Golf Memberships

[dws]

I heard back from Stuart at Banyan who sent me the details via email

Basic summary
Lifetime membershup at Banyan
Only selling 100 memberships
Joining Fee @ THB 800,000 & VAT (Family or Single)
Family covers me, spouse & kids under 21
Annual Fee @ 21k (single) or 37k (family)

Cannot sell on, but club agrees to buy back at pro-rata rates (based on 20 years) if I resign as a member. That's pretty fair in my books!

I'm going to have a chat with him when I get back to town.

I'll also go to check out Majestic at the same time, to see if they really do upgrade it as mentioned.

Decisions...Decisions....!!!!

[heartofmidlothian]

Well 800 000 baht might seem like good value to some but will still be by far the most expensive in Hua Hin with by far the most expensive annual fee. Add on to that the cost of your caddy fees and tips and carts if you use them. Members at Banyan can walk - they have a few caddies that are happy to walk but the vast majority will hate you for walking. Let's hope that compulsory carts never happens in Hua Hin - got to have the option to walk.
If Majestic upgrade their courses, keep them in top condition, offer sensible member fees and then take care of their members, then they will do very well. Time will tell.

[SunandFun]

DWS Thanks for the Banyan update. If you will play more than 26 rounds a year you will break even. This considers that you pay 2950 per round and break the price down per year for 20 years. (includes family maintenance) So if you play 1x per week for 6 months a year you are just as well to pay as you go and not have a membership.
The break even for Springfield is only 9 rounds a year on a 30 year membership.
This is just another way to look at it.

[dws]

Good point in the number of rounds played per year........

Considering also that the missus will play (maybe!!!) and my 2 little boys would also be members (for life?) it works out okay.

I confirmed that once they become 21 years old, they just need to pay an annual supplement as a single member

I'm thinking of playing a lot more than 26 rounds a year. I'm not really into the annual membership idea....most clubs would not treat you a a 'real" member I am sure!

[JW]

DWS, if you join the society you will pay 1500 bat per round and we play banyan 2 times per month - go get a Springfield lifetime for under 400k!!! Sunandfun summed up very well.

[SunandFun]

I just found a Springfield Lifetime Membership for 330,000 Baht including 107,000 Baht transfer fee. I will keep all posted if it pans out OK. I have sent an email expressing my desire to take it. Let's see how it goes from here. Wish me luck. After the transfer I then will have to pay the annual fee of 10,700 Baht for individual or pay 2x7490 Baht for family. I think this is a great deal and hope it works out. Happy Golfing!

[dws]

Good luck on that SF membership......maybe you should have kept that to yourself until sold...

The opinions expressed have all been really helpful, and let's see if i can manage to get to tee it up with a few of you before too long.

I'm away for the coming months, but will still be in contact with the clubs to see what ends up being the best solution for me

Cheers

DWS

[heartofmidlothian]

Yes, sunandfun, the Springfield lifetime for 330 000 baht is the best deal by far. If ever you want to sell it on again, you will have no problem. Springfield has been much better maintained the last couple of years and they have the most friendly staff. They have the only useful marshall in "Sam" although their starting is a bit of a free for all! When you buy a membership, at any of the courses in this area, you have to understand that they don't really want to see you in the high season, when they can fill their courses with green fee payers. Of course you can still get tee times but you have to work hard at it and be prepared to tee off at crack of dawn (often in the dark). This period only lasts from Xmas until end of Feb and the rest of the year is no problem. Best advice is to understand and accept this before you buy your membership - no amount of getting angry and complaining will do any good. It still is a great deal at Springfield and the A and B courses are the best for regular play. 80% of the members hate the C course because it is a tough 9 holes - by far the toughest in the area and not suitable for anyone who isn't single figure or better.
Buy that SF membership quick before someone else does!

[Jim]

. They have the only useful marshall in "Sam"

[PJG]

Another point to bear in mind about the Banyan membership, what is to stop them putting up the annual maintenance fee. It is already more expensive than anywhere else and they have your 800,000 in their pocket. Also beware of promises to buy back the membership fee. Golf courses in Thailand do not have a good track record about this and also the Banyan project does not have a good record in keeping promises.

[Condoking]

One other thing to bear in mind is who are you going to play with. Do you know enough other members to regularly make up a 4 ball to make the membership worthwhile. IMHO this would definitely deter me from Banyan, and possibly Majestic. As JW says, the Golf Society play twice a week covering all of the courses at very good rates 52 weeks a year, without bothering with sourcing a membership or messing around with annual maintenance charges etc.

[icebear]

Hi SF: As a member since 1994 at SP, I would like to point out the following;

Membership maintenance fee for family is: B 18190 (B 10700 + 7490) for 2012.

Just for your info, in 2006 we paid for family membership: B 10700 (B 8560 + 2140).

Now you can figure out yourself where they'll go in the future.

I'll give you another example from Phuket (Country Club): Paid in 1993 B 3000, in 3012 B 18000 and for 2013 it will be
B 25000 (as per letter sent to us a month ago).

My personal opinion is that if you have a chance to get a SP life membership for 330000 Baht (transfer fees included), take it and never look back.

[GLCQuantum]

I'll give you another example from Phuket (Country Club): Paid in 1993 B 3000, in 3012 B 18000

Well after over a thousand years I would have thought it to be a little higher.

[SunandFun]

Thanks Icebear,
The info I had was not so specific. The rate you quoted was the same that I was told by the seller of the membership so that validates. I was questioning the amount so your clarification helped to do that.

My wife is a non-golfer. What benefit will she have by us paying an additional 7490 Baht? She can accompany me for all of the discounted items and we will use less expensive massage in Hua Hin and not the Spa. She loves the gym, does Springfield have a good one? Can she go with out having a family membership? Please answer or guess to all you can.

I have verbally committed to buy the membership. They are to send me the application form along with the original contract to sign and return. After receiving, I will transfer the money. At lest that is my plan and I have not heard back yet. Once it is a done deal I will share with all the contact info to search for memberships all over Thailand to those that are interested.

Thanks again, and look forward to some golf together.

[icebear]

SF: Sorry about the date...

What you also should inquire is, that the life membership can only be transferred in Bangkok. We were told regarding this in January this year. So the buyer and seller have to meet in the offices of SP in BKK. Better check about it.

Buy a life membership for yourself and should your wife ever decide to take up the game, you can add her easily for the additional fee.

Please also consider that each time you drive to and from SP to HH is about 60 km! and this is the most direct access.

Buy and sell is always subject to 7% tax.