The traditional “Golf Club” has always been recognised as having its own particular course with 18 holes or more.
From the 1980s, a new format appeared, clubs without a golf course, and although properly federated, had no golf facilities for their members.
In more recent years, the trend has grown for clubs and societies, most without any legal foundation or recognised federated status. Of these three concepts, the first- class golf option is, without a doubt, the first one. Contrary to what many people believe, it is also the cheapest :”ignorance also exists in golf”.
It is surprising to note how little, or not at all, players take the time to calculate the annual costs of their golf. If they did so they would discover that the third option is the most expensive of all. Without sitting down with a pencil, it might seem at first that this is the cheapest option, as the annual subscription in January is very low and the first green fees cost between 30 and 50 euros. However, by February, playing once or twice a week, their golf has cost them almost 50 % of the annual fee paid by members of Los Arqueros or a similar club. Come May or June it will be more than the annual costs of golf at Los Arqueros, and that is playing third-class golf!
At Los Arqueros the annual subscription of just over 1,000 euros does not only include playing the course 100 or 200 times a year, but also allows you to take part in interclub competitions and leagues at other courses at no extra green fee cost. (For example, the most active members at Los Arqueros in 2009 played free at as many as 20 other courses in the region).
Not only are these alternative formats more expensive, but the quality is also inferior, as they lack the amenities of a club with its own course (private members’ area, social events, discounted bar, pro-shop and restaurant , and reduced rates at other clubs etc).
It is not necessary to own a golf club share to be a member of a golf club with its own course. You can rent a share for a reasonable price, thus acquiring membership rights. You can also buy an annual, half-year, three-monthly or monthly season ticket to suit your own needs. Any of these options would be better in terms of price and quality than joining a club without its own course or golf society.
The club with its own course is the essence of golf, something all golfers should want to be part of. Furthermore, it is the cheapest and highest quality option available. Why be a player without a course?
The answer is simple: Ignorance and the lack of a pencil.

REPORT BY Ulf Svendsen, Golf Director – Los Arqueros Golf and Country Club