Taking Deposits - OK for CLs?

I totally agree, in fact I'd suggest that the vast majority of us are good people, it's the very few who let 'us' down. 

I can totally appreciate the small CL owners operating a deposit system as their payment and booking systems are outside that operated by the club.

However, the club is a different 'beast'! It has in place a national computerised booking system covering the whole network. This includes a method of dealing will no shows, and for that matter cancellations which I guess works effectively enough for the majority of us and helps stop offenders spoiling things for the rest of us. If it really isn't a significant problem to the club and its members why should we allow the very few offenders to dictate how the club operates. 

I’m not adverse to a reasonable deposit but I wouldn’t consider the CL with the T&C’s described in the OP

Like Oneputt, we don't mind paying a reasonable deposit, in fact this year we have paid 2 I think, if I remember correctly.  Both were for about the equivalent of a couple of nights stay.  I think the terms for the CL in the OP are a bit harsh, I'am not sure I would consider paying the whole amount in advance. Mind you I can't recall having to cancel a CL yet, but there may be a time in the future 

That’s what I thought, H&T, and then found myself having to cancel. The deposit was non-refundable and I was amazed to be offered it back. I’d inconvenienced the site owner and may have cost him a booking so was quite prepared to forfeit the deposit. Hence the final agreement on splitting the difference.