Ordinary Golf Membership Status - More

Another member - Sally - has been corresponding with the Club management on the same issue: She and her husband joined 4 years ago and wanted clarification that her membership is "Ordinary Golf" Status.

She updated me on her email correspondences. See them below in chronological order:

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To: contact@legendsfortcanning.com

Subject: Enquiry: Exact Membership Status (urgent)

With reference to our files attached.Pls look through and help us understand our membership status.

As far as we understand, when we joined in year 2004, there were only 2 types of membership i.e. Ordinary and Corporate.And under Ordinary,it's sub-divided into "Family" and "Individual".

The membership allows us to enjoy facilties of both clubs( which is The Legends Fort Canning and The Legends Golf & Country Resort).It's stated for golf rates, we have to call and enquire (pls note it didn't say "free green fee").

Now, our questions....ever since the club decided to renovate the club premises, we come to realise that we fall into "Golf membership" category simply because we pay a monthly subscription of $125+!

1.We would like to know since when my "Ordinary membership" status is now "Golf membership"?

2.When did the club re-categorise the various memberships when in the past there were only "Ordinary" and "Corporate"?

3.Assuming ours is now re-named ( as you seem fit) as "Golf membership", why is there no formal letter written to us regarding the change of status?

Now, before you conveniently charge mus the extra subscription fee (during this period when the club is renovating)due to your assumption that we're "Golf" member, can you please take time to verify our status again.

Should you still think we fit into "Golf membership", we insist that you have to write to us a formal letter/contract, stating clearly that our membership is now recognised as "Golf Family Membership" instead of "Ordinary Family Membership".

It's only fair that you formally verify our status before charging us anything further during this period of renovation.

We hope to receive your reply on this issue asap.Please do not take too long as our patience is quite limited and you should know that the club reputation is already at stake after what have already gone through the public media.

Regards
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The reply she got was:

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Thank you for your email dated 09 November 2008.

We would like to apologize once again for any inconvenience caused by the Club renovations, and seek your understanding for the administrative proceedings associated with them.

With regards to the type of membership that you are holding, we would like to clarify that you had singed up for an Ordinary Membership which includes golfing privileges at The Legends Golf & Country Resort Bhd. As part of your application, it was also stated that part of your monthly sub fee will be paid to the Legends Golf & Country Resort Bhd under the declaration form signed by you when applying for the membership. I have attached the scan copies of the form for your perusal (please refer to point 8).

At the Members' Briefing on 6 Oct 08 and in our letter dated 28 Oct08, we mentioned that "Golfing Members" would have to pay a reduced subscription during the renovation period. The term "Golfing Member" refers to all categories of members who enjoy golfing privileges at The Legends Golf & Country Resort, and it was used to distinguish these members from"Social Members" who do not have golfing privileges. We apologise if this was unclear to you.

For this instance, we would like to reiterate that there are no changes made to your membership type. It was at the later stage that the club had introduced Social Membership as part of the club membership drive to recruit new members.

Alternatively, as mentioned in our letter, we are offering a one-time irreversible conversion to Social Membership. I have attached a copy of the conversion form for your perusal. Kindly fax the completed form to Membership Department at 6334 7873 should you decide to do the conversion to Social Membership. Upon receiving your form, we will waive the sub fee from 16 October 2008 to March 2009 during the renovation period. When the club re-opens, your monthly sub fee will be based on Social Membership type.

We thank you for your past support and look forward to welcoming you back to new and improved Club facilities in 2009.

With kind regards
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That obviously does not address her main concern. So Sally has written back with the following:

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I fail to understand why you see no need to re-name our membership from "Ordinary Member" to "Ordinary Golf Member" since you mentioned that we are member with golfing privileges and this distinguish us from the Social Members when the club decided to offer Social memberships!

And as per your website, there are just 2 types of memberships that the club has now, which are "Ordinary Golfing" and "Ordinary Social".Wouldn't it be clearer and fairer to re-align all membership types from the old ones to the current new types?Which in this case, re-align/re-name ours from "Ordinary Member" to "Ordinary Golfing" member!?

Unless you're telling me that "Ordinary Member with golfing privileges" is not the same as term as "Ordinary Golfing" membership!!!??? Pls comment.
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As you can read, she and I are both arriving at the same conclusion: why does it say "Ordinary Golf Membership" on the website and the club refuses to put that down in writing. It is not that we are "unclear" and do not understand their explanation. It's that we want "Ordinary Golf Membership" in writing.

Those of you are "Ordinary Members with golfing privileges", would you also like to get this matter cleared up and in writing? Please write in to the club and attention it to Ellane and Herbert. Do update us on what they say.