private club gratuity

[bmorejared]

I just recently joined a private club and I have an issue with their gratuity situation and want to know if this is the norm in the private club world. Keep in mind that this is more of a "blue collar" club and not some elitist place.

 

For my first month I was on a trial membership and had to pay for food and drinks with my credit card, so I just tipped as I normally do by writing it on the check. Now that I am on a full membership I have noticed a service charge on my checks that equals 15%. I asked the bartender and a server the other day if that service charge was towards gratuity, and they both said that they wished it was, but that it was just a house fee for serving food and beverage. I thought that was strange, and there was nowhere on the check to add a gratuity, so I left cash. Yesterday I got my welcome packet in the mail and it had the rules manual with it. It stated that a 15% service charge will be added to all checks for gratuity. It said that I could write on the check if I wanted to increase it, decrease it, or eliminate it. I emailed the GM to ask about the conflicting stories since I am new to the whole private club scene. The GM responded and told me that the servers are paid more than what typical servers are paid at public restaurants and that service charge goes to the house towards that increased wage. He said that this keeps the staff happy during slow times and insures that they don't give preferential treatment to any members. He told me I could write it on the check or leave cash if I want to give more. This directly conflicts what was stated in the rules about leaving more or reducing or eliminating it. If I leave more (which I always tip more than 15%) than I may get preferential treatment. If I eliminate it, then the club cannot afford to pay the increased wage, whatever that may be.

 

Do all or most private clubs have this policy? As a new member I certainly don't want to make any waves, but in the short term I am just going to go with the thought that food and beverages are 15% more than what is advertised and I will leave cash. I'm certainly not going to write it on the check, as there is no space for it and there is no guarantee it will make it from accounting to their pockets.

[caller]

I belong to a couple of private courses and we have no tipping policy in places
However we have $20/month charge along with the montly due that takes care of the staff expense.
I still tip from time to time for the guys who off load and clean my clubs, grille staffs and locker room staff keeping my shoes clean.

[Swisstrader98]

[quote name='caller' timestamp='1338911042' post='5034424']
I belong to a couple of private courses and we have no tipping policy in places
However we have $20/month charge along with the montly due that takes care of the staff expense.
I still tip from time to time for the guys who off load and clean my clubs, grille staffs and locker room staff keeping my shoes clean.
[/quote]
$20/month? Man, don't I wish our club was that low!

[mshills]

OP, I can understand your frustration. The labyrinth of tipping dos and don'ts in this country is totally out of hand.

[3eagles18]

We have 22% added as a service charge computed on top of the food/drink and sales tax. We've gone round and round with our club to no avail.

[rl4673]

Most private clubs I've been to have a no tipping policy. That's pretty odd. Which club? PM me if you don't want to air it. I'm just north of Baltimore.

[bmorejared]

[quote name='caller' timestamp='1338911042' post='5034424']
I belong to a couple of private courses and we have no tipping policy in places
However we have $20/month charge along with the montly due that takes care of the staff expense.
I still tip from time to time for the guys who off load and clean my clubs, grille staffs and locker room staff keeping my shoes clean.
[/quote]

A no tipping policy is very cut and dry. You know the rule. Here we have a service charge that a manual says is for gratuity and can be increased or decreased, but it is really for providing a better wage. The manual says that cash tips are only accepted at the beverage cart, snack shack, and pool, but the GM says you can do it in the restaurant, bar, and lounge.

[bmorejared]

[quote name='3eagles18' timestamp='1338912085' post='5034534']
We have 22% added as a service charge computed on top of the food/drink and sales tax. We've gone round and round with our club to no avail.
[/quote]

I would be fine with the 22% if you told me that there was no other tipping allowed. 15% is too low in my opinion and then to find out that it doesn't go directly to the staff, but it goes towards providing a better wage than the $3.15/hr that is required by federal law.

[CowtownTexas]

On average, at least in my area, labor costs at a country club are between 5 and 7 times that of a similar employee at a public restaurant. There are several reasons for this, but the biggest one is that country clubs tend to have to be everything for everyone.

The service charge helps to offset this increased cost. Don't feel bad for the employees because if was really that bad of a deal, they wouldn't stay around for decades like they do. We have some food service employees who have been with our club for over 50 years.

