Golf club heads disagree on calls for lower membership fees

Dubai: A recent KPMG Overview Report of golf in the GCC has stated an overall decline in membership numbers at local clubs.

"Increased supply [in courses] and more competitive pricing" was said to have swayed golfers towards more flexible payment options.

Winter pay-as-you-play

You only have to look at recently published summer packages (slated at Dh4,000-Dh4,500) to work out that it's best to pay for a reduced-price for five months in the heat and then go pay-as-you-play in the winter, rather than commit to year-round fees at one specific club (of Dh25,000-Dh30,000 on average).

Some clubs are charging 14 per cent of their annual subscription for 33 per cent of the year.

Repaying loyalty

So isn't it time annual membership rates were both lowered to embrace all and to repay the loyalty of the full-timers?

In Northern Europe and South Africa average membership rates linger at 1,000 members whereas in this region it's less than half that figure.

The recent KPMG Golf Business Forum added that only half of the participating courses in the GCC reported positive gross operating profit in 2010, projections say five to six of the 19 golf clubs in the UAE will make a loss in 2011.

An increase of 36 grass golf holes (29 per cent) cropping over the last 18 months locally hasn't helped matters either, particularly as demand has far from increased at the same rate. Something's got to give and price is surely the key factor.

Several clubs have waived initiation fees and removed waiting lists but Gulf News asked heads of leading local golf clubs if it's high time they went a little lower on their annual memberships.

Value for money

Mark Chapleski, regional director of Troon Golf, said: "If you look at the value for money members get here and compare it internationally, the facilities and services for what people pay is phenomenal. You would pay $1,000 (Dh3,673) a month, plus initiation fees to play at this calibre of course abroad."

With average memberships set at Dh25,000-Dh30,000 a year in the UAE, worst case scenario at Dh2,500 a month, Chapleski's point is finely put.

"If the golfer is purely looking at it from how much he's paying and how much he's played, yes some people may opt for pay-as-they-play and summer deals over membership. But membership is about more than just playing — some have everything from cookery classes to yoga on the side," added Chapleski.

Chris White at Yas Links agreed: "Membership is not just about getting a tee-time and playing golf. It's about interacting with like-minded people of the same demographic in similar professional positions and networking".

Geoff Hunter at Jumeirah Golf Estates said: "At the end of the day we sell a high quality service experience that's why the rates are what they are. It's a very competitive market and everyone is trying to differentiate. Memberships won't drop but what you will see is more creativity from clubs with more value add-ons and promotions offered for the price you pay."

Packages

• Arabian Ranches Dh999 or Dh3,995 (June 1 - September 30) excluding carts.
• Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Dh4,350 inclusive (June 1 - September 15).
• Jebel Ali Resort & Spa Dh1,750 midweek for 4.5 months.
• Jumeirah Golf Estates Dh4,500 inclusive (June 1 - September 30).
• The Els Club Dh3,995 (May 1 - September 30) excluding weekend Dh195 for weekend.
• The Montgomerie all facilities Dh4,750 single, Dh7,750, unlimited cart Dh1,200 or Dh70 pay-as-go.