So, you’ve decided you really enjoy golf. So much so, that you want to join a golf club to perfect your swing and surround yourself with other golfing enthusiasts.
But how exactly do you find a golf club to join, and how do you actually go about joining one? Luckily, CashForeClubs are here to help with our handy guide on joining a golf club.
Do your research
First things first, you need to find a golf club that you want to join, and in order to do that, you need to do your research! Think about what you want from your club, and find places that meet those requirements. Look at the quality of the facilities, and speak to other members to find out what the staff and conditions are like.
Figure out your budget
It’s no secret that golf clubs can be expensive to join. With 74% of club membership fees set at over £1,000 a year, and 92% of clubs planning to increase their fees at some point in 2023, you need to make sure that these fees are within your budget – especially in the midst of the current cost of living crisis.
Many clubs offer payment options so you can spread the cost over the year, and many now offer different levels of membership, for example reduced fees for younger adults or packages that require less of an upfront cost but that will require you to pay a small green fee each time you play.
Visit the club
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a club that meets your requirements and your budget, it’s usually a good idea to visit the club in person if you’ve not already done so! This will allow you to see the facilities with your own eyes, interact with staff and other members.
If you are friends with a member, it should be easy to be granted access as a guest, but if you don’t know any members, just call the club and ask if you are able to take a tour before applying. Golf courses have a reputation of being a bit stuffy. But on the whole that is an image of the past. Golf clubs want to attract new and younger members from all backgrounds and are all really welcoming to new starters and experienced golfers alike.
The application process
Once you have completed your research and found a golf club that you want to join, the next step is applying. This process varies from club to club, but usually involves completing an application form, either online or in person.
A membership application is normally fairly straightforward. Some clubs have a joining fee, payable on your first year of membership only.
Waiting for acceptance
And now… you wait. But hopefully not for long. Some golf clubs will have a waiting list, but many won’t so it will not be long before you are teeing it up.
Flexible club memberships
As mentioned earlier, there are alternatives to paying for full membership that will help reduce the cost. Perhaps you don’t want to play on the weekends, in which case you could go for a five-day membership, which means playing only Monday to Friday. Many clubs offer a gold, silver, bronze type scale. For example if you took a bronze membership you may pay £300 each year but would need to pay £20 each time you played. Silver may cost £600, but you’ll only pay £10 for each round. Gold may be £900, but there are no additional green fees. These types of memberships are good if you are unsure how much you will play, but still want the benefits of being a member, for example being able to get a handicap and play in competitions.
Another alternative is something like MASHIE, which offers similar perks as traditional memberships with the additional benefits of being able to play at multiple different golf courses. This type of membership is ideal for those who move around for work or other commitments or perhaps individuals that want to network with larger groups of people.
Whatever you choose, one thing is for sure and that is you will want to buy some new or second hand golf clubs to take along with you once your membership begins. Or if you want to sell some of your old clubs and put the money towards your membership fee, Cash Fore Clubs are here to help. Contact us today to discover how we can help you.