I find it interesting that the ones in favour of the status quo are the ones that are being portrayed as being disgruntled. Common sense suggests it would be the other way about, even if those wanting things to remain the same put forward nonsense arguments to support their case.
Whatever the truth of that, Mike's club appears to me to be successful considering it has a full membership, a waiting list to join, and presumably enough ordinary income to pay the bills. What then is the driver for the change ?
Niall
I don’t think Mike has really outlined in detail what the project involves, other than that there will be some golf course work done. Perhaps there is more?
At my club, following a lengthy process icluding a survey, town hall meetings, and a member vote, we are beginning a capital project that will last for the next 18 months. We start a bunker renovation process in two weeks, installing capillary concrete. Next year, we will be building 4 dedicated pickleball courts as soon as the permitting is complete, and then the pool will shut down just after July 4th to build a new pool and pool house, replacing the currently facility, which is original (1966). The club is financially healthy and the membership is nearly full, but projects like this have to be done from time to time, just as you have to put a new roof on your house, or paint it, or replace appliances, etc.
There was a $4500 assessment for the project, and we did lose some members, as we knew we would. The consultants we are working with estimated we’d lose 5-10% (gratefully, it was less than that) BUT they also estimate that we will see a net gain in memberships as young families see the work being done and are attracted by a better pool facility, etc. In fact, that seems to already be happening, and we’ve almost completely replace the members who left.
Just as with Mike’s club, most of the complaints and resignations came from older members (fwiw, I’m 71) and some of them were already on the fence about keeping their memberships. Clubs have to continually attract new, younger members, and up-to-date facilities is one of the main ways that happens. And that costs money; it just does.