There are generally high levels of overall satisfaction with the Clubhouse offering when the combined scores for Good & Satisfactory are combined. However, there is considerable room for improvement since the split between Good & Satisfactory scores are evenly split in most cases.  It would be the objective of Council to improve Clubhouse facilities so that a higher level of Good scores can be recorded in the future.  

 

		Good	Sat	Poor	N/A
The Clubhouse
	The Reception Area	35%	52%	13%	0%
	The Main Lounge	33%	43%	24%	0%
	The Snooker Room	16%	38%	2%	44%
	Members Bar	26%	45%	15%	15%
	Restaurant	46%	49%	4%	1%
	Locker Rooms/Showers/Toilets	42%	48%	9%	1%
	General Tidiness/Cleanliness	44%	48%	8%	0%
	General Level of Maintenance and Repair	36%	50%	13%	1%

 

Council’s Response to Survey Findings

Members will already have seen many changes around the Clubhouse.

The chairs in both the Mixed Lounge and the Members’ Bar have been recovered. We don’t expect everyone to be entirely satisfied with the colours or materials but we have attempted to address the major failings of wear and tear on the seating.

The exterior of the Clubhouse has been painted giving a much cleaner appearance. The Shaftesbury Room has also been painted as have a number of other areas around the building.

The rainwater ingress evident on the Dining Room ceiling which has been causing so many problems over the years has been tackled. Only time will tell if this has been totally successful since flat roof leaks are notoriously difficult to trace and repair, but so far so good, fingers crossed.

The provision of an enclosed storage area at the left hand side of the stage has improved the tidiness of the Mixed Lounge and the move of the trophy cabinets previously there to the first floor landing has been completed.

The introduction of TVs into the Mixed Lounge has been met with not quite universal approval but it is fair to say that they proved to be a valuable asset when major events were screened: the Heineken Cup Final / European Cup Final day last year, the Golf Majors, and the nail biting Ryder Cup finale.   We look forward to future great golfing and other sporting events attracting good crowds into the Clubhouse.

There are still improvements to be made but the speed and extent of these will depend upon the availability of finance and the demands from the golf course improvement programme.

2012 Survey - Comments on the Clubhouse

 

Members Comments

 

