A History of The Legends FC Membership Types

I love the Wayback Machine from the Internet Archives. "Browse through 85 billion web pages archived from 1996 to a few months ago." So if you put in a URL (like http://www.legendsfortcanning.com/fortcanning/member.htm), the archive will let you see all the versions that they have kept of the site over time!!!

Talking to a few members who don't remember the Club having any kind of tiered membership, I started to do a little research as my wife and I also so not remember Golfing vs. Social membership types when we joined. Hence, the Wayback Machine comes into the picture...

So back in 13 February 2004 (and probably before then), there was only 1 kind of membership (no difference between Golf or Social): See Members Benefit here.

By the 25 November 2004, the Club also began offering "OCBC Titanium-Legends Fort Canning Park Membership": See the offer here. I could not find a mention of other kinds of membership, but benefits at that time are listed here.

By 23 August 2005, the Club was offering "Ordinary Membership" without any distinction between Social or Golfing. See here. Term membership with OCBC Titanium is still available. Under the membership benefit page that September, it lists "Members enjoy access to 64 golf slots daily and unlimited access to all other facilities and activities available at The Legends Golf & Country Resort. Rewards Points can only be earned and redeemed at the Club (The Legends Fort Canning Park). For the golf rates and bookings at The Legends Golf & Country Resort, please call..."

By 27 April 2006, the Club introduced the new "Ordinary Golfing" and "Ordinary Social" membership tiers. Did anyone get the memo? Did any existing members get a letter to them that tells them what they are? I didn't.

Membership Types	Entrance Fee	Transfer Fee	Monthly Subscription
Ordinary Golfing	$7,988	$1,000	$105 (S) / $125 (F)
Ordinary Social	$5,888	$1,000	$85 (S) / $105 (F)
Membership Redemption Scheme Golfing (MRSG)	$2,500	Pls refer to Terms & Conditions below.	$105 (S) / $125 (F)
Membership Redemption Scheme Social (MRSS)	$1,500	Pls refer to Terms & Conditions below.	$85 (S) / $105 (F)
One Year Term	$3,188	Non-Transferable	N.A

By 23 November 2006, the membership chart looks as follows:

Membership Types	Entrance Fee	Transfer Fee	Monthly Subscription
Ordinary Golfing	$9,888	$1,000	$105 (S) / $125 (F)
Ordinary Social	$6,888	$1,000	$85 (S) / $105 (F)
Membership Redemption Scheme Golfing (MRSG)	$3,000	Pls refer to Terms & Conditions below.	$105 (S) / $125 (F)
Membership Redemption Scheme Social (MRSS)	$2,000	Pls refer to Terms & Conditions below.	$85 (S) / $105 (F)
One Year Term Golfing	$3,188	Non-Transferable	N.A.
One Year Term Social	$2,188	Non-Transferable	N.A.

On 23 January 2008, the last entry into the Archive lists the same as the above. (Anything after 1 April 2008 is still being processed).

Note that all this while, the Membership Benefits page archive does not mention a distinction between "Golf" and "Social". See all the versions here. EVEN the current live version on at legendsfortcanning.com does NOT have this distinction!
- "Ordinary Members are entitled for the following benefits: ...
... Members enjoy access to 64 golf slots daily and unlimited access to all other facilities and activities available at The Legends Golf & Country Resort... For the golf rates and bookings at The Legends Golf & Country Resort, please call..."

So are the current members clear on the difference between "Ordinary Golf" and "Ordinary Social"? Letter?

So somewhere between January and September 2008, the packages, listed on the current site, suddenly became:

Membership Types	Entrance Fee	Transfer Fee	Monthly Subscription
Ordinary Golfing	$15,000	$1,000	$105 (S) / $125 (F)
Ordinary Social	$6,888	$1,000	$85 (S) / $105 (F)

What does that mean? Do any members who have joined before 2006 know what is the difference between Golfing and Social membership? We know that we are both "Ordinary".

Misuse of Ballroom & Other Areas?

For those members who were not on the email list, we were informed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday that the Ballroom is designated for use as a Member's Only area. On the same day, we wrote to the URA with the following:

===
Dear Mr. Han,

As per our meeting today, we would like to formally report that the Management of the Legends Fort Canning has been misusing the Ballroom facilities.

As you told us today, that Ballroom is supposed to be for member's use only. However Management has ALWAYS used this Ballroom for the public to hold weddings and events. Members do not even know that this was supposed to be for members only. Also even if members want to book this space, they have no preferences over the public and must compete with the public for the space.

Please check into this misuse and also request that they also stop using that facility during the next 6 months when they are planning to shut down the rest of the club.

Regards,

Members of the Legends Fort Canning
===

I further quote the Club's own website:

"Park Level Function Rooms - Legends Ballroom / Lavender 1 and 2 / Bridal Rooms

The Grand Ballroom can accommodate a banquet of up to 500 people of 50 tables. These rooms can be booked by members, their guests as well as the public for a wide-range of social and corporate events."

What about the Function Rooms on second floor? Essentia Spa (formerly on the 3rd Floor) - was that also in space that was designated as Member's Only? And the area that was formerly rented out to Savaskool Enrichment on the Ballroom floor next to the Management Office? Member's Only?

Misuses aside, what really annoys me is that we are not treated with respect as partners and members. And there has not been transparency to the membership from the Management and Owners. The message has always been: "It will be done this way. Take it or leave it."

Why do we have to resort to speaking to the URA to find out the truth? It did not have to go down like this.

To the Management and Owner: You have our email addresses, contact numbers, and billing addresses. Would you care (or dare) to hold another Members' Conference? The Ballroom should be available for member's use - unless of course some non-member has already booked the space. They are more importantly than us lowly members, since the Ballroom remains open in the next 6 months while we are in the streets.

