Question

Why do we pay for membership to a golf club rather than pay and play clubs. Surely the money spent on Pay and Play clubs would cost less than the membership fees for a year, and you get to play different courses to boot. So why do we do it?

Answer 1

Very good question. In the UK it used to be the case that if you wanted to play the game you had to be a club member. Now there are hundreds of clubs that welcome golfers on a "Pay and play" basis and membership really isn't necessary. However being a club member does give you a social group which you might enjoy and it will bring other privileges. If you want to join a "prestigious" club you will need to be a decent golfer and have plenty of loot. It could cost you upwards of £1500 a year, and you need to play a lot of golf to make this pay! Another option is to join one or more golf societies (there are hundreds) - these often play at lots of different courses and there is a social element as well. Subscriptions are usually nominal and green fees good value.

The traditional golf clubs can be very snobbish and not particularly welcoming to new members. Some even don't allow women members or segregate women in the clubhouse.

You pays your money and makes your choice. The atmosphere at some clubs is very good and if you enjoy competitions and are happy with familiar faces in the 19th hole then membership might be what you would like. If you just want to play the game from time to time there are other options these days.

Answer 2

I'm membered to two clubs. Yours is a very question I ask myself before I purchased those membership. But my case's a different. I worked before in an office that affiliate with military (I'm not a soldier) and I pay very little sum of money to be member to a military course for life, with each time I play there there's a fee of a dollar fifty, instead of twenty dollars. About 200 guys from my office are member there. The other member was given to me by my brother, but I have to pay a transfer fee of 800 dollars.
But, I found that if you have a group of friends, esp a lot being member in the same club, like 200 guys in my previous office, it's awesome, as you have someone to play with every weekends and sometime we even organise a competition.
But if you buy membership in a club with no other friends, you'll need to make new friends, that is if this is your purpose. Otherwise just pay and play.

Answer 3

Joining a private country club is not for everyone. Indeed, some people do like to pay and play. But joining a club offers more...

1) Usually the course(s) are better maintained than a municipal golf course.

2) Alternative types of play - Tournaments, Inter-club tournaments, couples (m/f) tournaments, etc.

3) Unlimited golf - My $250 monthly fee covers all the golf that I can play in a month (cart fees are extra - $15) but walking is free!... A buddy and I once played a stretch of 13 rounds in 7 days.

4) Social Interaction - Private clubs usually offer excellent dining facilities. There are special occasion parties (Christmas, New Year, Valentine, Fourth of July, etc.)

5) Business - What better way than to do business than to bring a client to your club for golf and lunch or dinner! Additionally, Many clubs offer free meeting rooms to members.

6) More - Most clubs also have swimming pools, tennis courts, exercise and weight training rooms.

7) Contacts - By joining a club you meet people from all backgrounds and many of them will be able to help you find another job if you lose yours!

As I said, joining a club is not for everyone and not all clubs are the snobbish ones that are portrayed in the movies. I like to refer to the club that I belong to (Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, NC) as a working man's club. There might be millionaires that belong but you couldn't tell but they way they act and treat others. Hope that this answers your question!

Answer 4

Because private golf courses are nicer. They're very well maintained. You can go up there just about anytime you want and play without having to reserve a time. There's very few people on the golf course usually. It's a great feeling being out there all alone at times. You can have your own private cart available for you at all times. Hey they have the money. Why not? It's a community atmosphere. You make many friends there. It's a great place to let your kids go and have fun and you know they're safe because everybody knows everybody. If the kids act up you'll hear about it. The golf course is closer to their homes. Sure that one's lame but it's true. People call you by name. You like going there because everyone is so friendly. You wont get that at a public golf course. You can have your own ice chest on your cart and the club doesn't complain like they do at a public course. You get the general idea. I want to add that private clubs have affiliate programs where you can go play other private clubs. They also have competitions against each other.

Answer 5

Many of the membership clubs have other options and perks that make the membership worthwhile. In order to maintain all that it costs money. Some people like the idea of beating a course so to speak. So it is a challenge to do better than the last time. Also it is a social thing. You get to know people and make friends.

Also it is probably for the prestige too for some people to say they have a membership at a country club.

Answer 6

The simplest answer is that once you have joined a private club you are a part owner with an equal say to, for example, 450 other members. You play in a proprietory club and you have no say in the running of the club and similarly in a municipal course where, in addition, the course is often over-played. Other advantages, both sporting and social, have already been spelled out by other respondents.

Answer 7

I'm a pay and play player. Many of the reasons given by club members are quite right - nicer courses, exclusivity, keeping the riffraff out. But for me, the only advantage is often the ability to play other private courses you may not have a chance to play.
My advice is to have a golf buddy who is a member (like I do) and play a weekly 4 ball as his guest. Still pricey, but a whole lot cheaper than joining!

Answer 8

People like to know they can "get on" not have to wait un-due amounts of time. Also, they join to get to play with their friends,
"regular game" etc. If they really play a lot, the math does not work out too bad.

For those of your mindset, it is getting better, more public golf courses, supply catching demand. It is also getting tougher for the privates, members dropping out, etc. Dues going up off the charts because of not enough members, price got too high.

Answer 9

i work on a pay and play golf course and i read in amazement at some of the crap others are spouting off
1 good thing about private is that the amount of people playing is less and you are free to go at your own pace without being hampered
but
pay and play are opened 364 days ofthe year private close at the smell of rain
the uggrade is no better or worse on either simply because one is private and one isnt its about the team that work there
our greens are as good as any private golf club in my area i know as i play many of them, i am a 7 handicapper and quite frankly my course is better than many neighbouring courses.
carts and trolleys are also banned for most of the year on private courses and on many top private courses you have temp greens for 3 months of the year again weather depending,
there are many pros and cons but if you dont play enough you dont get value for money on private courses

Answer 10

because generally in the memberships it includes greens fees, carts, club rentals, exclusve members only tournaments, no cost to get into tournaments, and reciprical play on other courses (that means you can play at other courses too.)