Originally Posted by
FleetFlyer
The golf club mentality thing doesn't seem to apply at power clubs as the power clubs seem to be run as businesses with services (landing fees/parking/etc) sold to members without work being expected of the members. Gliding clubs are run as societies on a not for profit basis, so require their members to get involved in every aspect (CAA/BGA compliance/accounting/running the launch point/driving the winch/etc) and this makes gliding clubs a haven for jobsworths and for those too lazy to pull their own weight. This in turn creates the friction and the feeling of 'being watched' lest you don't make a reasonable contribution. Its the feeling of being watched that give the golf club mentality feeling.
<snip>
The feeling of getting watched I have is when launching / landing! At my club we have paid winch drivers 364 x 365 which is a great asset IMHO. However of course we have to help launch etc., and every so often a solo pilot will find him or herself nominated 'duty pilot' and running (with help) the launchpoint. However I am finding the more I put in, the more I get out.
BTW I've never belonged to a golf club (I agree with whoever said it was a way to ruin a good walk), but suspect they come in a wide range of styles just as gliding clubs do.