[CPSOX]

Agree with Cowtown - the staff undoubtedly doesn't complain on rainy days where nobody shows up to play and they get paid a higher wage.

My clubs operate exactly as you've described.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

All I got to say is life's too short to try to figure out all that nonsense. Why in the world do some of these clubs want to make everything into some kind of elaborate Kabuki dance when I'm just there to play golf and maybe have a bite to eat.

[Pepperturbo]

Most well run private clubs pay higher salaries for staff, because tipping is normally frowned upon. Whether it's a blue collar or "elitist" (interesting choice of words) club isn't germane either, as it comes down to who ownes the club, what was written in the club charter, and club structure.

[golfingron]

Our club is the same, there is 20% added to all F&B then tax on top. Didn't care for it at first but it has grown on me as its just easier to walk in grab a drink and go without worrying about fumbling through cash or totaling the check.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

Hey I'm all for built-in gratuities but if I'm reading the OP correct he's supposed to add something on top of all that, scratch out the amount on the check and write in a higher number. Just shoot me. Either include a full, sufficient gratuity or let me handle it myself without "scratch out the number". Yikes.

[bmorejared]

[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1338915668' post='5034930']
Most well run private clubs pay higher salaries for staff, because tipping is normally frowned upon. Whether it's a blue collar or "elitist" (interesting choice of words) club isn't germane either, as it comes down to who ownes the club, what was written in the club charter, and club structure.
[/quote]

Sorry Pepper. Elitist was a poor choice of words. I just didn't want anyone to think that I just signed up at Congressional or Burning Tree and couldn't figure out the gratuity system. My main concern is simply that the employees are taken care of. It is a member owned club, and as it turns out what is written in the club charter is a little deceptive.

[Pepperturbo]

No problem... Typically the BOD's intreprets the charter with guidence from legal counsel. That's how we did it, as our charter was written many years back, when laws for clubs, service employees and tax reporting was considerably more lienient, not to mention less defined. Changing old club charters seems to be the wave of the future, but its easier said then done, as it often turns political at member owned clubs.

IMO tipping is not a good route to happy employees at private clubs. Aside from the behavior influences that results from some people over-tipping, private clubs have more slow periods then public establishments. Yet, staffing is required to insure membership is properly cared for, even if its a limited few in the grill room.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1338909565' post='5034264']
I just recently joined a private club and I have an issue with their gratuity situation and want to know if this is the norm in the private club world. Keep in mind that this is more of a "blue collar" club and not some elitist place.

For my first month I was on a trial membership and had to pay for food and drinks with my credit card, so I just tipped as I normally do by writing it on the check. Now that I am on a full membership I have noticed a service charge on my checks that equals 15%.[b] I asked the bartender and a server the other day if that service charge was towards gratuity, and they both said that they wished it was, but that it was just a house fee for serving food and beverage.[/b] I thought that was strange, and there was nowhere on the check to add a gratuity, so I left cash. Yesterday I got my welcome packet in the mail and it had the rules manual with it. It stated that a 15% service charge will be added to all checks for gratuity. It said that I could write on the check if I wanted to increase it, decrease it, or eliminate it. I emailed the GM to ask about the conflicting stories since I am new to the whole private club scene. The GM responded and told me that the servers are paid more than what typical servers are paid at public restaurants and that service charge goes to the house towards that increased wage. He said that this keeps the staff happy during slow times and insures that they don't give preferential treatment to any members. He told me I could write it on the check or leave cash if I want to give more. This directly conflicts what was stated in the rules about leaving more or reducing or eliminating it. If I leave more (which I always tip more than 15%) than I may get preferential treatment. If I eliminate it, then the club cannot afford to pay the increased wage, whatever that may be.

Do all or most private clubs have this policy? As a new member I certainly don't want to make any waves, but in the short term I am just going to go with the thought that food and beverages are 15% more than what is advertised and I will leave cash. I'm certainly not going to write it on the check, as there is no space for it and there is no guarantee it will make it from accounting to their pockets.
[/quote]


Several clubs in Maryland near Bethesda add 15-22% on top of the check. Some of them have an additional line for "additional gratuity"; and some don't. My guess is that the server and bartender you spoke to gave an honest (but inappropriate) answer - they want to make more money. In truth - depending on the club, their conversation with you could get them fired. Like many resorts etc. some clubs simply don't want to put the pressure on their members...so they are very clear about what is being charged, and what is expected.

