Latest News - 11th November 2024
Change of Membership Year
Change of Membership Year
Dear members,
Following feedback from many members, one of the Board’s strategic objectives for 2024 has been to review our membership year, which currently runs from 1st January – 31st December.
After careful consideration, the Board has decided to amend the membership year to run from 1st July – 30th June. This change addresses key concerns raised by members, including the perceived difficulty of renewing memberships during the mid-winter period when many are playing little golf and the weather/course conditions can be challenging, as well as affordability issues with the timing of renewals just after Christmas.
While a 1st April renewal date was also considered (which is common at other clubs) it was felt this would not sufficiently avoid the winter months, as members would still be receiving renewal notices in late February. Moving to a 1st July start means members will receive their renewal notices at the end of May, aligning with the start of the peak golf season.
To implement this change smoothly there will be a transitional six-month membership period from 1st January – 30th June 2025 followed by a full 12-month membership period beginning on 1st July 2025. Regular annual renewals will then continue from 1st July each year, with the next renewal on 1st July 2026. Members will be billed for 50% of the 2025 annual subscription charge in early December to cover the six-month period from 1st January to 30th June. The Board is currently finalising the 2025 Budget and the subscription charges to apply for this six-month period. Details will be shared with members in the near future.
This change does not require approval at a Club AGM, as our Articles of Association do not mandate a specific membership year. The Board has gathered input from various member groups, and the response has been very positive. One frequently asked question was whether members could resign at the end of December and rejoin in July to avoid fees. Our Club Rules specify that anyone resigning at renewal and then wishing to rejoining within 12 months must still pay the full year’s subscription fee. Additionally, any former members rejoining would also need to pay the applicable joining fee.
Please note that our financial year will remain January to December, with the Club’s AGM and commencement of the Captains’ year still taking place in April.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Dear members,
Following feedback from many members, one of the Board’s strategic objectives for 2024 has been to review our membership year, which currently runs from 1st January – 31st December.
After careful consideration, the Board has decided to amend the membership year to run from 1st July – 30th June. This change addresses key concerns raised by members, including the perceived difficulty of renewing memberships during the mid-winter period when many are playing little golf and the weather/course conditions can be challenging, as well as affordability issues with the timing of renewals just after Christmas.
While a 1st April renewal date was also considered (which is common at other clubs) it was felt this would not sufficiently avoid the winter months, as members would still be receiving renewal notices in late February. Moving to a 1st July start means members will receive their renewal notices at the end of May, aligning with the start of the peak golf season.
To implement this change smoothly there will be a transitional six-month membership period from 1st January – 30th June 2025 followed by a full 12-month membership period beginning on 1st July 2025. Regular annual renewals will then continue from 1st July each year, with the next renewal on 1st July 2026. Members will be billed for 50% of the 2025 annual subscription charge in early December to cover the six-month period from 1st January to 30th June. The Board is currently finalising the 2025 Budget and the subscription charges to apply for this six-month period. Details will be shared with members in the near future.
This change does not require approval at a Club AGM, as our Articles of Association do not mandate a specific membership year. The Board has gathered input from various member groups, and the response has been very positive. One frequently asked question was whether members could resign at the end of December and rejoin in July to avoid fees. Our Club Rules specify that anyone resigning at renewal and then wishing to rejoining within 12 months must still pay the full year’s subscription fee. Additionally, any former members rejoining would also need to pay the applicable joining fee.
Please note that our financial year will remain January to December, with the Club’s AGM and commencement of the Captains’ year still taking place in April.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.