Golf Memberships

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and to the sport in general, having just picked it up recently. Anyway, was thinking about how to continue playing in the longer term and was having a chat with a friend about club memberships.

My friend suggested NSRCC as the most affordable and as I've been reading through the forum, this does seem to be the general perception. But doing a bit of calculations, and assuming that I play once every weekend, it would run up to around $350 a month (including subscription, green fees and buggy) with the new price increases. Contrasting that to a private club which would only be around $250 a month (including subscription and buggy fees). The difference becomes larger the more frequent I play.

Furthermore, NSRCC is based on a term membership and the cheapest one (10-year ordinary) would also cost $727 a year. At the end of it, there's no residual. So taking the calculations - $100 difference a month in combined golfing and subscription fees, plus the $727 'depreciation' a year, it seems to me that NSRCC would cost ~$2k more a year based on a frequency of playing once every weekend.

Am I missing out on something in the calculations? If so, would it make more sense for me to join a private club if I'll be playing quite regularly, which I hope to be doing?

On another note, I've also heard good things about NSRCC's courses, but that there is pretty bad overcrowding there especially during weekends. If so, are there any alternatives that offers golf courses with comparable quality, but without the crowd on weekends?

Thanks for reading!

I came across Changi Golf Club and their membership seems good.
$588 per year, no monthly sub, comes with 8 complimentary vouchers for 9 holes.
Maintain handicap as well.

Having said this, I have no experience with them.
Can anyone share their experience please?
Thank you.

Here is the link:
http://www.changigolfclub.org.sg/c/promotions/111-social-golfing-members

Really depends on frequency of play.

Not sure the actual charges but 1 thing your calculation may not account for is fix subscription amt. If you're busy or lifestyle change later and can't keep to playing once a week, will NSRCC be more appealing than pte club due to the difference in subcription charges?

DKing wrote:

I came across Changi Golf Club and their membership seems good.
$588 per year, no monthly sub, comes with 8 complimentary vouchers for 9 holes.
Maintain handicap as well.

Having said this, I have no experience with them.
Can anyone share their experience please?
Thank you.

Here is the link:
http://www.changigolfclub.org.sg/c/promotions/111-social-golfing-members

Hi, I didn't see that before but looks like it's a 9-hole course only. Was looking at 18-hole ones

alangolf wrote:

Really depends on frequency of play.

Not sure the actual charges but 1 thing your calculation may not account for is fix subscription amt. If you're busy or lifestyle change later and can't keep to playing once a week, will NSRCC be more appealing than pte club due to the difference in subcription charges?

Hi, thanks for the feedback. Sure that is one factor, but it can also swing the other way (ie. I might end up playing more than once a week, in which case the difference becomes larger). My point is, is NSRCC really the cheapest or does it only appear to be cheapest because of the low entrance fees?

NSRCC membership is essentially a leasing agreement, it is not transferable and you have no residual value.

Other Golf Club memberships are transferable and there is a partial reclaim of the value (once transfer fees are factored).

With the coming increase in subscription and green fees, NSRCC becomes less attractive. However, because of the small initial payment, entrance fees are more easily afforded by the majority.

If you have the money to spare, I would think that the golf clubs like RCC offer a better value preposition.

Strongly encourage TMCC..

Always not crowded, nice courses, can always find a slot to play, excellent services, very friendly marshals, good food and full club facilities for your family

It's for the long term enjoyment..

Derek wrote:

NSRCC membership is essentially a leasing agreement, it is not transferable and you have no residual value.

Other Golf Club memberships are transferable and there is a partial reclaim of the value (once transfer fees are factored).

With the coming increase in subscription and green fees, NSRCC becomes less attractive. However, because of the small initial payment, entrance fees are more easily afforded by the majority.

If you have the money to spare, I would think that the golf clubs like RCC offer a better value preposition.

Hi Derek, thank you for the reply. That's what I thought - basically the main attraction of NSRCC would be the lower entry cost coupled with installment plans?

chien wrote:

Strongly encourage TMCC..

Always not crowded, nice courses, can always find a slot to play, excellent services, very friendly marshals, good food and full club facilities for your family

It's for the long term enjoyment..

I was strongly considering SICC, mostly because of its location (closest to my house!). TMCC is a bit out of the way, but how are the 2 when compared overall?

If i were u, i will take SICC. Simply because its closer to ur house, only club with 4 18s and i heard the food there is pretty good

For clubs in that category, my vote definitely goes to Sentosa or TMCC based on course conditions. While SICC has 4 x 18h, it also has a lot of members ...

where u play depends pretty much on WHO u want to play with.........

If can afford SICC, i dont think have to waste time thinking of NSRCC.

duffader wrote:

If can afford SICC, i dont think have to waste time thinking of NSRCC.

Make sense...

nientsu wrote:

If i were u, i will take SICC. Simply because its closer to ur house, only club with 4 18s and i heard the food there is pretty good

Derek wrote:

For clubs in that category, my vote definitely goes to Sentosa or TMCC based on course conditions. While SICC has 4 x 18h, it also has a lot of members ...

Thanks for the suggestions guys, will definitely keep them in mind! How are the courses at SICC, and is it usually overcrowded?

slinger wrote:

where u play depends pretty much on WHO u want to play with.........

Hmm I've got a couple of friends playing at SICC, and a few who play at NSRCC. Probably not enough to have regular games with the same people though, would have to find new kakis I guess.

duffader wrote:

If can afford SICC, i dont think have to waste time thinking of NSRCC.

Thanks for that. Was just thinking if NSRCC was better value then it could be a good option since I have a few friends playing there. But I think the long term costs might end up being higher, which kind of put me off.

I've also heard really good things about the condition of the course at NSRCC too, but figured if I'm going to play there with my friends, can just pay the guest fee.