Burlington gun club...5 month wait minimum!!

If you want to talk about insane waiting list. Sharon club probably wins hands down. I asked about their safety course before the summer. The person behind the counter told me it's fully booked for the summer 2009. I asked when is the next one and she said next year. Any idea exactly when? Probably next summer. Holy crap! That was the basic safety course to get you started. You will need to take several more (I don't remember, maybe more than that) to be allowed to shoot at their other ranges (such as 300yard range). Totally understandable but you will probably have to line up and wait for that too.

If that wasn't hard enough, there is that one share you need to own first. I was probably able to secure the coveted 1 share (likely was way north of $1k too) but no way can I wait that 1 year for a noob that just got their RPAL. Just no way.

Granted, I don't think it's a BS club and the facilities does look great. Just getting in takes patience and major up front fees. OSGC is the next best thing in my neck of the woods. The rifle range is an all in one. From 25-300yards. Shotgun facilities are top notch. But i'm not a shotgun man even though I bought two for no other reason than I wanted them b/c I just got my RPAL. haha
 
I had applied at Burlington as I was just getting started and needed to fast track everything. I'm 66 and waiting for anything I don't have to wastes more time than I am willing to risk. I come from the corporate world where formality, politics and the pecking order all thrive. After a few initial contacts with Burlington I started to get a familiar discomforting feeling. I took all the required courses, bought a handgun and then got referred to Waterford where I felt at home instantly. There is little formality but it's a quality and safe club with dedicated members who know how to handle newbies. I was made to feel important to the club from the first night. I took the safety course and then signed up for the Black Badge course which challenged me in several ways but I got by with the help of a few good ambassadors for the shooting sports. After two seasons I'm pretty well established and bring my guns to the US six months a year. I have the feeling I would still be waiting hat in hand waiting for the favour of the establishment at Burlington. I hope I'm not being unfair but that's how I felt. I have a second membership at Silverdale and am a happy camper.
 
That is the reason I didn't join Burlington - another forum member here was kind enough to invite me out to shoot at Burlington as a guest when I did not even have my PAL yet. Nice little facility, long drive for me but I still considered it being new to shooting sports - then I realized how long it takes to become a member and went elsewhere where I felt as if I was a long time member even though I had just started shooting.

I heard it's a busy club with a ton of members and disciplines- does that have anything to do with it?
 
Yea clubs need to realize that new members are the most precious resource and making are sport more public and available to the masses will be the only way we can survive.
 
bigdawg said:
Yea clubs need to realize that new members are the most precious resource and making are sport more public and available to the masses will be the only way we can survive.
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not only that but with that many shooters ranges can become more "business-like" which will give more incentive for more ranges

and we need more muskoka ranges :D
 
bigdawg said:
Yea clubs need to realize that new members are the most precious resource and making are sport more public and available to the masses will be the only way we can survive.
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Exactly! Sharon to me didn't particularly care about new members. Considering they only had long safety course once a year. I did get their booklet and the process to become a full member will take a while. I won't comment on specifics because I don't remember. It is just hard for a noob to first start out unless you're lucky enough to know someone there. So, for noobs with brand new RPALs, must look for another club. Unless you like to watch grass grow or like dry firing your handgun, go for Sharon. :)

So, the first club I joined was Target Sports. They were more than too happy to accept my $$$. Took the full day safety course on a Saturday and became a full member after 3 probationary shoots from Monday to Wednesday. That was quick. The wait was a month for their course and probably another month after that for the LTATT. Membership is really $$$. I would have renewed if it wasn't for the poor ventilation. It's horrid... If you reload and shoot at Target, you will know what I mean. If you don't smell it, you will see it. I get a strange sharp head ache within 30-60mins, depending how much and how fast I shoot. Just before I quit, they said they're now changing filters 2x a month. Didn't see an improvement. They added portable fans in the back to blow more air around. Ummm.. yeah sure man...Target is also getting way too busy with their drop ins and crowds armed with cameras behind the firing line. I don't feel comfy there anymore b/c there are always too many people popping caps for the first time around you and rapid firing. Range B is not always open for members to avoid the drop-ins.

