Memberships rates - How common is this?

[nuthin but a hacker]

I live on a course and am not a member. I recently inquired about what it would cost for me to join so I could play. I was told that I would have to get the "married membership" even though my wife doesn't play. It would be just me playing alone in the afternoons. They have a "single" rate but I was told that it was not an option for me. This course is a private country club course that has a pool and tennis courts available, although I've never seen anyone use the tennis courts. I tried to explain that my wife wouldnt use any of those things and I only wanted to play golf every now and then but they didn't seem to care.

I guess I expected to see an individual price and then a family price or maybe an individual + spouse type of deal. I don't know what your marital status has to do with wanting to play golf. Anyone else out there seen this type of arrangement?

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

You inquired, they replied, you decide. That's how it works.

[nuthin but a hacker]

[quote name='KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE' timestamp='1343963905' post='5399898']
You inquired, they replied, you decide. That's how it works.
[/quote]

Yeah I guess it is how it works. Maybe that's why they are always begging for money and for people to join. On second thought, maybe it doesn't work as well as they'd like...

[Sean2]

That's dumb. You're the only one who'd use the facilities. They should give you the single rate. I guess they don't want your money.

[npark]

Not sure why your marital status matters to them in the first place. Go back and take off your wedding ring before walking in, tell them that you want to inquire about a membership. If they have the gall to ask about the wife then tell them you are getting a divorce and it is a painful time...you just want to play golf to get your mind off it lol.

[BewareTheGlowball]

Actually sometimes the "married membership" is actually cheaper.. they assume you won't be out playing golf every day and stay married.. At my club I think it was actually more expensive to have the single membership then the married.... but I haven't lived there/been a member for some time now.

[rockinar]

In my experience its usually Corporate, Family, or Junior membership at the "country clubs". But a "golf club" will have individual memberships.. I have a "family membership" at private country club and I'm not even married. But I can add on a girlfriend and she can use the courts or pool, restaurant, etc if they want.

[greens hit]

I was expecting your post to end with, "man, am I gonna miss my wife".

[deadsolid...shank]

Our club added the "single golf" membership a few years ago. You don't have pool or tennis access and it runs about $40 or $50 a month less than a family. The single membership still carries the same monthly food minimum though. I'm in the same boat, my wife doesn't play or use any of the other facilities so it didn't make sense to have the full membership.

[atlanta golfer]

Our club has single and corporate memberships for approx. 210 per month while married or family memberships are about 100 higher. We are primarily a golf club. In my case, I'm married with kids grown up and out of the house, and I have a single membership since I'm the only one who plays golf regularly. I often take my wife to the club for meals, though.

Married and family memberships are a great deal if everyone plays lots of golf, but if only one spouse plays, not a good deal. To someone's point above, sounds like your club's niche is as a "country club" versus being a "golf club".

In the case of our club, I believe someone told me the single and corporate memberships were introduced only a few years ago, probably based upon the demographic trends / economics in our area.

[cottonseed]

My club (a country club as opposed to a golf club) has single and family memberships. I joined as a single and if I decide to get married I have 2 choices . . . my wife joins or I resign. Simple as that. If I decide to get married I pay an initiation fee for her equal to what I paid and my dues will double.

I have found this to be a common membership practice among clubs on the east coast, especially old clubs that have been around for 75+ years. Basically they give singles a 50% discount off the membership price and when they get married they are expected to pay the remaining 50%.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='nuthin but a hacker' timestamp='1343963442' post='5399872']
I live on a course and am not a member. I recently inquired about what it would cost for me to join so I could play. [b]I was told that I would have to get the "married membership" even though my wife doesn't play. It would be just me playing alone in the afternoons.[/b] They have a "single" rate but I was told that it was not an option for me. This course is a private country club course that has a pool and tennis courts available, although I've never seen anyone use the tennis courts. [b]I tried to explain that my wife wouldnt use any of those things and I only wanted to play golf every now and then[/b] but they didn't seem to care.
I guess I expected to see an individual price and then a family price or maybe an individual + spouse type of deal. I don't know what your marital status has to do with wanting to play golf. Anyone else out there seen this type of arrangement?
[/quote]