Peace. Out.
---
Joe Nguyen
A Loyal Legends Member in Exile without a Gym, Pool, Lounge ...

TODAYOnline: " Some members unhappy about renovations"

Ong Dai Lin, the Today Reporter, came to the Club last night during the Bin Sale to interview us as well as the Management. The article came out this morning here. A member has commented that it seems tame considering that Mr. Hofer was bombarded with questions by one member after another. The poor General Manager was left by himself to deal with us as Mr. Oh had to take a call when the questioning started. Having said that, I would like to know who is Mr. Hofer's tai chi master as I could use some lessons.

Click on the image below to see a larger version of the story (with picture!).

Membership Type Confusion

Members have been asking about what type of membership they have. Golf Members (Family) are supposed to pay $125 per month for subscription and $80 per month during the renovation. So members have called in because they were not sure if they were considered "Golf" Members. See my earlier post "What kind of membership do YOU have?"

Well - Sally, a member, has called the Club to figure out her status. Here is what she told me in an email:

===
As at now, my club status is still a big question; I just called the Club and they can't tell me what type of membership I'm having! Reason: I paid $6xxxx+ for the membership(which the club said with this amt it should be Social membership) but monthly subscription fee is $125++ (which the club is now confused for with this amt, it's for Golf membership)!They can't tell me anything!

Think this is quite absurd. Am still waiting for their call to clarify this matter.
===

This is quite interesting indeed. So if you are like Sally who is apparently a "Social Member" who has been paying "Golf Member" subscription fees. GO GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!!!

I am going to have to check on my status as well. $20 per month over 24 months is $480! What is going on?

UPDATE - Sally posted in the comment section:
===
to add what has already posted here...I've been a member since 2004! That's 4 years ago...as i've been very busy with my work, i'll definitely find time to meet someone from membership dept to find out my exact status.And of course, i better bring along my contract signed 4 years ago!
===

This website has been blocked my Management!

Last Friday when I was in the Club, I had trouble accessing the blog and other google sites. I thought that they were just having normal connectivity issues.

Just found out today that this blog HAS BEEN BLOCKED at the club and from all staff except management.

As one member has written to me: "Are we in China, North Korea, or Singapore? What are they trying to hide?"

If you really need your fix of this blog, go to www.anonymizer.com and enter this url: http://legendsfortcanning.blogspot.com/

CORRECTION: They have blocked access for their staff and their PCs. The public wifi for members is not blocked. Must have just been a glitch last week.

Meeting with URA today!!!

A big "Thank you!" to all those members who have contacted the URA to tell them about our displeasure at what is happening to our Club. URA has heard us!

They are meeting us today. See below from Lyn:

=====
ALL LEGENDS MEMBERS,

URA has finally heard our voice and is inviting us to attend a meeting
this afternoon (15 OCT 08) AT 3PM.

1. If you are interested in attending the meeting, pls call Siok Kheng
from URA at 6329 3308.

2. The meeting is held on the 7th floor of URA Center at 45 Maxwell Road
(next to Maxwell Food Center).

3. This is very last min (I got the call only this morning) but do try
to attend if you can.

4. A director from URA will address our queries and we will have a
chance to look at the plans.

5. An update from Jerry - The Historical Society is against the
renovation works proposed by management and Jerry will update us with
the details in due course.

6. For those with friends in the press, pls highlight this matter. We
will need all the support we can get. Thanks
=====

Survey? Staff? Phases? EBIT!

Sorry, Jason, I missed your comment from a few days ago. He mentioned many of the things I have posted even before I posted them!

=====
During the member meeting, rep from Club mentioned about the survey.

1)As a member, I do not remember any survey post to me.

2) From the comment, there is a few memberships scheme, which i was not aware, If i have being told , I would opt for the social members, because the club at over the causeway is poorly manage.

To Owners & Mgts of the Club.

In your letter dated 25 Sept 2008.

"From 16 Oct 2008 to 1 Apr 2009,member subscription fees will be waived"

1) Am I right to say that my monthly subscription $125 before GST will be waived.

2) I had talk to a few hospitality experts, what is the percent of looking for a job in this industry for the next 3 months.

All agree that from now till end of the month, it is difficult to look for a job both in F&B and the hotel industry, as the current staffs is waiting for their AWS and bonus.

As such, the layoff staffs from the club will be greatly affected. On top of that, with the current world economy affected by financial sector, it going to be worse. The Finance Minster have also highlighted that Spore economy will not be spare. It will likely be a few qtr.

Based on the what was communicated to members during the meeting, the projected completion date was about 6 months , assuming there is a overrun. Let assume to be 8 months.
I propose to the owner of the club.

Phase 1, Build the glass house. When the new glasshouse is ready. Phase 2, Renovate and upgrade the existing club house. With this, we can achieve a few objectives.

1) Members get to use the facilities and continue to pay the sub fees. Let assume all 1200 members is paying at S$80, 1200 members, $96,000 before EBIT

2) Cafe continue to bring in, assuming S$20,000 EBIT

3) Chinese restaurant get to bring in, assuming S$30,000 EBIT

4) Bar continue to bring in assuming S$10,000 EBIT

Total is S$156,000 EBIT, although this may not be the significant amounts to the owners
Staffs that are going to be layoff will not be affected, although I do not know how many in total. When the glasshouse is ready, staffs that are supposed to be layoff will be will reassign to the new glasshouse.

As I misplace my membership contract,if any of the members can email me jasontay72@yahoo.com, we can explore if we have other alternatives from the legal points of view.
=====

Things do get lost in the Comments section. Drop me an email if you want something on the front page (goo.nguyen@gmail.com).

See you all tonight!