My suggestion is to abide but the GM's rule - and I would not identify the people with whom you spoke. Ask him if the policy is different for inside staff vs. outside. In several clubs - the expectations/rules about tipping can be DIFFERENT for their restaurants VS golf staff - so check with the GM.

If you want to give a favorite server something extra - do it very discretely.

Best advice I'd suggest - support your club and use it often. That's the best way to support the staff.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1338918832' post='5035264']
[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1338915668' post='5034930']
Most well run private clubs pay higher salaries for staff, because tipping is normally frowned upon. Whether it's a blue collar or "elitist" (interesting choice of words) club isn't germane either, as it comes down to who ownes the club, what was written in the club charter, and club structure.
[/quote]

Sorry Pepper. Elitist was a poor choice of words. I just didn't want anyone to think that I just signed up at Congressional or Burning Tree and couldn't figure out the gratuity system. My main concern is simply that the employees are taken care of. It is a member owned club, and as it turns out what is written in the club charter is a little deceptive.
[/quote]

With all due respect - I would humbly suggest that your perception about those clubs is as incorrect as your perception about tipping.

[bmorejared]

[quote name='ChipDriver' timestamp='1338986230' post='5040062']
[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1338918832' post='5035264']
[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1338915668' post='5034930']
Most well run private clubs pay higher salaries for staff, because tipping is normally frowned upon. Whether it's a blue collar or "elitist" (interesting choice of words) club isn't germane either, as it comes down to who ownes the club, what was written in the club charter, and club structure.
[/quote]

Sorry Pepper. Elitist was a poor choice of words. I just didn't want anyone to think that I just signed up at Congressional or Burning Tree and couldn't figure out the gratuity system. My main concern is simply that the employees are taken care of. It is a member owned club, and as it turns out what is written in the club charter is a little deceptive.
[/quote]

With all due respect - I would humbly suggest that your perception about those clubs is as incorrect as your perception about tipping.
[/quote]

As I said, it was a poor choice of words. I guess i should have said "exclusive". Congressional and Burning Tree aren't having open houses, free outings to attract members, and peppering certain neighborhoods with door hangers promoting membership specials. My club has done all of those things.

My confusion on the issue of tipping comes directly from reading the clubs rules and regulations and getting a different take from the bar and wait staff which was confirmed by the GM. Just to further clarify I will quote the manual directly:

"Service Charge - 15% is added to your guest check for tipping purposes. Payment is at your discretion and may be increased, decreased, or eliminated entirely by written order on your guest check. Cash tipping is permissible at the snack bars, coat room, for valet parking or beverage cart person when provided."

I appreciate all of the responses and I am now clear on the issue. I really wasn't trying to make a big deal out of it. I just wanted to see how it may be done in other places. The policy certainly makes sense given the nature of a private club and the flow of business. I think a better and clearer policy would be for the club to do what it appears other clubs are doing, and that would be to increase this service charge to 20% and have a no tipping policy.

[Pepperturbo]

[b]"Service Charge - 15% is added to your guest check for tipping purposes. Payment is at your discretion and may be increased, decreased, or eliminated entirely by written order on your guest check. Cash tipping is permissible at the snack bars, coat room, for valet parking or beverage cart person when provided."[/b]

The paragraph above doesn't appear confusing. Fifteen percent is automatically added, yet lets the member have full control at time of service. Essencially not all that different from going to a restaurant. Its written that way to accomdate those that like totoal control over tipping, while other members don't want to be bothered with it; makes sense.

I don't believe in that level of club, flat 20% would likely work well. Aside from 20% being on the high end, some members are likley to complain about not being able to decide what the service is worth. At my last two clubs, 15% was automatically added to all service bills, including shoe shine and locker room attendant, and nobody voiced concern.

[bmorejared]

That paragraph is not confusing, except that isn't what really happens. The service charge goes to the house. The house does pay a higher wage that may or may not account for all of the service charge. If too many people chose to eliminate it, whether it be for poor service or whether they wanted to hand someone a higher cash tip, then there would be a problem with providing that higher wage.