Mixed Lounge

• "The main lounge redesign was a mistake. The dance floor was halved and the cosy, familial seating arrangements and overall atmosphere have been lost. This has effectively dissuaded a lot of members who regularly supported the social programme to look elsewhere. We need to attract back those members who were faithful attendees at every social function by listening to the overwhelming support for a larger dance floor and stage area and the removal of the 'funeral stack' in the middle of the room.
• The design and layout of the main lounge is very poor."
• "I personally do not like the way the refurbishment turned out. It is now like an airport lounge. The chairs for the round tables are not the correct height and the fabric has not stood the wear and tear.
• The balcony is dysfunctional and is not utilised to full advantage considering the location and views. "
• The main lounge is a bit brassy.  The fireplace should go, how it was ever approved is beyond me.  Our club has easily the best view of any club in Belfast and this silly fireplaces just gets in the way and really contributes nothing, please remove it. Also a little more thought should be given to the furniture something more classy should be considered.
• The seating arrangement is more in keeping with a cafe. Bench seating in the main lounge adjacent fireplace is an eyesore and does not work.
• We have a big gas fire and its never on, what was the point of putting it in?
• Wall with fire is awful and destroys the beautiful view we should have over the course and the Lough.
• Many nights there may be as few as 6/7 persons in Main lounge  - why light the lounge for this number.
• Replace some of lounge furniture and remove the sitting around the fire to open the place up
• I suggest we put some shades on the lights over the bar to match the other shades- will provide a better atmosphere in lounge.
• The gents toilets outside the restaurant are a bit run down."
• There are areas of maintenance that are not attended to quickly enough e.g. fire in main lounge, water ingress from balcony level.
• Furnishings
• "Furniture needs cleaned or covers replaced.
• The large armchairs in Mixed Lounge should be replaced with upholstered dining room style chairs"
• Appalled at the state/ dirt of the chairs in the Mixed Lounge and the chipped pillars.
• Carpet in Ladies' lounge needs cleaning. Curtains need re hung.
• In the main lounge the chairs, especially the leather ones are looking a little worst for wear.
• Seating area in the main bar / lounge needs addressed.
• Upholstered chairs in urgent need of recovering or replacement. Areas of the Lounge/ Shaftesbury need repainting.
• "The furniture in both lounges is unsuitable and uncomfortable for an evening out.
• Main Lounge - chairs are a disaster.  Covers terrible.  They never fitted the tables properly.  If you are eating food the seats are far too low.  The lighting is not great either - slightly improved after people found they couldn’t read anything when announcing results!! 
• Lighting in main lounge is very poor and chairs are very dirty. Carpet needs replaced in Ladies Lounge or a wooden floor put down.
• The seating in the lounge continues to be poorly matched to the tables.
• "The lounge furnishings are tired and grubby and uncomfortable.
• "The seating in the mixed lounge and members bar is dirty, torn and generally a disgrace. It is actually embarrassing to bring guests to sit on these seats.
• Furniture needs recovering or replacing, particularly the chairs and seating
• the chairs in the lounges are not the best for comfort - too big and awkward.
• "the seats are in a bad way . they are not comfortable and to heavy to move a round . o yes they should b leather too .
• Seating in the Main lounge poor
• "The furniture in the main lounge is dirty and disgraceful, new practical furniture needs to be purchased as soon as possible. (Who decided, 5 years ago to build a wall and block a beautiful view?)
• "Our public areas are in short dirty. Furniture is stained, damaged, unclean and unhygienic.
• "Despite the expense the choice of seating and tables are a disgrace. Uncomfortable, dirty and tired only start to convey the problems.
• Main lounge furniture is unsightly, too heavy, seating and tables not compatible - all need urgent attention.
• Carpet and curtains in Ladies' Lounge need replaced and properly maintained. Pillars in Mixed Lounge chipped and tacky. Plastic settees around the fire diminish greatly the interior decor.  Chairs are dirty and too low.
• TVs
• Why all these T.V. Do we really need the small one in the Main Lounge on all the time!!!!!!!!"
• Main Lounge is much more amenable now there are TV screens. Excellent addition. Hopefully these are independent of the screens in the members bar as often there is a clash with televised events.
• The new TVs were long overdue.
• Good to see TV's although they are about 6 years too late. 
• Members’ Bar
• In the 21st Century do we need a ""Members Bar"", should we get rid of the ""stigma"" of being elitist? Rename it a ""TV Bar"" open for all class of member over 18, or 21 if you prefer."
• Would love women to feel welcome in the members bar and I feel if we used it more then the behaviour and language of some of the men might improve.
• Members Bar as an amenity is a joke.  This bar should be open to everyone.  It should be a quiet bar to be used by everyone not interested in the music blasting from private parties in the Main Lounge (as it is called in this survey)!! This amenity is a standing joke with non members of our club.  This must be sorted as a matter of urgency to address equality issues and encourage younger members to join our club.  I find it embarrassing and uncomfortable for it to remain as it is currently being used.  PLEASE CHANGE IMMEDIATELY. "
• Need to review and integrate the two bars
• "It is ridiculous in this day and age that there is an area where women  aren't welcome. The lounge should not be divided"
• I would like to see the division between the members and main lounge to be removed so that there is ease of access between the lounges - a major problem at present.
