Rerason aplenty to join clubs

Yoni Astuti, The Jakarta Post, Contributor, Surabaya

Rex rarely allowed a hectic day to pass without spending a few hours at one of his favorite golf courses.

"Playing golf is very important to me as this sport has given me an opportunity to learn how to be more patient," he revealed.

Rex, in his 40s, began playing golf when he was eight by participating in golf training at Brawijaya Driving Range.

But he said it was too expensive for him to become a member at many golf courses. "Joining two golf clubs is enough for me," he said.

Of course there are other golf maniacs who still think realistically like Rex in East Java. On the other hand, there are perhaps golfers who want to become members of many golf courses for a variety of reasons.

Several golf courses, like Araya Golf & Family Club, in the province have yet to introduce a membership scheme. Some adopt several membership systems, such as individual, family and corporate. At some places, the fees for locals and expatriates are also different.

One year's membership at Graha Famili & Country Club is Rp 12.5 million.

At Bukit Darmo Golf Course, permanent membership for individuals is US$38,500 for individuals and $59,400 for a couple.

At Ciputra Golf & Klub Keluarga, a permanent member pays $50,000, while a family couple $90,000.

The variety of factors that motivates golfers to become a member of a golf club has encouraged every golf course to attract as many members as possible by offering various facilities, incentives and prizes.

According to Noer Cahyati from Ciputra Golf, golfers usually play golf before or after working hours and choose the closest golf course to their workplace.

Hence Ciputra Golf gives golfers, who have no time to play golf in the morning or afternoon an opportunity to play at night on its nine-hole golf course.

General manager of Araya Golf & Family Club Herman L.Rante said that his golf course also provided an opportunity for golfers to play at night. To that end, Araya Golf & Family Club has built a nine-hole golf course in Malang. The course will be expanded to 18 holes in 2003, so as to make it comparable to two large courses in Pandaan and Prigen, both located near Malang.

There are two kinds of golf course membership, namely lifetime and short-term (six-month or one-year) membership. Short-term membership is mainly for expatriates residing in Indonesia. Lifetime membership is flexible as it is saleable if a member wishes to leave a golf club.

The high cost of golf course membership is attributable to the provision of various facilities, according to Paramita, assistant manager of Ciputra Golf & Klub Keluarga. Any additional facilities will raise membership dues.

High membership fees do not cause golfers with limited funds to stop golfing. Two golf courses belonging to Ahmad Yani golf club and Abdulrahman Saleh golf club give players an opportunity to join at lower cost. Facilities provided by the two golf courses are not as luxurious as those available in private golf courses.

Executive member of Ahmad Yani golf club Gatut Prasetyo said the two golf courses had high-level handicaps, adding that the course design attracted their members, including expatriates, to play on them frequently.

All golf courses, simple or top-end, are run so as to attract as many members as possible by providing complete facilities and good service. Various programs and tournaments are organized to ensure a closer relationship between members and to attract more golfers.

Becoming a member of a golf course is of great benefit to a golfer as it will help one to meet many people. A golf course usually gives priority to its members to play, not to guests or visitors, according to Rex.

He said golf courses in East Java were more attractive than those in Singapore he had visited, especially because of the much lower golfing cost in East Java and very cooperative attitude of caddies.

However, Rex emphasized the need to improve the maintenance of golf courses in East Java so that the courses remained attractive to golfers, particularly their members.