Dear Molly: I love everything about belonging to a golf club or league. I get to meet cool people and play fun formats – and best of all I never have to make a tee time! I belong to three of the CGA’s member clubs and am even thinking about joining a fourth. But I don’t get why I have to pay CGA membership dues at every club.
I was just wondering the same thing about our household cell phone account! We’re one household, why do we have to pay for all those lines, plus pay the same taxes, fees and surcharges for every single line?
The CGA gets this question often enough that Director of Finance Debbie Kolb shares her own examples to help make sense of the situation: “The Kroenkes own Ball Arena, but if you buy a ticket to an Avs game you don’t get a free ticket to a Nuggets game,” says Debbie. “This is sort of like a streaming service, where you get different programming for every fee you pay.”
When it comes to golf and handicap oversight, says Debbie, “It just has to be set up this way, and you have to pay the GHIN fee for each roster you want to be on.”
The CGA put together an official one-sheet of explanation reminding players of how the handicap system works. Part of this says: “The Members’ scores must be posted as soon as practicable and be available for inspection by others, including, but not limited to, fellow members and the club’s Handicap Committee.”
So all three (or four) of your clubs must provide you with services and handicap oversight so that your index follows you from club to club and course to course. You are indeed getting multiple services, not one, though they fall under the CGA umbrella, with the USGA also getting a cut for holding the biggest umbrella. As you point out, those services have great meaning and significance to the members. Cool people, fun formats, tee times, what a deal!
Finally, please remember that the CGA is a nonprofit organization, and your dues help fund programs to grow the game and advocate for golfers. And don’t forget to use your perks! Discounts, special offers, Member Play Days, Clinics, and a beefy schedule of CGA tournaments are all yours for the taking.
Do you have a question about golf etiquette, golf relationships or the culture of golf in Colorado? Email it to Molly McMulligan, the CGA’s on-the-course advisor on how to have more fun on the golf course. Her creator, researcher and writer is golf journalist and CGA member Susan Fornoff.
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