I'm not complaining about the 15% being added. As I've said, I would prefer to give more. I will do that with cash, as directed by the GM, but contrary to the quoted paragraph. Twenty years ago I was a bartender and server. I look at it as a sales job. 15% is the minimum I would expect to take home, but if I go above and beyond most people will reward that with more. I don't even want to get into the tax ramifications of receiving a higher wage as opposed to tips.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1338993358' post='5040644']
As I said, it was a poor choice of words. I guess i should have said "exclusive". Congressional and Burning Tree aren't having open houses, free outings to attract members, and peppering certain neighborhoods with door hangers promoting membership specials. My club has done all of those things.

My confusion on the issue of tipping comes directly from reading the clubs rules and regulations and getting a different take from the bar and wait staff which was confirmed by the GM. Just to further clarify I will quote the manual directly:

[b]"Service Charge - 15% is added to your guest check for tipping purposes.[/b] Payment is at your discretion and may be [b]increased, decreased, or eliminated entirely by written order on your guest check.[/b] Cash tipping is permissible at the snack bars, coat room, for valet parking or beverage cart person when provided."

I appreciate all of the responses and I am now clear on the issue. I really wasn't trying to make a big deal out of it. I just wanted to see how it may be done in other places. The policy certainly makes sense given the nature of a private club and the flow of business. I think a better and clearer policy would be for the club to do what it appears other clubs are doing, and that would be to increase this service charge to 20% and have a no tipping policy.
[/quote]

My point was that those clubs have a similar policy to your club too.

From what you printed I would suggest it means the following:

1) they will add the 15% to your bill and total it out. You will be charged that "total" unless you write something different (i.e. - cross out the "15%" and give an instruction to pay a different amount).

2) the clubs I know are similar, EXCEPT they do not have the option to remove the charge. You're lucky.
3) it does not seem to allow cash tipping at the table at a restaurant.

[SPY ZINGER]

That policy reads almost identical to my club as well.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1338997143' post='5040994']
That paragraph is not confusing, except that isn't what really happens. The service charge goes to the house. The house does pay a higher wage that may or may not account for all of the service charge. If too many people chose to eliminate it, whether it be for poor service or whether they wanted to hand someone a higher cash tip, then there would be a problem with providing that higher wage.

I'm not complaining about the 15% being added. As I've said, I would prefer to give more. I will do that with cash, as directed by the GM, but contrary to the quoted paragraph. Twenty years ago I was a bartender and server. I look at it as a sales job. 15% is the minimum I would expect to take home, but if I go above and beyond most people will reward that with more. I don't even want to get into the tax ramifications of receiving a higher wage as opposed to tips.
[/quote]

NO club will state clearly and/or break down in the charter, staff compensation, moreover compare it to counterparts in commerical establishments. Furthermore, even though the Charter is a club bible of sorts, its never written in such detail as to educate newbe members on how the club is run. I know that because I have been part of a clubs charter revision. Its just a broad guideline of up to date member rules. Plus, the charter is different from the state laws that the club adheres too.

As we both know, bartenders and wait staff don't get much in the way of salaries in commerical establishments, as they rely upon tips. The verbiage you use suggests you don't believe that 15% contributes to their higher salaries. Suggesting it might not sounds as though you're letting not only skepticism, but your experience from long ago influence what you understand is the case today. In actuality they are completly differnent conditions. The payroll laws governing commerical restaurant/bar and withholdings are very stringent in all states (crazy stringent in CA) but more so for private equity clubs, as they are typically non-profit with considerably less flexibility then a commercial establishment. But, to really know, get on the Finance committee, and or run for a BOD roll; that's what I did.

[bmorejared]

I suppose this is just a matter of semantics. The charter specifically states that the 15% is for [b]tipping [/b]purposes. It is actually for providing a wage. If someone wanted to be a jerk the charter affords them the ability to eliminate the service charge, however that would have no negative impact on the staff, as it is really not a gratuity. I'm sure if enough people did this then dues would have to be increased to continue to pay this higher wage. That wouldn't be fair to those that rarely use the restaurant and bar outside of meeting minimums.

[Thrillhouse]

The private club I was a member at last year added an 18% gratuity to every bill last year for THE WORST SERVICE EVER!

