Are Golf Clubs Slowly Dying?

[Toad]

The reason I ask this is at my club while looking through the members list I found that around 55% of our members are men over 60, 40% are between 40-60 and the majority of the last 5% are 30-40.

In the ladies section most are fully paid up members of the Blue Rinse Mafia, with only 10% of the ladies under 30.

Our junior section is not looking too healthy either, we do have a big drive on to attract younger members with great discounts on fee's but even that does not seem to be drawing them in.

What will happen to our clubs when these older members stop playing?

How is it at your club are they all having the same problem or is it just that there are too many OAP's in Perthshire?

 

[Macster]

Ours used to be the domain of very pompous elderly money men only, but since the old 'secretary' got the boot years ago, and a more modern way of thinking 'Director of Golf' installed, the Club has gone from strength to strength.
Junior section now doing very well too, most of them pick up the damn trophies at the end of last year and look like doing the same this year !
Mind you, a lot of them are low H/C's anyways, so they deserve them, and nearly everyone is glad to see them win.

Sounds like some changes are needed at yours too .

 

[USER1999]

My club is very strong, with a good mix of ages. We have just reopened the waiting list, which has been closed for a number of years.

Burnham on the other hand has a large elderly section, and will be in serious trouble soon.

It depends on the course / club really.

This is partly why you need a good junior section, and also why it is worth subsidising younger members up to 25 / 30, to keep their business for later years.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure what the exact breakdown is but I think our club has a hardcore of regular playing membership in the 30-55 bracket. That at least seems to me how the fields in monthly stablefords etc are assembled. We do have a large and very active seniors section as well but it doesn't seem overly weighted. I think a lot of people feel the oldies rule as they tend to be up there more often.

Our junior section is doing ok with a number of very talented golfers coming through but we do need it ideally to be larger and better supported by rank and file membership.

Our ladies section are pretty much a law unto themselves but my general feeling is that they do have a significantly older section (50 and upwards) and that there isn't really an influx of youngsters or indeed juniors.

My club has been struggling to attract new members as have many. We have advertised locally and held a series of open days but I know the numbers still arent't good. Fees are already high compared with local pay and plays locally but at the moment it is still on the happy side of value for money but if we are short at seasons end and fees are increased to cover shortfall it may need serious reconsideration

 

[SS2]

This is partly why you need a good junior section, and also why it is worth subsidising younger members up to 25 / 30, to keep their business for later years.

Exactly right. I stopped playing completely between the ages of 18 and 28 because of the costs involved.

 

[GB72]

Think my club may have the same problem with ages. Certainly we are now offering substantial discounts to anyone under the age of 36. That said, the junior section seems to be doing OK.

 

[Tommo21]

I have a few clubs in my area that’s been struggling for one reason or another and I think, one of the reasons anyway, it’s down to new golf courses opening over the last few years. People in East Lothian have a mass of courses to pick from now. In saying that, more and more of the serious golfers, like myself, are playing at two clubs.

 

[viscount17]

Ours is somewhat different in that greenfees are paid to the development company while the club runs the handicaps and competitions. The club has a large and active seniors section, a good number of U50's, fewer U30's, but a good number of juniors (which is probably due to our having the best junior coaches in our and the neighbouring counties).
There are a lot more who pay the annual greenfee but don't belong to the club.

 

[andiritchie]

I was trying to join 2 local clubs a few months ago and as iam 25 i didnt feel the need to pay the joining fee with all the years of subs and money spent in the bar and pro shop,£1000 is a lot of money for anyone to pay just to get in i tryed to reason with them but they would not have it so i joining a club 15 miles away which offered me a good deal

Golf clubs need to look after young members,me and the girlfriend play and the money spent in the club over numerous years could go into tens of thousands there loss i suppose

 

[OldWindy]

Quite the reverse over here. The underlying reason for the club's increased popularity has been the change in management. We no longer have people saying things like "it's not like it was 20 years ago", etc. cos the club/course is very healthy and word is getting round. The only thing worth noting is that the junior section could have more subs but this being effectively a holiday village the numbers vary between school holidays.