I joined OSGC not long after. Became full member same day. Realized, I'm in desperate need of an indoor range for the winter and can still want to shoot at 7-15 yards, I joined Marksmen. Vents are much better. Although I wish it can be even better. Maybe they need a filter change. I dunno... Time will tell. Same thing... I became full member same day.

That said, I don't know the process of joining the last two clubs as a total noob. All I know is, they will recognize your previous club experiences and having LTATT to prove I paid my dues, so it really sucks that Burlington will not fast track the OP, especially belonging to two clubs already.
 
hercster said:
I had applied at Burlington as I was just getting started and needed to fast track everything. I'm 66 and waiting for anything I don't have to wastes more time than I am willing to risk. I come from the corporate world where formality, politics and the pecking order all thrive. After a few initial contacts with Burlington I started to get a familiar discomforting feeling. I took all the required courses, bought a handgun and then got referred to Waterford where I felt at home instantly. There is little formality but it's a quality and safe club with dedicated members who know how to handle newbies. I was made to feel important to the club from the first night. I took the safety course and then signed up for the Black Badge course which challenged me in several ways but I got by with the help of a few good ambassadors for the shooting sports. After two seasons I'm pretty well established and bring my guns to the US six months a year. I have the feeling I would still be waiting hat in hand waiting for the favour of the establishment at Burlington. I hope I'm not being unfair but that's how I felt. I have a second membership at Silverdale and am a happy camper.
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This is how it should be if we hope to expand our sport.
 
And another thing....

As someone said, newbies are any organization's most valued resource if for no other reason than the often represent whole families and friendship groups that either know nothing about our sports and the quality of the people who practice them or because they could be anti's for no other reason than they are outsiders.

This is why I think that promoting the ownership of firearms and the sports using them has to change. It makes no sense to me to repeatedly attack and demean the other side. A far better approach is to expose them to our values and to potentially integrate them. Converted opponents make the BEST promoters. How do I know this?? Two years ago I was anti-gun for perhaps the best/worst reason- ignorance. I spent a winter in Texas, hooked up with a neighbor to go shooting, shot a handgun for the first time at 65 and now own FOUR guns and have memberships at two clubs. I fast tracked and got my Black Badge from a cold start in five months and haven't looked back. Guess what I talk about and promote now.

And another thing. One of the groups that fear guns and shooting most is women! Get your wives out. Nag your kids into letting your grandchildren go to the range with you. Be an example! Not too many in my family know anything about the shooting sports and firearms but they do know me and hopefully don`t think I`m a threat to anything or anybody.

So lets take all the energy that is wasted bad mouthing the other side and start recruiting and diffusing the ignorance.
 
I find it very odd why some clubs will only accept members once or twice a year and then put them through very long probationary process. The last club I was at went to a process of accepting new members twice a year from all year, I was dead set against it. The new club I am at, we accept members all the time, you come out, you pay your dues, you do the course and you are in, plain and simple. To keep the sport going and encourage people to join or even start shooting, you don't tell them "sorry we are not accepting new members right now, see you in October". And the argument of well we are full and have lots of people, what is the difference if you accept 1-2 at a time over 12 months or 12-24 once a year, that is not how to promote this sport.
 
The overall sentiment on this thread speaks for itself!

I think we can all agree that clubs are the final factor when it comes to shooting sports.

The government makes it a lengthy, difficult and intimidating process to deter people from going through with it.....if clubs take the same attitude...they're only doing the same thing....detering people from joining our community.

Safety in shooting sport is of the upmost importance...just don't turn it into a overly bogged down process that simply impedes on the promotion of the sport and turns it into a bureaucratic nightmare.

Keep it safe, pleasant, and inviting to newcomers....not intimidating, complicated and a bureaucratic nightmare...
 
