Communication

[HomerJSimpson]

How does your club pass on the latest news. Do receive an e-mail newsletter every month? Do you get a table top bulletin. Does your club even use e-mail.

I have to say I'm pretty disappointed in my club. I get an e-mail to confirm my start time in a competition and one from HDID but I never get any news. The only thing we have is a tabletop thing with out of date scores and results and a short monthly message from the captain.

The members rarely get asked if they are happy with the club. I know one club that have just sent an annual membership survey out and the majority have received it by e-mail. Those that aren't online can submit a written copy. I applaud this. It's quite a weighty tome and I guess as long as the views are taken into consideration and acted upon (within reason and budgets obviously) then its a worthwhile process.

The said club also sends out a monthly newsletter. It has all the forthcoming fixtures (and closing dates) news of club matches. Most importantly it has details of when the tees are booked (societies, comps etc) plus a piece from the captain and committee, pro and head greenkeeper.

Why is it my club seems so reticent at being pro-active. Once the template for an online newsletter is done its got to be easier than producing some three sided table top affair and convey a much more up to date message. It has gone to the trouble of a website revamp but never seems to bother using that to market itself and keep members up to date with what is happening. It doesn't even say if the course is playable or even open

In these times of dropping membership I'd have thought it would have been a simple operation to canvass opinion and do whatever could be done to keep the current membership happy and to encourage new blood. If the newsletter was to be sent out to previous societies and anyone on our mailing database it is simple advertising.

Am I being way too naive and overly critical. Is the club I mentioned unique. Does your club keep you up to date as much as you want. How could things improve.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

The club that im at only has fixtures on website and in the fixture books we get, but dont get updated if a competition is cancelled or society match is on. The best way for us to stay up to date with things is on a blackboard outside the pro shop but thats not always great. The said club that your on about sounds good but dont think many clubs will do this due to financial situation of the club or time and effort needed to do what is necessary to make things happen.

 

[drawboy]

I don't think I get anything along these lines but what a great idea, it keeps people in the loop (note the management speak) and gives a chance to feedback usefull ideas.

 

[DCB]

Our club makes good use of email. Seems an ideal way of letting members know about most things. I got an update on Thursday telling me that todays comp was cancelled due to the course condition after the weeks adverse weather.

It's also used to remind members about social event as well as any changes to the playing fixtures.

Good way to communicate things IMO.

 

[jammydodger]

We get an email every Monday lunchtime. It confirms the ersults of any comp held that weekend and updates the OOm positions. This is for all sides of the club ie men,lady,junior and senior.

It keeps you informed of course updates and the fitures for the next 2 weeks etc. Reminders of social events etc

Its nice to have the weekend results cos we havnt signed up to HDID

 

[didsbury_duffer]

Homer - just look at our website (both members and visitors sections).......and drool. News items from each section, full computerised diary of events, score records for every member, full handicap lists. I could go on.

www.didsburygolfclub.com

 

[Sponge1980]

All our updates are put on the website and pinned up on the bulletin board in the club. As our club is pretty small any news soons spreads through the members regardless of how the info is released.

 

[gjbike]

We get a monthly email called the link that keeps you informed of what going on at the club, diary of event, social side and results.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Some interesting thoughts and an excellent site from Didsbury. I'm thinking of presenting to our captain about the lack of communication and will definitely use this as a template. There does seem a lack of monthly newsletters though which surprises me. I thought a once a month round up mailed to members would be a cost efficient way of getting the latest news and forthcoming events (golf and social) to as wide an audience as possible.

 

[JT77]

We get a monthly news letter at Galgorm. They have the fixtures online and an online tee booking system. We get occaisional updates about things like when electric trolleys are allowed on the course again etc. and they also give a rundown of the weekly members comp. Pretty decent really.

 

[pigmeister]

Homer, have a look at our web site, i think its one of the better ones on here. We can look to see whats happening catering wise, society tee times, work being carried out on the course and generally whats happening around the club.
We also get a 16 page monthly magazine that has captains page, ladies, wildlife, seniors, juniors, course, admin news, scratch and B team news, kitchen, competition dates and results and a two page diary for the coming month.
We also get regular emails reguarding eating in the resturaunt, scratch matches and competition news, if slots become availiable etc.

 

[SammmeBee]

Homer...what does your 1500 quid a year go towards then???...I would have thought a manager that knows what the locals/customers want at the very least.......

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sammmebee,

The problem is I don't think the club has ever adressed this issue. It's always be a homespun type of club where the majority of members are up there all the time so know what's happening. The problem lies when we have bad weather etc and no information is posted on whether the course is open or not.

I think its a big problem but one that can be easiliy rectified. I just don't think the Captain and Directors are aware yet.