Royal Bangkok Sports Club

[Arkady]

Brownstone, I think I saw a recent notice from the General Committee which set a new membership fee of B 600,000 for sons and daughters of full members elected since 2007. This seems to imply that all sons and daughters can join now regardless of when their fathers joined.

One thing I am curious about is why the General Committee's privilege of sponsoring two new members a year each was ended in about 2003 in favour of just allowing high ranking government officials to be sponsored by the entire committee. The committee's privilege was not particularly fair but it did allow small numbers of outsiders, including quite a few foreigners, into the club. Now membership is almost exclusively hereditary which is even more elitist, although I don't think the club cares much about its image or is even aware of it. Some have said there were too many rumours of committee members accepting bribes to sponsor new members, although I don't know how creditable that is. There were also a lot of rumours about a former long standing chairman being the kingpin behind the off-course betting that drained away much of the club's revenues.

It is funny that Bangkok's RBSC is one of the few places where the quaint old British concept of non-voting ladies privileges survives. Of course it was originally thought of as a major concession to let ladies into the clubs at all and then to come in without their husbands, or without even being married. The British club had it too but got rid of it decades ago. I think the concept also survives in some colonial clubs in India that like RBSC have been taken over by the local elite and turned into hereditary clubs closed to outsiders.

Edited September 18, 2009 by Arkady

[Arkady]

To be fair to RBSC I should add that, while there is indeed currently virtually no way to join directly, except through hereditary rights, it is still perfectly possible for an outsider with a sponsor and seconder from RBSC to join the Polo Club without an outrageous wait. Polo Club members can then join an internal waiting list for full membership of RBSC which takes two or three years.

[Tinkelbell]

Thanks 'p_brownstone', 'boris', 'Arkady' for a nice info of RBSC.

This is what I'm looking for.

Please ignore the rumbling from 'Professorfart'. Thank god that RBSC has not accepted his type as a member.

Now may I ask you gentlemen, what the ex-member do to get back in the scene after more than two decades of absence.

A little background of me, I'm Thai). In the early 70s, I became a member via brother who was working for UN-ESCAP.

Until I move to the US permanently that I didn't utilize my membership.

Many trips back home to BKK, I sometimes gone to RBSC ( as a guest) for dinner fairs ( like the special night when they had top Thai crooner 'Charin Nantanakorn', or Thai Night that I attended in May this year.)

Alway had a lovely time.

I might find myself moving back to live in BKK again in a not so far distance.

Since the membership is now over one million baht, I'd like to know do the RBSC has any specific criteria how the ex-member can apply ?

If you happen to know, please enlighten me.

Much thanks and appreciation.

[p_brownstone]

Thanks 'p_brownstone', 'boris', 'Arkady' for a nice info of RBSC.

This is what I'm looking for.

Please ignore the rumbling from 'Professorfart'. Thank god that RBSC has not accepted his type as a member.

Now may I ask you gentlemen, what the ex-member do to get back in the scene after more than two decades of absence.

A little background of me, I'm Thai). In the early 70s, I became a member via brother who was working for UN-ESCAP.

Until I move to the US permanently that I didn't utilize my membership.

Many trips back home to BKK, I sometimes gone to RBSC ( as a guest) for dinner fairs ( like the special night when they had top Thai crooner 'Charin Nantanakorn', or Thai Night that I attended in May this year.)

Alway had a lovely time.

I might find myself moving back to live in BKK again in a not so far distance.

Since the membership is now over one million baht, I'd like to know do the RBSC has any specific criteria how the ex-member can apply ?

If you happen to know, please enlighten me.

Much thanks and appreciation.

Played Golf with a General Committee member yesterday.

Apparently there is no specific Rule governing this - I guess because it's not a common occurrence.

My friend sugggests you write to the General Committee detailing your situation, with your old Membership Number if you have it, and the dates you were away from Thailand, and ask if they can consider a special provision in your case.

No guarantee what may happen of course but it's worth a try.

Patrick

[Tinkelbell]

P_Brownstone quoted.........

"My friend sugggests you write to the General Committee detailing your situation, with your old Membership Number if you have it, and the dates you were away from Thailand, and ask if they can consider a special provision in your case.

No guarantee what may happen of course but it's worth a try....."

................................................................................

..............

It's been so long since I last seen my RBSC member card, besides brother passed away years ago. In this situation, my best option is I should take your suggestion.

Will do that on my next trip back home to BKK at the end of this year. I hope that they still keep all the old record so that it would be easy to connect my story.

Thanks again for your time.

Tinkelbell

Note: The 'Thai Night' I mentioned, referring to 'Soontaraporn' classical music. This sounds better.