The reason it sounds odd to you is b/c you are telling the truth. Probably for many people "if you give them an inch, they will try to take a mile." For most folks, it sounds like a way for them to lie. Like paying for 9 holes then "somehow" the forget, and end up playing 18. If they let you in at that rate, and Mr. Haversham the same way...they probably have had the experience where "somehow" Mrs. Haversham is always at the club and playing golf...even though she promised she wouldn't. If and when that happens - it pisses off the other membership who followed the rules.

People lie...and while you are NOT - it's a story that membership directors hear all the time. Most clubs have something like Jr./single/married/corporate memberships - and as long as you fit the category and pay the price - everyone is treated fairly and less policing is necessary.

[J13]

My club worked the same way up until a few years ago when we got some new blood on the board of directors and created more flexible memberships. It just sounds like they are a little behind the times. If I were you I would go in and speak to the President of the club, not management but the president who is going to be a member. Let them know that most clubs offer single membership now and you would gladly join if they were to offer it. Management is VERY different from the members who are on the board. Management folows the lead of the Membership.

On a side note the reason they don't offer it is because they are scared of the short term financial hit from members reducing their membership. That kind of thinking will lead to the land being sold to a developer to build townhouses. A single rate should be about 20% cheaper then a couple and food minimum cut by 30-50%.

[mshills]

[quote name='atlanta golfer' timestamp='1343991494' post='5400624']
Our club has single and corporate memberships for approx. 210 per month while married or family memberships are about 100 higher. We are primarily a golf club. In my case, I'm married with kids grown up and out of the house, and I have a single membership since I'm the only one who plays golf regularly. I often take my wife to the club for meals, though.

Married and family memberships are a great deal if everyone plays lots of golf, but if only one spouse plays, not a good deal. To someone's point above, sounds like your club's niche is as a "country club" versus being a "golf club".

In the case of our club, I believe someone told me the single and corporate memberships were introduced only a few years ago, probably based upon the demographic trends / economics in our area.
[/quote]

Would you mind either posting or PM-ing me your club? I'm thinking of joining somewhere as soon as I get clarity on long-term prospects for my employer keeping me in Atlanta. Would love to hear your thoughts on several options I'm thinking about.

[raynorfan1]

It's not that uncommon, especially in the older clubs. Traditionally, there was only individual membership where the wife and kids had standing as "guests" of the member. In the last 20 years, clubs have been rephrasing these to be "family" memberships, and some have created an "individual" membership category to offer a lower price point to young members (even more confusingly, mine now has "individual family" to cover single parents).

[ruascott]

Most clubs around here don't have single memberships. They just auto include the spouse/domestic partner and any children under 22 in the house.

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='mshills' timestamp='1343998899' post='5400892']
[quote name='atlanta golfer' timestamp='1343991494' post='5400624']
Our club has single and corporate memberships for approx. 210 per month while married or family memberships are about 100 higher. We are primarily a golf club. In my case, I'm married with kids grown up and out of the house, and I have a single membership since I'm the only one who plays golf regularly. I often take my wife to the club for meals, though.

Married and family memberships are a great deal if everyone plays lots of golf, but if only one spouse plays, not a good deal. To someone's point above, sounds like your club's niche is as a "country club" versus being a "golf club".

In the case of our club, I believe someone told me the single and corporate memberships were introduced only a few years ago, probably based upon the demographic trends / economics in our area.
[/quote]

Would you mind either posting or PM-ing me your club? I'm thinking of joining somewhere as soon as I get clarity on long-term prospects for my employer keeping me in Atlanta. Would love to hear your thoughts on several options I'm thinking about.
[/quote]

Northwood CC in Gwinnett. Part of ClubCorp but totally private.