Steve David said:
I find it very odd why some clubs will only accept members once or twice a year and then put them through very long probationary process. The last club I was at went to a process of accepting new members twice a year from all year, I was dead set against it. The new club I am at, we accept members all the time, you come out, you pay your dues, you do the course and you are in, plain and simple. To keep the sport going and encourage people to join or even start shooting, you don't tell them "sorry we are not accepting new members right now, see you in October". And the argument of well we are full and have lots of people, what is the difference if you accept 1-2 at a time over 12 months or 12-24 once a year, that is not how to promote this sport.
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Reason is that fudds really do not care about future of shooting sports.

They are in it only for themselves, they hate to see new faces.

Gun club becomes social club for ole boys, that don't even shoot anymore.
 
mlehtovaara said:
But skeetgunner(I think) will be along shortly to tell you it is the best club ever!
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We are certainly not the best club ever. We're not a Clays club. We're not a long-range club. We don't do Archery. We don't have a trout pond. And we don't have a kitchen. We don't try to be all things to all people. We're an indoor, heated, 50yard club that caters to Bullseye, IPSCH, Rifle, Silhouette, Blackpowder, ISU (Juniors and Pony Club), PPC and Airgun shooting leagues, while offering a 24/7 venue. The backstop is rated for everything you can lawfully throw at it, although shotgun is slug only.

We have a vetting process that is simple and easy to do. It posed no substantial challenge to our existing 1,700+ members. The bulk of our members complete it in less than a month, many the same week they took the safety course. We are in a period of heavy growth and member turnover is almost nil. Churn is at its lowest point in years.

Our safety course is full until May, but the wait-list can easily be circumvented by following the "walk-in" procedure posted on our web site. If the OP was to attend the December course, he could be a full member before the end of January.
 
skeetgunner said:
We are certainly not the best club ever. We're not a Clays club. We're not a long-range club. We don't do Archery. We don't have a trout pond. And we don't have a kitchen. We don't try to be all things to all people. We're an indoor, heated, 50yard club that caters to Bullseye, IPSCH, Rifle, Silhouette, Blackpowder, ISU (Juniors and Pony Club), PPC and Airgun shooting leagues, while offering a 24/7 venue. The backstop is rated for everything you can lawfully throw at it, although shotgun is slug only.

We have a vetting process that is simple and easy to do. It posed no substantial challenge to our existing 1,700+ members. The bulk of our members complete it in less than a month, many the same week they took the safety course. We are in a period of heavy growth and member turnover is almost nil. Churn is at its lowest point in years.

Our safety course is full until May, but the wait-list can easily be circumvented by following the "walk-in" procedure posted on our web site. If the OP was to attend the December course, he could be a full member before the end of January.
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Don't forget all of the prior discussion of the insane requirements at BRRC... which those alone make many go elsewhere.
Though as stated before to be fair there is worse elsewhere.
 
Shalimar said:
Don't forget all of the prior discussion of the insane requirements at BRRC... which those alone make many go elsewhere.
Though as stated before to be fair there is worse elsewhere.
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On the spectrum from "none-to-insane," I'd place Range Burlington pretty much in the middle. We don't allow walk-in shooters nor do we insist that our members purchase a $1,500 share or force them to quality (and/or pay) for each range, discipline type, action type or under-go 10-15 supervised shoots or months of probationary shooting. And you can shoot by yourself at BRRC.

Is there room for improvement? Of course! Are we the worst of the lot? Far, far from it. With the exception of Silverdale and HGC (shotgun only) we've probably go the least onerous vetting process in the western-GTA.
 
skeetgunner said:
On the spectrum from "none-to-insane," I'd place Range Burlington pretty much in the middle. We don't allow walk-in shooters nor do we insist that our members purchase a $1,500 share or force them to quality (and/or pay) for each range, discipline type, action type or under-go 10-15 supervised shoots or months of probationary shooting.

And you can shoot by yourself at BRRC.
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Hence why i said to be fair there are far worse. Though I still say much of the req at brrc are :bangHead:

The shooting alone though is EXCELLENT IMO.
 
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