My theory was that the gratuity, however it was applied (not that I care how they get paid), gave the employees free reign to do as poor a job as possible. It was like they took pride in doing poor work. Sent me running back to daily fee courses this year.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1339001355' post='5041462']
I suppose this is just a matter of semantics. The charter specifically states that the 15% is for [b]tipping [/b]purposes. It is actually for providing a wage. If someone wanted to be a jerk the charter affords them the ability to eliminate the service charge, however that would have no negative impact on the staff, as it is really not a gratuity. I'm sure if enough people did this then dues would have to be increased to continue to pay this higher wage. That wouldn't be fair to those that rarely use the restaurant and bar outside of meeting minimums.
[/quote]

Yep - semantics. Tips and salary are both wages and defined by leadership. And yes, if someone is a jerk, he will find a way to be a jerk. No matter how exclusive a club is there will be jerks. Thankfully, in most private clubs, jerks are not the norm.

Interesting ... you define a problem then take it to a full conclusion as if... It sounds as though you overlooked in the charter there are stated consequences for bad / poor behavior; plus there is department reporting, and BOD or Leadership review, and possible consequences for questionable behavior. That later being more common then you can imagine. So, it's not as problematic as you're thinking.

[MyBluC4]

I understand your confusion. When I was in the same situation, I asked some other guys who had been longer term members how they felt about it and how they handled the situation. In general, they accepted the gratuity charge understanding that the staff did not get all of it, and when circumstances warrented, they used their own discrection in tipping particular individuals with cash. Private club membership and rules are not perfect and never will be. Use your judgement and be discreet in how you decide to reward service. No one will question your personal views on how to take care of staff as long as you do it on your own terms.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='bmorejared' timestamp='1339001355' post='5041462']
I suppose this is just a matter of semantics. The charter specifically states that the 15% is for [b]tipping [/b]purposes. It is actually for providing a wage. If someone wanted to be a jerk the charter affords them the ability to eliminate the service charge, however that would have no negative impact on the staff, as it is really not a gratuity. I'm sure if enough people did this then dues would have to be increased to continue to pay this higher wage. That wouldn't be fair to those that rarely use the restaurant and bar outside of meeting minimums.
[/quote]

With all due respect - you should ask your GM - not the bartender - as to how your money is used at the club. The bartender sees himself doing the work - you leave a $10 tip, but HE doesn't see 100% (or a majority) of that money/tip going into his pocket. That's why he's telling you it's not a "tip". That's simply a narrow minded way of looking at things. Clubs generally have a "pooled/shared tip arrangement". The more tips that are collected from any source.....the more the club has to pay higher/better hourly wages to the staff it must retain throughout the year.

Most clubs pool the tip money as a higher per hour wage. Why? So that the club can retain staff (and quality of service) during the peaks and valleys.

As an example - at our club in the winter - we keep 5 waiters per shift (for example) but it may work out that there are 3 customers in the entire day....and none of them drink. If all 3 of them get the same waitress with the great big "eyes" - in theory that waitress makes all the tip money that day - and the other 4 staff members get zero. Guess what....they'll quit. How does that affect you? It means that the new people don't remember what you like to eat or drink simply by sitting down; and they are constantly new faces (not as familiar or comfortable) and inevitably there is a reduction in the quality or enjoyment with the staff and service.

In a pooled/shared tip arrangement like your club seems to have - everyone shares in the tips from the waitress with the big...er...."eyes". And they'll stay around a lot longer and be happier.

I'm guessing your GM is not misleading you; but the bartender and the server simply aren't understanding where the money goes. It would be very different if your receipt said "15% charge has been added for overhead and operating expenses of the club".

[Pepperturbo]

I know of a few clubs that during Christmas, ask all club members to send in a check to a holiday gift pool, that the BOD's control. The day of the holiday, those monies are equally divided up amongst all staff. We're talking some hefty surpise gifts, as that pool gets mighty big. Again, that way everyone is treated equal, from the cart boy to the waiter, bartender, even the head chef.

[b]@ChipDriver[/b] brings up a very pertinent point too. Bartenders, like waitress and other non-exempt staff have agendas and perceptions. And, there's also a likelihood they don't understand the complexities that go into managing the club they work for. For example, I understand how to run a P&L and manage, but I am not an accountant, so I employ them.