Choosing a golf membership can feel surprisingly complicated. Full, flexi, seasonal, junior, social — the categories pile up, and the right one depends as much on how often you play and when you can get out as on the headline price. This guide breaks down the main membership types, explains what a WHS handicap actually is and why it matters, and shows the costs worth weighing up. Then we map it all onto the real options at Exminster Golf Centre near Exeter, so you can see exactly which category suits you.
The main types of golf membership
Most clubs offer variations on a handful of core categories. Understanding the shape of each makes comparing clubs far easier.
Full (often “Gold”) membership
This is the traditional package: unlimited play, seven days a week, all year round. You get an official WHS handicap, the right to enter club competitions, voting rights at some clubs, and a settled “home” course. Full membership suits anyone who plays weekly, wants to compete, and values belonging to a club community. It carries the highest annual fee, but if you play regularly the cost per round drops well below pay-and-play rates.
Flexi (points or credit) membership
Flexi memberships are designed for golfers who can’t justify a full subscription but want more than ad-hoc visits. You typically pay a lower annual fee in exchange for discounted green fees, restricted tee times, or a pot of credit. They suit golf that is occasional or unpredictable. At Exminster the Flexi option focuses on a specific 1–4pm window — ideal for retirees, shift workers, or anyone with free afternoons.
Seasonal membership
Seasonal (or “summer”) memberships cover the busier playing months rather than a full twelve. They make sense if you wind down over winter or split your year between activities, giving you full playing rights during the season at a reduced overall outlay.
Concessionary categories (senior, intermediate, junior)
Many clubs price by life stage. Senior rates reward loyalty and reflect mid-week play; intermediate or “18–30” categories give younger adults an affordable route into club golf; junior memberships nurture the next generation, often at very low cost or with free play to encourage practice.
What is a WHS handicap — and why it matters
The World Handicap System (WHS) is the global standard that lets golfers of all abilities compete fairly. Your Handicap Index reflects your demonstrated scoring ability, and it adjusts up or down as you submit scores.
To get an official WHS handicap in Great Britain and Ireland you need to be a member of a club affiliated to your national body — England Golf, in our case — or hold an England Golf iGolf subscription. You establish your first index by submitting scores totalling 54 holes (any mix of 9- and 18-hole rounds), each attested by a playing partner. The system then averages your best eight rounds from your most recent 20 to set your index.
This is why membership matters beyond simple access: a club membership with county affiliation is what unlocks your official handicap. At Exminster, county affiliation is a small add-on (+£30) on top of your chosen category, and it makes you eligible to compete in opens and inter-club events. Browse the full details on our memberships page.
The real costs to consider
The annual fee is only part of the picture. When comparing a membership against simply paying as you go, factor in:
- Joining fee — some full memberships add a one-off entry fee.
- County affiliation — required for an official handicap.
- Cost per round — divide the total annual outlay by how many rounds you realistically play.
- Green-fee savings — concessionary categories like Bronze trade a low subscription for reduced (not free) green fees.
- Extras — range balls, lessons, competition entry and social spend.
As a benchmark, pay-and-play at Exminster is £24 for 9 holes and £48 for 18 (see green fees). If you’d play more than roughly a round a fortnight, a playing membership usually wins on cost per round — and you gain a handicap, competitions and community on top.
Exminster’s memberships at a glance
Here’s how our categories map to the types above. Add +£30 county affiliation to any category for an official WHS handicap.
| Category | Annual fee | Type | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | £750 (+£160 join) | Full, 7-day | Regular players who want full access and competitions |
| Senior Gold (60+) | £695 | Full, 7-day | Over-60s playing weekly |
| 18–30 | £575 | Intermediate | Younger adults building their game |
| Summer | £500 | Seasonal | Players focused on the warmer months |
| Flexi | £500 | Flexi (1–4pm) | Occasional or flexible afternoon golfers |
| Bronze | £195 | Reduced green fee | Infrequent players (£21/9, £42/18) |
| Junior Gold | £200 | Junior, free play | Keen juniors practising often |
| Junior (U12) | £150 | Junior | Under-12s starting out |
Which one suits you?
- You play weekly and want to compete: Gold (or Senior Gold if you’re 60+) gives unlimited 7-day golf and a clear cost-per-round advantage.
- You’re 18–30 and getting serious: the 18–30 category is the affordable bridge into full membership.
- Your time is unpredictable: Flexi or Bronze keeps you connected without a full fee — Flexi for afternoon access, Bronze if you’d rather pay reduced green fees as you go.
- You only play April–September: the Summer membership matches your season.
- You have a junior in the family: Junior Gold’s free play is hard to beat for a child who wants to practise constantly.
Because Exminster sits on free-draining soil above the Exe Estuary, the course stays playable when many local courses flood — so an all-year membership genuinely earns its keep through winter, not just summer.
Ready to join?
Our Members Manager, Luci Lacey, is happy to talk through the options and help you pick the category that fits your golf and your budget. Apply on our memberships page, or get in touch via our contact page. Not sure yet? Come and play first — book a tee time on pay-and-play and see the course for yourself before you decide.