Golf during tough times...

[albatross]

Am I the only guy on here that is really having a hard time deciding whether or not to pony up for a golf membership this year?

It seems like almost every industry is stuggling and I'm wondering why more clubs aren't pitching any incentives to get members. I know that in my area membership was down this year and I'm guessing that membership will be WAY down this year with the economy.

I feel like this might be the year to try and negotiate with courses about their membership fees. Wouldn't some of these courses be better off with cutting a deal to 4 guys for $1600 than to get zero dollars and 4 less members.

Has anyone else tried bargaining with membership costs at a course and been successful??

I'm obsessed with this game but am I the only one considering not getting a membership this year because times are tough??

[picrig]

I don't have to worry about the specific question since my yearly membership expires in August and at that point I'll be enrolling in a golf school, but I would encourage you (and everyone else) to renew your membership unless your particular circumstances warrant otherwise. I understand that the economy is rough right now (moreso in some areas than others), but I know a lot of people who have not been affected up to this point, and almost certainly will not be affected (college professors, federal employees, etc) talk about changing their spending habits. If you are in a position where your income is likely not to change and your job is secure, support your golf club. At a time when the economy is tough, those clubs need all the support they can get.

[Nyper]

Many of the courses in my area are running really good membership specials. There are a handful that aren't running any specials at all.. so I guess they just aren't hurting too much.

I was considering a membership about a month ago, and found that many of the membership directors were willing to work with me and cut a little deal that was better than advertised. It never hurts to ask.. the worst they can say is no. Just do it in a professional, respectful manner.

[flopdarock]

yeah i was wondering this myself...
ive seen car dealerships offering buy one suv get one free... heck hyundai has a commercial out where you can return the car if you lose your income...
big business's are restructuring in ways they never have to accomodate the economy...
yet my courses memberships are business as usual and i dont see any budge in their budget

[Dub]

Many of the local courses are waiving initiation fees right now.

Now is a good time to join up if it's within your budget.

Golf is the cheapest hobby I've had....as long as I'm playing my home course and walking....otherwise it gets crazy expensive going to random courses on a weekly basis while maintaining a membership somewhere.

[Norm3333]

I don't have to worry about the specific question since my yearly membership expires in August and at that point I'll be enrolling in a golf school, but I would encourage you (and everyone else) to renew your membership unless your particular circumstances warrant otherwise. I understand that the economy is rough right now (moreso in some areas than others), but I know a lot of people who have not been affected up to this point, and almost certainly will not be affected (college professors, federal employees, etc) talk about changing their spending habits. If you are in a position where your income is likely not to change and your job is secure, support your golf club. At a time when the economy is tough, those clubs need all the support they can get.

Couldn't agrre more. If you want them in the good times, support them in the bad.

At least you can enjoy the thinner crowds.

[albatross]

Couldn't agrre more. If you want them in the good times, support them in the bad.

You guys aren't reading the original post. I'm not trying to catch a great deal because times are bad, I'm hurting like a lot of other people and debating whether I can afford it this year.

If I had the money laying around, of course I would help my local club. I'm saying if I'm hurting and "The Club" is hurting, isn't it better for them to cut rates a little to get more members and more money total and in turn, it helps guys like me that aren't sure they can afford it this year.

[meenman]

Am I the only guy on here that is really having a hard time deciding whether or not to pony up for a golf membership this year?

It's like everything else in life - you are generally more coveted by those that you are not currently with.

Its always easier to get more money out of a new employer than your current one (in better times of course) You will probably get a better deal if you switch clubs vs staying with your current one. But it would not hurt to ask to get the same deal they are offering some newbie off of the street. I recently switched clubs, not because it was cheaper, but because I got a whole lot more for the same basic price.

[denver_nuggs_15]

I'm saying if I'm hurting and "The Club" is hurting, isn't it better for them to cut rates a little to get more members and more money total and in turn, it helps guys like me that aren't sure they can afford it this year.

Now you are getting into some serious microeconomic theory. Basically, there is one price that any service or good can be sold at in order to maximize profit. If they can charge $100/membership and get 10 members, or $50/membership and get 17 members, they will make more money with fewer members and a higher price. Say instead they charge $50 and can get 20 members. They would have the same total revenue ($1000), but would have higher variable costs (cost per unit multiplied by units) assuming that variable costs per unit are constant.

You would have to ask the course. None of us know that if the couses lowered rates, they would make more of a profit because of more customers or members. I think you need to decide what is best for you. The economy will turn around. The stock market will turn around. Housing will turn back around. It's an economic cycle that has been accelerated because of the times in which we live. No one that I talk to really knows when anything will turn back around, just that everything will turn around. Personally, what I and several economists believe is that there is a problem in consumer confidence. (There are certainly other problems...don't get me wrong.) Basically, it is the how you see the economy. The media and every other uneducated person in the field wants to say how crappy the economy is. (Just watch the news for an hour or listen to the radio.) It is not great, but I feel that the media makes it out to be much worse than what it is. Regardless, you have to make the decision. If you think you (and your employer) cannot wait it out - as in you may be unemployed because your company goes out of business or whatever - then it may be advisable to drop the membership. Golf is a luxery, not a necessity. If a membership gets in the way of car payments, mortgage payments, food, bills, etc. then it is time to drop it. Because golf is a luxery and luxery items/services are not being bought as often in a stagnant economy, golf courses are lowering rates. There was a really good article in Golf Digest or Golf Magazine about this. But, basically courses are losing business and have to cut rates. Some are dropping initiation fees and other costs to the customer. You could probably get away with bargaining if your course in particular is hurting.

[PEZGolf]

Am I the only guy on here that is really having a hard time deciding whether or not to pony up for a golf membership this year?

No, you are not the only one. I play in 7 to 10 tournaments a year, and need to play golf to keep my game sharp. Nonetheless, I analyzed my cost per round from 2007, and decided to NOT be a member last year. Not only did I save money, I found that my game did not deteriorate. There is a public course here that is a tough one. I could play there early in the morning before work, or early on weekends, and not get caught when the course is packed (they do not use reseved tee times). When I talked to other avid golfers in the area, I was somewhat surprised to hear that they, too, decided to not be members and play at public courses instead. This is a viable option in our area because we have many excellent public courses (the large number is why only a few require tee times on weekends). So---we can "have our cake and eat it too"---save money and still play lots of golf. The elite private course in this area, the Yahnundasis in New Hartford, has been struggling financially, and the Board hired Troon Management to make it viable. It was designed by Walter Travis, has hosted the New York State Amateur, and is a member of the Iroquois League, with Oak Hill in Rochester, Bellevue in Syracuse, and Wanakah in Buffalo. It is one of the oldest courses in this area (the Otsego Golf Club is the oldest, since it was founded in 1894). This severe economic recession and the brutal decline of the stock market has left many people hurting financially. Even many people with jobs have little job security. Look at the Bank of America---35,000 people will be cut in the next year.

[AbsoluteZero]

Many of the local courses are waiving initiation fees right now.

Both of our local clubs are running specials this year. Neither are completely waiving their initiation yet, but both are discounting the initiation. I think it's a great time to join if you are able.