Leven Golfing Society membership offer
James Olson
Updated on April 06, 2026
I'm about to enter my fourth year at my current club, and it's no secret that we're a bit under the cosh financially. Our subs have gone up again due to a drop in membership, which has led to me re-evaluate.
I like my current club, I've met a lot of good people and built up a good circle of playing partners. The staff are great and the course is a joy to play in the summer, although perhaps less so in the winter as it does get very wet as most parkland courses do. I'm only 5 minutes from home to the first tee, and regularly jump in after work on the way home for 9-holes or to use the practice facilities, or even just go for a juice and a blether with the clubhouse staff.
We've also just named a new pro, and I would feel guilty of jumping ship with the club in the position it is in currently.
But the Leven deal is in my mind a belter, coming in at £425 for Country Membership as I live south of the River Forth, which isn't a kick in the backside off £200 less than our upcoming 2017/18 subscription. And it comes with £40 bar credit to boot.
The downsides is it is a 50ish-minute drive over the Forth Bridge and A92, both of which can be horrendous if caught at the wrong time, and at current prices around a tenner in fuel for a round trip. It would see a big curtailment in my playing time due to travelling. Plus I'd be leaving all my pals and pitching up at a club where I know no-one and would have to go through all the integration process again.
The idea of year-round golf is a big draw, especially at this time of year. But I couldn't say for certain that I'd use it often enough to justify it given the travel time; I like the thought of a 5-minute drive from home to the first tee, and being able to nip in after work for a quick 9 on the way home. I wouldn't be able to do that at Leven.
With the wife not working, running a dual-membership isn't impossible but it would be a significant strain on finances, and ultimately it will likely be a choice of one or the other. I don't want to jump ship and then resent the fact I have a 2-hour round trip and spend a tenner in fuel every time I want to play golf, but the deal does seem too good to miss for such a good course and the prospect of year-round play. I'm just struggling to get past the travel aspect and the feeling of being a traitor to my current club.
If you were me, what would you do?