[samran]

To be fair to RBSC I should add that, while there is indeed currently virtually no way to join directly, except through hereditary rights, it is still perfectly possible for an outsider with a sponsor and seconder from RBSC to join the Polo Club without an outrageous wait. Polo Club members can then join an internal waiting list for full membership of RBSC which takes two or three years.

so there is a backdoor way in .

My cousin mentioned that I should join the polo club...800K was the price mentioned. Now I know why she suggested it.

[p_brownstone]

To be fair to RBSC I should add that, while there is indeed currently virtually no way to join directly, except through hereditary rights, it is still perfectly possible for an outsider with a sponsor and seconder from RBSC to join the Polo Club without an outrageous wait. Polo Club members can then join an internal waiting list for full membership of RBSC which takes two or three years.

so there is a backdoor way in .

My cousin mentioned that I should join the polo club...800K was the price mentioned. Now I know why she suggested it.

Not sure what the entry fee is for the Polo Club (as already mentioned it's Baht 1.5 million to join RBSC), nor how long you may have to wait for a transfer, however if and when you are eventually offered a chance to get full RBSC Membership you wil have to pay the difference in Entry Fee. For example, if you paid Baht 800,000.- to join Polo, you would have to pay an additional Baht 700,000.- when you transferred (Baht 1,500,000- less Baht 800,000.- ).

Patrick

[samran]

To be fair to RBSC I should add that, while there is indeed currently virtually no way to join directly, except through hereditary rights, it is still perfectly possible for an outsider with a sponsor and seconder from RBSC to join the Polo Club without an outrageous wait. Polo Club members can then join an internal waiting list for full membership of RBSC which takes two or three years.

so there is a backdoor way in .

My cousin mentioned that I should join the polo club...800K was the price mentioned. Now I know why she suggested it.

Not sure what the entry fee is for the Polo Club (as already mentioned it's Baht 1.5 million to join RBSC), nor how long you may have to wait for a transfer, however if and when you are eventually offered a chance to get full RBSC Membership you wil have to pay the difference in Entry Fee. For example, if you paid Baht 800,000.- to join Polo, you would have to pay an additional Baht 700,000.- when you transferred (Baht 1,500,000- less Baht 800,000.- ).

Patrick

Many thanks. My cousin mentioned 800,000 baht. She seemed to indicate that it had come down and that it was fairly automatic to get into the Polo Club. A few people have even said to me that the facilities there are more convinient if you have kids, which I do....

[kurnell]

I thought you could become a member of RBSC for a very reasonable price if you represented the club in one of their sports?? I know several of my mates got in that way by playing for the cricket team.

[p_brownstone]

Many thanks. My cousin mentioned 800,000 baht. She seemed to indicate that it had come down and that it was fairly automatic to get into the Polo Club. A few people have even said to me that the facilities there are more convinient if you have kids, which I do....

Not at all sure of the procedure or ease of Membership to Polo as I say.

However I will say that my daughter - now 25 and a "Ladies Privilege" at RBSC - much prefers to use the Polo Club facilities when she comes here a couple of times a year, as do her friends of similar age who live here more or less permanently. Although the opening of the new Sports and Recreation bulding at the RBSC a few years ago has had an affect on their views they still mostly think the RBSC is a home for old f#rts like me who just play Golf, Chess and Bridge etc. - and sit in the Air Bar listening to bad Karaoke 3 times a week.

The atmosphere at Polo is much more - how to say - active, more interesting to the younger generation for sure.

Most weekends in Season at Polo they have Soccer, Cricket, Field Hockey - even Softball competitions on the Sports Field, so there is almost always something going on, the 3 Pools always have more users than those at RBSC - especially the 2 smaller Pools designed for children and beginners.

Even I have to admit that the RBSC is pretty staid in comparison.

To be honest the Sports facilities at Polo have everything the RBSC has except for the Golf Course, and unless you plan to play a LOT of Golf in the centre of Bangkok there is no reason to pay the higher Fees to join the RBSC.

Patrick

Edited September 23, 2009 by p_brownstone

[Arkady]

I know some one who recently joined RSBC after being a member of the Polo Club for two years by paying the difference between the RBSC membership fees and the Polo membership fees. I am not sure how long the wait was to join the Polo Club but I think it was one or two years. So, it is not impossible to become an ordinary member of RBSC, other than through one's father, although the waiting time between the Polo Club and RSBC must depend on how many people are on the transfer wait list. Expats still have the option of joining as a non-voting member and I believe there is still a corporate membership. Ordinary membership fees since 2006 are 1.5 million baht plus VAT with monthly dues of 1,715 plus VAT and non-voting membership fees are 125,000 baht plus VAT annually with no monthly dues.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Arkady

[DegenFarang]

Doesn't sound that exclusive to me, at least for expats. Unless I am missing something here. Is voting really that important? No waiting and you don't have to pay a 1,500,000 fee to join, sounds great.

