Golf fees

welshduo

If you have paid golf fees from 1st april 2020 until march 2021 can you have a rebate pro rata. Some members have not even paid.

Undervalued

I very much doubt it!

If there is snow on the course for a week do you expect 1/52 of your subscription back?

I would imagine most of the club's costs have remained the same as the land has to be rented (unless owned) and the course maintained to a reasonable extent. Their income will have dropped significantly with no club house takings.

I used to be on the committee of a club (not golf but with similar costs and significant land to look after).  Their subscription year also runs from the 1st of April so they are currently pleading with members to renew even though they can't currently use any of the benefits. Unless most do they will become insolvent within weeks.  Ultimately their duty is to the club and the bulk of its membership, not individual ones.

pjcox2005

I haven't looked closely but I probably disagree with the post above, I would expect that if you made a claim for the money to be repaid it would be very difficult for the club not to as I expect there is a breach of contract as they can't supply the service being paid for. I think within this website there is elements on nursery contracts, wedding contracts etc that apply the same principle and is probably why gyms have ceased taking any payments - after all they're normally quite strict on keeping people to 12 month contracts. I expect though it would take a legal challenge or small claims court (depending on value to get it back).

That being said, I agree with undervalued, that members need to think very carefully about their actions including those who haven't paid yet (220 at my club I think). If revenue isn't passed to the clubs then there will be a fair few that don't survive this period for you to play at when they return. Although i appreciate that means there is a risk for those who pay and the club collapses as they won't get money, and/or they need to protect themselves if they've lost an income etc.

It would be interesting if clubs open just to members who have paid to begin with and then allow the rest on after a month to almost reward those who have given support, but i very much doubt that will happen as they'll be keen to get all the delayed cash in. Also appreciate there are genuine reasons why some haven't paid.

Sorry edited to add - I've answered getting the full money back rather than a rebate which may be harder to do (as you want to stay as a member). On that point, it may be worth chatting to the club particularly once they've received the other membership payments post-lockdown. Our club have said they'll extend the season for the number of weeks in lockdown, so next years renewal for example will move from 1 April to 1 June i expect. Depends if they can absorb some of that lost revenue or perhaps fees will go up slightly next year.
If you go on golf monthly forum I think there is a thread on what various clubs have done if that's a useful one to share with the club. Probably also depends if you're a members club or an owned one.

Undervalued

pjcox2005 said:

I haven't looked closely but I probably disagree with the post above, I would expect that if you made a claim for the money to be repaid it would be very difficult for the club not to as I expect there is a breach of contract as they can't supply the service being paid for. I think within this website there is elements on nursery contracts, wedding contracts etc that apply the same principle and is probably why gyms have ceased taking any payments - after all they're normally quite strict on keeping people to 12 month contracts. I expect though it would take a legal challenge or small claims court (depending on value to get it back).

It is interesting to have another of point of view but I disagree with your first paragraph for a number of reasons....

Firstly, the club can provide the service the OP has paid for (if indeed he has paid for a service at all). They are presumably maintaining the course. It is the law that is preventing the OP from going to play, not the club.

Secondly, what rights does a membership actually give? I would bet it does not guarantee 365 day access. What about when the course is closed to prevent damage in very bad weather? That is a judgement call and different members will have different views. What about if the committee decide to close the course to members for certain days to host a competition?  As I mentioned in my earlier post, what happens if there is a week or two of snow?

Years ago I used to go to Wimbledon. The tickets always said "To view such matches as may be played on Court XX"! So there was no guarantee you would see any tennis. OK, now there is an element of insurance which entitles you to a refund if there is less than two hours play (out of a potential 8 or 9 hours)! Perhaps they should put the golf club subs up to include insurance against not being able to play?

vitaweat

welshduo said:

If you have paid golf fees from 1st april 2020 until march 2021 can you have a rebate pro rata. Some members have not even paid.

I guess that if nobody pays then the club goes bust and the land is sold for farming or housing or something else.

Your actions will have a direct impact on the outcome.

welshduo

We are not asking for the money back but a goodwill gesture for next year be it 2 or 3 months. Our course does not open 18 holes through winter so for 4 months we only play 12 or 14 holes. It is annoying when about 200 members have not paid their fees. It is the rest of the members who are carrying the club.

TomokoAdhami

I think the club should prolong the membership for the member who has paid. Otherwise, it would be unfair.