 

[GB72]

We still have the joining fee but only charge one if you join as a couple. That in itself has helped keep the average age of the women's section down.

 

[theeaglehunter]

My club is just fine, great number of junior golfers, majority in the middle age bracket and a large senior section as well all of whom support the juniors 100% making for a nice healthy atmosphere on the course and in the club house. The reason for the attraction of a large range of juniors is because my club has by far the best facilities in the area so keen, talented young golfers are leaving other clubs in order to join.

 

[andycap]

On the whole i think most clubs in my area do quite well, although many are not that old reltively speaking so the "old school"issue is not so apparent. In the last few years there has been an increase in the number of clubs that have been purchased by companies or partners that are primarily in the construction industry and have come up with all these grand ideas of re-shaping the course and "improvements" when basically all they are looking for is somewhere to tip all the spoil from their construction projects, thus avoiding very expensive land fill costs.
This has happened at my local course, although the local planning dept. has wised up to this ploy and they have had numerous applications refused.But the course went ahead and started works anyway.The local authority has ordered them to stop all works and i understand that the club is now up for sale. The new owners have only had it about 2 years and spent about 2 million turning it into a hotel/ leisure centre/ functions, weddings etc.Some work unfinished,
Just goes to show that without the ability to use it as a land fill site it is not viable

 

[Marko77]

I think its definately a trend in Perthshire Toad. Without knowing for sure I'd say Murrayshall's mens figures would be about the same as yourselves although I'd guess our junior section and younger ladies stats are worse.

Hopefully clubgolf will help spark new interest and boost junior memberships across the land but I think in a few years there is going to be a gap in most clubs between the Seniors and the Juniors with a limited number wedged in between.

 

[forefortheday]

It's no wonder if some are I'm afraid.

I rang to book at a course in Wigan a week before, was told ring Saturday,Rang Saturday they then tried to tell me to book Sunday.

I asked if I could just book a tee time then when I told them I was looking between 9-11am they said "Oh we've got no one on during that time what would you like"????

Looked at membership for a club in Southport the other day they said "Yes we are looking for members but it's an 18 month subscription period". So I would end up paying £900 until April when it's about £700 for the next year???

It's the only business I know where you have to hand over money when they want you to not when you want to.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to say whilst I'm opposed to joining fees (I got charged to rejoin Ascot despite being a staunch supporter of the club before, representing the club in numerous matches, gold board winner etc and finding out that other members had theirs waved) it is a sad economic fact that for the majority it is a ready made way of increasing revenue. Most prospective members are clued up enough to realise a joining fee is an expectation, and most make the charge clear in their joining packs.

I think with the economic squeeze continuing and memberships dwindling there will be no let up soon in this levy. I realise not every club operates the system andif yours doesn't then you are very lucky and in a minority.

I guess the question then is. Do you get value for money as a new member. You have to pay substantially more than the guy next to you on the tee for the same facilities so the economic answer has to be no. However if you view that first year as a one off hit, the remaining costs spread over a year should represent a good return for your outlay. Otherwise why bother being a member somewhere you are paying to play and not enjoying it.

So what do you need to get value fr money. Purely from a personal persepctive I need a challenging course that is well maintained, is constantly evolving, and provides me with a firm but fair challenge in every type of weather.

I need a good practice facility where I can practice and hone my game and which should include a decent practice area where I can use every club in the bag (some club ranges are too short to use woods), a maintained practice bunker, a putting green that resembles those on the course and a short game area.

I need a good pro who can give me lessons in a manner I understand and at a reasonable price. He must be someone who offers me competitve prices and recognises customer loyalty. The occassional unexpected deal/freebie is a sure way of generating return custom.