[p_brownstone]

Doesn't sound that exclusive to me, at least for expats. Unless I am missing something here. Is voting really that important? No waiting and you don't have to pay a 1,500,000 fee to join, sounds great.

Well, joining as a non-voting (I forget the exact terminology - Associate Member?) means that right now you may pay Baht 125,000.- a year, but that Fee can increase as and when the Membership (voting Membership ) decide to put the main burden of increased operating costs on you rather than on themselves.

In addition, a significant advantage of full Membership is that one can introduce Guests to use the Sports facilities - a benefit Associate Members do not enjoy.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the main attractions of the RBSC is an 18 hole Golf Course smack in the middle of Bangkok - as a full Member I can take my visiting Guests to play there (admittedly paying an extra Green Fee) .

An Associate Member will be paying Baht 10,000.- a month just to play Golf and use the other amenities himself.

Finally, there is a "Quota" for the number of Associate Members allowed; that this Quota has never been reached may - or may not - imply anything!

Patrick

[NADTATIDA1]

A lot of money for a round a golf every now and then,i would much prefer to get out of BKK and see some scenery when i am playing a round and from what i have been told the course is well......."not very good"

Then again i understand each too their own! and the price of networking sometimes is on a par for the course

[thepodest]

How is the waiting list for RBSC right now???

Is it still impossible to join like before?

[longballlarry]

All sounds hilarious. Thanks to all , i needed that.

[elcent]

I've been guest many times at both RBSC and Polo-club. As far as remember that time they tried to freshen up a little and were hooking for younger female members. At the same time they freshened up the kitchen thingy and hired a German chef. So no British chef, -"stomach forbid", and RBSC got back their sheep again. The food was outstanding good on the buffet.

They have various pricing policies depending on your membership status. When you're a long time member then it is very unlikely they upgrade to new membership fees (but that may have changed).

Otherwise nothing really special about it. For some just a kind of Oasis in the midst of a hectic city lifestyle.

Not to forget to mention the food prices, well, that was surprisingly low. Buffet at RBSC was about 250.00 Baht per person if I remember right (about ten years ago), it was nothing near to any of four or five star hotels.

Edited February 28, 2010 by elcent

[ManOnTheRoad]

i dont need a membership i just contact some friends who got a membership to come with me. they got membership thru their dad or granddad. Well memebrship fees now are a ripoff.

Who wants to pay that lots of money now to join a useless membership at RBSC or Polo Club . lol

[ExpatJ]

Doesn't sound that exclusive to me, at least for expats. Unless I am missing something here. Is voting really that important? No waiting and you don't have to pay a 1,500,000 fee to join, sounds great.

Well, joining as a non-voting (I forget the exact terminology - Associate Member?) means that right now you may pay Baht 125,000.- a year, but that Fee can increase as and when the Membership (voting Membership ) decide to put the main burden of increased operating costs on you rather than on themselves.

In addition, a significant advantage of full Membership is that one can introduce Guests to use the Sports facilities - a benefit Associate Members do not enjoy.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the main attractions of the RBSC is an 18 hole Golf Course smack in the middle of Bangkok - as a full Member I can take my visiting Guests to play there (admittedly paying an extra Green Fee) .

An Associate Member will be paying Baht 10,000.- a month just to play Golf and use the other amenities himself.

Finally, there is a "Quota" for the number of Associate Members allowed; that this Quota has never been reached may - or may not - imply anything!

Patrick

Was going to clarify this myself- its easy to become a member , fee is 125,000 baht- i was asked last year by a member if i wanted to join, but chose not too (kind of a hassle to travel there just to use facilities we already have in our condo (i dont play gold :-)

[p_brownstone]

I've been guest many times at both RBSC and Polo-club. As far as remember that time they tried to freshen up a little and were hooking for younger female members.

You are putting a totally wrong interpretation on that point.

First of all the RBSC has never been - "looking for ...... members" - there is a huge waiting list which in fact has been closed for many years now.

The reason there is a preponderance of young new members is that sons and daughters of existing Members are eligible for membership once they reach 21 years of age (well, to be precise sons become "Ordinary Members", daughters become "Ladies Privileges" which means they cannot vote or sign in non-members to use the Sports facilities). This is by far the most common way for anyone to join as a New Member - otherwise anyone on the waiting list basically has to wait for an existing Member to pass away so there is a free spot.

Looking at the new intake for January there were 14 new Ordinary Members, of whom, from the photographs in the monthly Magazine, 12 appear to be sons of existing Members, there were also 14 new Ladies Privileges elected, all of whom look to be daughters of existing Members.

Patrick

[p_brownstone]

Sorry - just noticed I replied to a 2 year old Post!

Patrick