• The issue of the class of membership having access to the member's bar needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
• The members bar is in practice a mens bar and as such should be discontinued immediately as i personally think it is an insult to our lady members.
• Member bar: Ladies should be allowed in!
• As a member of 8 years I have only been in Members bar twice. I tend to socialise with my wife and I do not feel the bar is appropriate for ladies. e.g. Bad Language etc
• A saving (lighting, heating etc) could be made if ALL members were welcome in the Members lounge.
• Reception Area
• The reception area needs to be revamped especially outside the main entrance. First impressions count and the driveway in and the main entrance need hanging baskets, flowerbeds and fortwilliam paraphernalia such as fortwilliam flags or flowerbeds with fortwilliam gc spelt out in them."
• "The reception area is dull.  Like many golf clubs you walk into an area with stairs meeting you and lots of photos.  Needs to be more welcoming - brighter and perhaps with an electronic bulletin board with information on it regarding fixtures, club news, restaurant and pro shop - could be paid for by sponsorship. 
• The entrance area is too dark. A lick of paint would brighten the lobby and create a more welcoming feel to the club."
• " Iwould like the office not to be so 'enclosed' - it is off-putting and unfriendly to have the current system and a nonsense to say it is to do with money in the office,
• "Reception Area/Entrance: Would be nice if there was a better entry system as 9/10 it is a long wait for guests to get in. Perhaps a video buzzer.
• "Reception area is too cold! The sliding window and buzzer is such a negative approach for visitors -open the office up to the whole reception area.
• "Do we still need a Signing-In book? Does anyone actually complete it and does anyone actually monitor the signings on a day to day basis? (Since this comment is in the form of 3 questions I have taken the liberty of answering them. Denis O’Sullivan : Yes, it is a statutory requirement under the Registration of Clubs Order. Quite a number of people complete it although not always in the manner intended. It is monitored regularly by the Hon. Sec.)
• Locker Rooms
• The locker rooms could be tidier if members used them correctly.
• The step at the exit from the Ladies' Locker Room is dangerous, particularly when ladies exit or enter carrying heavy bags."
• Locker rooms can be a bit warm and smelly during the summer.
• The trolley locker room should be swept daily it can look very untidy at times"
• Sometimes heat in locker room excessive
• The male locker room is treated badly by some members who take their trolleys in. Trolleys should NOT be allowed in the locker room at all. Put them in the trolley lockers or take them home. One member who is known to everyone leaves guiness bottles and glasses in the locker room every w/e. He should be spoken to.
• The showers should never have been in the same space as the toilets."
• Locker room is too small for the number of lockers.
• Provide decent showers and shower area
• Locker rooms and toilets are satisfactory. Showers are dirty (tiles) and cramped. Disgraceful
• "There is never hot water at hand-basins in men’s locker room. or I just don’t know how to work the taps!
• Toilets are generally clean, but frequently run out of hand towels. Look dated.
• The heating in the main mens locker room needs regulated, it is always too warm in the room, needs
• more fresh air somehow.  Colthes etc left in lockers deteriorate quickly.
• Overall tidiness/cleanliness would be greatly help by some members who habitually wheel trolleys through the men’s locker room. Indeed there are some who do not use the pressure hose to clean their shoes!
• Taps in the gents toilets that will give hot water immediately, without having to wait ages.
• The trolley store is a disgrace.
• "More bins for rubbish are needed around the pro shop especially at w/es. The bins there fill up quickly.
• Smoking Facilities
• I suggest we either seriously open up a pigeon club using the smokers' hut or get rid of this monstrosity ( its an embarrassment when ONE invites ONES' friends.) I suggest we alter the two fire escapes at the lounge exit and members bar exit to create a viewing platform and smoking area. this could be quite easy and cost effective and the space below  the fire escape could be enclosed for beer storage or whatever. this will generally tidy the place up.  i could go on forever but this would be a good start.
• Smoking area is an embarrassment for smoking and non smoking patrons
• Balcony area needs a heating system, and the smoking area needs a heater as a priority. One than is on a timer for 5 mins and can be activated as required."
• Restaurant
• The restaurant is kept clean and is quite cheerful.
• "Food and service in restaurant and bar consistently very good over several years. But problem with ceiling in restaurant  is totally unacceptable and must be a potential hygiene issue, and is very off putter to dinners.  So for appearance I must say poor overall, but as a amenity its very good otherwise.
• The bar and restaurant staff should clean up more quickly and thoroughly.
• Nothing worse than bringing a visitor in and chips etc are lying on the floor."
• There seems to be a reluctance from staff (bar and restaurant) to tidy tables of glasses and dishes."
• Other General Comments
• There has been a noticeable improvement which is very welcome in the past month.
• "Welcome the exterior painting of Club House.
• "The outside had become very untidy until recent repainting which is a major improvement.
• Shaftesbury room gets a lot of abuse and requires a fresh coat of paint. Lovely curtains there need to be cleaned regularly.
• Recent improvements have been welcome-more to do but probably very limited funds
• "While the clubhouse is important in my view the greatest danger to the club at present is members' disenchantment with the course conditions in the winter and the year round standard of the greens over the last 24 months in particular.
• In my opinion funds would be better spent on drainage/irrigation work, sanding of the fairways and rough on an annual basis, and a greens improvement program."