I need a clubhouse that has a warm atmosphere where you can relax post round and enjoy a good laugh at the tragedies that have befallen me without having to worry about upsetting anyone or damaging the cloistered atmosphere of the inner clubhouse sanctum. Fortunately our spike bar is as warm and welcoming as it gets to members and guests alike.

Finally I need a good year long competitive calender but more importantly I need a membership who share my love of the game and want to win, but not at all costs, and not to the detriment of enjoying the game. It is a leisure activity after all. I need to be able to play at times that suit me (Ascot members can roll up and go out anytime - no pre-booking required save for competitions)

If you can find all of that in club then not only are you a lucky golfer, but within reason, must expect to pay market prices. My club is expensive but given the private clubs nearby (Wentworth, Mill Ride, The Berkshire etc) still gives market value and I get my money's worth each year. Whilst clubs can still offer value for money then I think (hope) the majority, especially thos that are established, will survive

 

[Herbie]

There are many reasons why memberships show a high % of middle aged and elderly,more money and more courses available, people are living longer. Mid to old age take up golf as a hobby and/or a means for interaction with people that they miss very much after they retired. Younger people however have less time and less cash in general than others. You will always have wealthy kids but not in large numbers. You will find that clubs that have junior consessions and other schemes aimed at the young have a healthy membership and more importantly, a future. But as long as people are prepared to spend rediculous money on anything GOLF it will always have an effect on the economics of the game the clubs and the membership.
To answer your question, I think some clubs may die or change hands and others, well managed thinkers about the future, will prosper. The big club names with the big costs may one day feel the pinch when their overpricing catches up with them. I wonder how many people didnt play the big names this year due to the financial probs these days? Ive seen no end of bargain offers to play some of them where before the current financial crisis you had little chance to get a tee time. Not so long ago you had to book some of the top courses nearly a yr in advance, there are a lot of tee spaces available nowadays.All it needs is economic melting for a few yrs to change everything, including golf.

 

[StuartD]

My old club is in a bad way just now despite having, in number terms, the largest mebership it has had for years. It has a huge junior section just now and a large group of regulars who have been at the club for years. This has caused problems as more and more of the regulars are now getting reduced fees and the junior membership is dirt cheap. As a result the money coming in each year is lesss and less

 

[Herbie]

My old club is in a bad way just now despite having, in number terms, the largest mebership it has had for years. It has a huge junior section just now and a large group of regulars who have been at the club for years. This has caused problems as more and more of the regulars are now getting reduced fees and the junior membership is dirt cheap. As a result the money coming in each year is lesss and less

There are many ways to have junior membership and still thrive.Limited membership for eg where juniors only play certain days and have no vote etc, this should have no effect on established members and should not cause price for full membership to fall. Is it just a membership of old selfish spiteful b*gg*rs?
I cant see how with an increase in juniors and overall membership the revenue is less and less each yr,methinks you need a better management.

 

[Cernunnos]

I hardly think anyone in their early or for that matter mid to late 40's can be described as old. though there are some local clubs where the over 50's, well more like 60's 70's & 80's seem to rule the roost. But I can quote just as many if not more clubs where the majority of members are young & I mean in the teens & early 20's & 30's I even know one club where there are reduced rates for members even up to 35... wow..!

The club where I currently play has many young members who seem to be un-naturally talented at the game. Am only jelous really. Making me wish it was as easy to get involved in the game when I was their age.

Golf is certainly not dying, though some clubs don't seem to have welcomed the 21st century as willingly as some others.

As for the issue of paying joining fees, not a fan, but once you've been asked to pay a fee once to join a club that should be enough. I don't mind paying a small admin fee if I leave & later re-join a club as there will be paperwork involved either way, so only seems fair. but to be expeted to pay several hundred quid (or more) for a second time, is just plain wrong.

Infact I've not joind clubs i'd havemuch prefered to play on principle that the joining fees are extotionate.