Breaking a Golf Club Membership
Breaking a Golf Club Membership
Author
Discussion

tony wright

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

279 months

Yesterday (22:36)
quotequote all
My son is in the Army and a member of his local golf club. He renewed his 26/27 membership back in April and pays it through a monthly direct debit. In July he was informed he’d be posted to a new unit in September so asked the GC if he could stop his monthly direct debit in September due to being posting away. Their reply was to say tough luck and he would have to carry on paying the monthly charge until March next year, even though he doesn’t live in the area anymorefrown

Obviously he’s under a 12 month contract and more than likely screwed but he can’t remember ever signing anything. He has £687 left to pay so is there any advice on a possible out for him, or is it tough st just pay?

Evanivitch

26,304 posts

151 months

Yesterday (22:45)
quotequote all
Needs to see the terms and conditions of the contract.

Usually a contract to have fair consideration needs to include a clause for events outside of your control, like a mandatory relocation for work. Sharing a copy of his orders (or a letter from CO) with them should be sufficient to evidence this.

Otherwise, he has rights under the Consumer Protection Act, but again it all comes back to if there's any consideration in the T&C. Just because he hasn't signed something doesn't mean there's no contract (he's paid and they've provided a service till now).


driver67

1,098 posts

194 months

Yesterday (22:53)
quotequote all

Seriously ?

Annual membership means what it says. What about people that are ill / sore back / wife won't let them play ?.

He's getting the benefit of being able to pay monthly, nothing else.

He'll be getting black balled soon if this is his / your attitude.

Dougie.

Evanivitch

26,304 posts

151 months

Yesterday (22:56)
quotequote all
driver67 said:
Seriously ?

Annual membership means what it says. What about people that are ill / sore back / wife won't let them play ?.

He's getting the benefit of being able to pay monthly, nothing else.

He'll be getting black balled soon if this is his / your attitude.

Dougie.
That's not how contract law works. Try again in the morning.

driver67

1,098 posts

194 months

Yesterday (23:00)
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
That's not how contract law works. Try again in the morning.
Who mentioned contract law ?

He can cancel the direct debit, whatever. Highly unlikely the club would pursue.

He'd just be persona non grata forever more at that particular club. Probably be glad to see the back of him tbh.

You play golf yourself ?

Dougie.

Evanivitch

26,304 posts

151 months

Yesterday (23:14)
quotequote all
driver67 said:
Who mentioned contract law ?

He can cancel the direct debit, whatever. Highly unlikely the club would pursue.

He'd just be persona non grata forever more at that particular club. Probably be glad to see the back of him tbh.

You play golf yourself ?

Dougie.
Oh dear.

driver67

1,098 posts

194 months

Yesterday (23:24)
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Oh dear.
Oh dear what ? Go and troll somewhere else.


tony wright

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

279 months

Yesterday (23:34)
quotequote all
driver67 said:
Seriously ?

Annual membership means what it says. What about people that are ill / sore back / wife won't let them play ?.

He's getting the benefit of being able to pay monthly, nothing else.

He'll be getting black balled soon if this is his / your attitude.

Dougie.
Actually, at my home club if any of the things you mention were to happen and they were long term i.e. surgery and a couple of months off convalescence they suspend your DD until you recover. If you pay the 12 months up front they give you the months missed back, by deducting the monthly cost off the following years subscription. Obviously if your wife won’t let you play why would you have a membershipconfused

tony wright

Original Poster:

1,040 posts

279 months

Yesterday (23:36)
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Needs to see the terms and conditions of the contract.

Usually a contract to have fair consideration needs to include a clause for events outside of your control, like a mandatory relocation for work. Sharing a copy of his orders (or a letter from CO) with them should be sufficient to evidence this.

Otherwise, he has rights under the Consumer Protection Act, but again it all comes back to if there's any consideration in the T&C. Just because he hasn't signed something doesn't mean there's no contract (he's paid and they've provided a service till now).
Thanks, I’ll get him to look into it.

Wacky Racer

41,260 posts

276 months

Yesterday (23:47)
quotequote all
The fairest solution all round (imo) is suspend his membership, and continue it when he returns.


SchillingTwo

721 posts

3 months

Yesterday (23:50)
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Needs to see the terms and conditions of the contract.

Usually a contract to have fair consideration needs to include a clause for events outside of your control, like a mandatory relocation for work.
Citation needed.

BlackTails

3,817 posts

84 months

Yesterday (23:54)
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Needs to see the terms and conditions of the contract.



Just because he hasn't signed something doesn't mean there's no contract (he's paid and they've provided a service till now).
These bits are correct.


driver67

1,098 posts

194 months

Yesterday (23:57)
quotequote all
tony wright said:
Actually, at my home club if any of the things you mention were to happen and they were long term i.e. surgery and a couple of months off convalescence they suspend your DD until you recover. If you pay the 12 months up front they give you the months missed back, by deducting the monthly cost off the following years subscription. Obviously if your wife won t let you play why would you have a membershipconfused
I fully understand the above.

You have asked the club, they have replied.

The operative word here is 'club'. It's not profit making (apart from the pro shop).

Club's are run for the benefit of the members.

Having taking on a commitment for one year's membership, the usual obligation is to pay your dues.

How you proceed is self choice.


Sheepshanks

40,927 posts

148 months

I thought special "rules" (or maybe even stronger than that) applied for posted service personnel?

LittleBobbyTables

6,201 posts

215 months

Sheepshanks said:
I thought special "rules" (or maybe even stronger than that) applied for posted service personnel?
That’s what we have at our place.


There is no upside to taking any other approach.

Ted Maul

1,928 posts

35 months

driver67 said:
Evanivitch said:
Oh dear.
Oh dear what ? Go and troll somewhere else.
Irony is strong in this one.