FOCUS TODAY - February 2004

Many clubs seem to be reevaluating their membership classifications.  We wanted to know how many clubs have added or eliminated member categories in recent years. If there has been a significant change in the number of member categories, what are the reasons?  Following are the results of a fax survey the PCA conducted in December 2003.

All Clubs (341 responses)

Number of member categories in club:      

Number of categories in each club:

Full-privilege membership is offered to:

*A number of clubs noted they charged the same entry fee for couples and individuals, but lower dues for individuals.  Since this arrangement was not included in the original questions, however, their responses are not part of the final percentages.

A number of clubs noted they have “family’ memberships.  One club said it gives full privileges to all categories of membership.

By Club Type:  City/Athletic (24 clubs)

Number of member categories:               

Number of categories in each club:

                (Categories – Clubs)

                2 – 2

                3 – 1

                4 – 3

                5 – 1                                        1-5 categories:                             29% of clubs      (7) clubs

                6 – 6

                7 – 2

                8 – 2

                10 – 2                                      6-10 categories:                             50% of clubs    (12 clubs)

                15 – 1                                      11-15 categories:                             4% of clubs      (1 clubs)

                18 – 1

                19 – 1

                23 – 1

                54 – 1                                      16 or more categories                     17% of clubs       (4 clubs)

Full-privilege membership is offered to:

By Club Type:  Golf/Country—Member-Owned (247 clubs)

Number of member categories:               

Numbers of categories in each club:

                (Categories – Clubs)

                1 – 4

                2 – 9

                3 – 19

                4 – 21

                5 – 32                                      1-5 categories:                             35% of clubs      (85 clubs)

                6 – 24

                7 – 20

                8 – 23

                9 – 20

                10 – 11                                    6-10 categories:                             41% of clubs      (98 clubs)

                11 – 8

                12 – 14

                13 – 4

                14 – 7

                15 – 37                                    11-15 categories:                             15% of clubs      (37 clubs)

                16 – 2

                17 – 2

                18 – 1

                19 – 1

                20 – 1

                21 – 1

                22 – 2

                23 – 1

                26 – 3

                29 – 1

                30 – 2

                31 – 1

                32 – 1

                34 – 1

                49 – 1                                      16 or more categories:                9% of clubs      (21 clubs)

Full-privilege membership is offered to:

**A number of clubs noted they charged the same entry fee for couples and individuals, but lower dues for individuals.  Since this arrangement was not included in the original questions, however, their responses are not part of the final percentages.

 Several clubs noted they have “family’ memberships.  One club said it gives full privileges to all categories of membership.

By Club Type:  Golf/Country—For-Profit (42 clubs)

Number of member categories:               

Number of categories in each club:

                (Categories – Clubs)

                1 – 1

                3 – 6

                4 – 11

                5 – 5                                        1-5 categories:                             56% of clubs      (23 clubs)

                6 – 5

                7 – 3

                9 – 1

                10 – 1                                      6-10 categories:                             24%                        (10)

                11 –1

                14 – 1                                      11-15 categories:                             5%                          (2)

                16 – 1

                18 – 1

                19 - 1

                24 – 1

                25 – 1

                37 – 1                                      16 or more categories:                15%                        (6)

Full-privilege membership is offered to:

**A number of clubs noted they charged the same entry fee for couples and individuals, but lower dues for individuals.  Since this arrangement was not included in the original questions, however, their responses are not part of the final percentages.

By Club Type:  Tennis/Swim/Beach/Fitness (7 clubs)

Number of member categories:                           

Number of categories in each club:

                (Categories – Clubs)

                3 – 1

                7 – 3

                8 – 1

                10 – 1

                11 – 1

Full-privilege membership is offered to:

By Club Type:  Yacht (15 clubs)

Number of member categories:                           

Number of categories in each club:

                (Categories – Clubs)

                1 – 1

                2 – 1

                3 – 1

                6 – 4

                8 – 3

                10 – 1

                11 – 1

                12 – 1

                13 – 1

                23 – 1

Full-privilege membership is offered to:

By Club Type:  Other (6 clubs)

Number of member categories:                                           

Number of categories in each club:

                (Categories – Clubs)

                1 – 1

                3 – 1

                4 – 1

                6 – 1

                16 – 1

                36 – 1

Full-privilege membership is offered to: