Bedale GC introduces flexible membership

Seamus Rotherick
By Seamus Rotherick January 16, 2013 15:21

Bedale Golf Club in Yorkshire has become the latest venue to offer a flexible ‘pay as you play’ membership category to retain and recruit customers.

As clubs are increasingly competing to secure members, several have introduced schemes in which golfers pay a relatively small annual fee that entitles them to a few rounds of golf per year, and when they have used them up, they then pay discounted green fees every time they play a round.

Golfers have shown demand for these products as they are more suited to some people’s busy lifestyles, but the majority of golf clubs do not offer them, particularly because they run the risk of members paying less, or an unknown amount of, money throughout the year, rather than one fixed sum that entitles them to unlimited golf.

Clubs that have introduced these schemes, such as Golf at Goodwood, have generally found that they lead to an increase in membership numbers.

“Our flexible membership scheme is available for those golfers who prefer the flexibility of playing golf at any time of the day but cannot justify a full membership,” said a spokesman for Bedale. “The scheme is also attractive to those who may wish to take up the game on a low-cost, trial basis.”

The cost of the category is £200 and entitles subscribers to the benefits of full membership, including discounted drinks at the bar, handicap rights and the ability to play in most club competitions, but not voting rights. The 12-month package starts when the buyer wants – rather than on a date the club chooses.

The £200 allows between 10 and 20 rounds for the year, depending on when they are played, which is cheaper than current winter green fee rates of £19 per weekday round and the current full membership cost of £690. Once the initial £200 has been spent, flexible members can buy extra points as required. If they decide they want to join Bedale as full members, any unspent points can be set against the subscription.

The club has also introduced a ‘second club membership’ category in which golfers who are members of another golf club can join Bedale for £345, irrespective of where they live.

“Around here the days of joining fees and waiting lists are long gone. We have to be innovative in our quest for new members,” said Bedale Golf Club’s chairman Jim Shaw.

“We are optimistic that the flexible member option will prove attractive to golfers who fancy the undoubted benefits of being part of a members’ club but cannot justify the cost of full membership.”

 

Seamus Rotherick
By Seamus Rotherick January 16, 2013 15:21
Write a comment

6 Comments

  1. Mork January 19, 12:16

    dude lol too complicated just join or dont join its simple and clubs need to customer service to stop them leaving just now its 100 leave and 100 new joining at cheaper deal and dosent make sense. if you join becaus its cheap you wont spend any more in clubhouse bar ect if all you need is spend as cheap as poss for your golf subs

    Reply to this comment
  2. Adrian Stiff January 18, 08:51

    Plenty of people can’t afford £690, its more a fact they dont play enough and coupled with all the bargains that Golf clubs themselves put on offer. Golfers can hop from one Groupon to the next and clubs slash their prices to attract business and survive..its become a rat race. Clubs need to get together and agree to get rid of, 2-4-1s, Groupon, Inter County card, its become like many areas of life a consumers paradise. The problem you have is most golf clubs are run by the high users that ply 2 or 3 times per week and they are not understanding that half the membership only play 20-30 times per year and its the 20 or 30 timers that become your marginal members and potetial hoppers to nomadic golf. Another problem is as soon as a member defects to nomadic golf he plays even less. Membership should not be more expensive than pay and play and the better clubs need to hold their heads up.

    Reply to this comment
    • Robert January 19, 20:56

      I agree, Clubs should get together, reduce membership costs reintroduce joining fees and ban 2 for 1 and alike. Private clubs should be encouraging membership and discouraging those who want golf on the cheap. At my club they have reduced our fees from £650 to £550. I would like nothing better than no casual visitors, 2 for 1, bunkered and anyone else who wants to make money from private members clubs. There are plenty of municipal courses and pay as you play which can be used for people who do not wish to commit to joining a club.

      Reply to this comment
  3. Mork January 17, 12:58

    People get told how to think now all golfers think must be cheap as possible groupon or 2 for 1 ect and clubs go on and on about it how will you keep members if you keep telling its too dear? join another club now because of too dear?

    Reply to this comment
  4. Mork January 17, 11:48

    Blame the golf industry for telling evryone that they can’t afford golf subs, now they believe it and wont pay it, look for a new deal evry year and change clubs. who can’t afford 690 to play golf for a year?

    Reply to this comment
View comments

Write a comment

<

Join Our Mailing List


Read the latest issues

Advertise With Us

For editorial enquiries in the magazine or online, contact:

Alistair.Dunsmuir@hdidmedia.com


For advertising enquiries in the magazine or online, contact:

georgina.hirst@hdidmedia.com