6 public golf courses in Glasgow in consultation and face closure.

[Jacko_G]

I feel there is a case for a bit more joined up thinking - not just in Glasgow - but in most local authorities with similar issues.

As has been said, many of these courses are not well maintained and probably have skeleton green staff operating at a number of sites and doing the bare minimum to keep them playable. There is probably nothing / very little in the way of forward planning or specialist works to improve the quality of the grass and greens.

My plan would be to reduce the number of sites, raise some capital by selling or leasing the other sites and spend a bit of money on the remaining sites to get them up to standard, to the point a regular golfer would be happy making this their every day course. With a basic clubhouse for drinks and snacks and getting changed.

Allow or support a golf club to form or get off the ground and have a number of memberships at affordable rates to locals for maybe 200 or so members only. Members pay a season ticket for the course and a fee to the club.
Once the club is up and running they are responsible for it operating and get say 1 weekend day and 1 midweek day for specific competitions (max every 2nd tee time booked in advance so that non-members can still get a chance of a game).
Council continue to maintain the course.

200 members will mean decent revenue stream in every year (not just when it is good weather) and some visitor income for the course. It will also give the incentive to green keepers to keep the course in good nick and focus a programme around a club schedule as opposed to just keeping it playable most of the time.
It is also a relatively modest number so plenty of tee times for non-members.
And it will also mean regular members in the area talking about the course and giving it some free word of mouth advertising.

The problem with the current model is with no members or people being attached, there is no buzz about the place, no one feels a sense of belonging and in weeks of poor weather the place will have virtually no turnover. The courses are heavily reliant on getting decent weather at the weekends as well as probably 3 or 4 holidays in terms of Easter, 2 x May and 2 x August holidays. If these days are wet, turnover will be massively impacted.

That is basically the model at present that isn't working as councils are happy to just use them as cash cows.

Even the successful ones such as the Troon municipal courses have deteriorated in standard quite drastically over the years.

 

[Jacko_G]

I think the Mearns Castle model is really good, doesnt have the stuffiness associated with traditional Golf clubs but has all the facilities. People can pay as they play on every aspect of the club, driving range, practice area or course, or you can become a member and have unlimited access to the practice area and course and half price balls for the range. Membership is reasonably priced and no ridiculous joining fee. It really works for folk just dipping their toe into the world of golf.

I have just taken up the Winter Membership (£150) and will more than likely extend that to full membership in April (£300), so that is 18 months membership for £450, by far the best deal in the area. I only need to play one round a month to get my moneys worth. already played 5 in my first two weeks as member.

It's whatever works for you and what gives YOU value. Good stuff that you're enjoying it and using it.