Reciprocal county card schemes – the solution to the 2-for-1 problem?
Many clubs do not have a full membership and the many 2-for-1 schemes for casual golfers is blamed as a contributory factor. On the other hand most clubs need income from visitors.
The introduction of the EGU Associate Membership Scheme in 1997 made it easy for a casual golfer to obtain a handicap and then use a 2-for-1 scheme to play golf. Some golf clubs feel sure that when the EGU introduced the scheme the union felt that this would lead to associate members joining golf clubs. Unfortunately, many clubs’ experience does not bear this out.
“We believe that people joined the EGU scheme to get a handicap and remain casual golfers,” said a spokeswoman for Chorley Golf Club in Lancashire.
So some clubs are proposing that if every county had their own county card scheme and the card could be used ‘cross county’, this would be beneficial to all clubs and their members.
The thinking behind this reciprocal agreement scheme is that if clubs were able to replace their 2-for-1 income from casual golfers with income from members of other golf clubs under this scheme they would become less reliant on casual golfers. This may then encourage at least some of the many casual golfers to join clubs.
The conditions under which the reciprocal agreements scheme operates are:
• Monday to Friday only.
• Tee times subject to availability.
• Members must telephone in advance to arrange a tee time and cannot turn up unannounced.
• Handicap certificates must be produced as evidence of membership.
• Maximum of eight people at any one time, in either two, three or four-balls.
• The green fee will be half the current visitors rate.
• Tee times can only be booked a maximum of 14 days in advance.
Have you tried this scheme and, if so, does it work for you?
The County Card Scheme which most Counties have became available “cross border” from the beginning of 2011.
Over 1180 clubs are accessible provided that the club you are a member of is participating in your own County.
If more clubs joined and all clubs were more proactive in selling the cards (you only have to use it once to effectively get your money back) then all members would benefit.
It is good to see that the cards can be bought at participating clubs but also online in a number of Counties.