Could your club do more ?

bobmac

bobmac

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With all the technology and social media we have today, is your club taking full advantage to advertise your club and attract new members?

Websites are obviously the first port of call when most people are looking for somewhere to play or join.
Loads of photographs I believe are a must starting with
  • a Google map of its location how to get there
  • photos of the pro and shop as your first port of call
  • photos of the clubhouse...... bar/restaurant/locker rooms/snooker etc
  • photos of the practice facilities
  • cost of green fees/membership
  • photos of the ladies and junior sections (A MUST)
  • Then the usual members area, club contacts, history etc etc
Too many clubs are missing a huge opportunity to properly 'sell' their club by portraying it as a sad old place which is full of old folk wandering round being towed along by their trolleys and the clubhouse only fit for bridge evenings and bingo.

Take a look at your own club's website and ask yourself

  • Does it show off your club to it's full potential
  • Does it have photos of juniors and 30 something ladies enjoying a game of golf or using the bar and facilities
  • Does it show members of all age groups enjoying social evenings
Or is it
  • Mostly a text based site with a few token pics of a few coffin dodgers out for a stroll
  • A welcome note from the captain
  • A list of club officers
  • A fleeting mention that there is a pro shop somewhere
Not to mention Facebook or Twitter which would attract the younger element (don't tell Hobbit) ;)

I know there are some great sites out there, but is your club one of them or is it a case of 'must try harder'?
 
My club is absolutely p#*s poor. No f'book or twitter accounts. The website is pedestrian and uninviting. The young pro in the shop occasionally uses twitter to give info on the course but this is sporadic. Very poor really.
 
Whilst a good website is essential for bringing in visitors or new members it needs to be updated and kept fresh with current information. That can be a problem. You need computer literate people who can do that quickly and easily when it is needed. I've been our Junior Convenor for the last two seasons and have to keep our Junior section up to date with results, forthcoming events, coaching info, and anything else they need. It's a time consuming task and fortunately I'm computer literate and can understand what I'm doing when editing pages or uploading photos etc.

We're about to change and go live with a new style website next month. I've had one training session already and had time to play behind the scenes in an effort to get up to speed with how it works. It all takes time to make things look good.

We use Facebook, having a closed group for our Juniors. Since all of them use facebook it's a great way to communicate and to keep them up to speed on things. I've already posted an reminder about the competition this afternoon on there this morning. A well run facebook page is great to use for them.

Don't be too hard on clubs that don't have all singing all dancing web sites. It costs a fair bit to host a site, it takes time and effort to maintain and the worst thing you could do is leave it all to one man. the duty needs to be spread around to lighten the load.
 
:whistle:thank god for that bob i thought it was about stocking the v-easy!!!!! my clubs web site is not to bad for members and the pro does have a link on it but the chap who ran the web site sadly passed away last year and no one has of yet taken over the job,i think most new members join a golf club because of word of mouth or know someone who is a member and if your area is like mine you tend to know the good from the bad,and most have open days or a free taster round these days.
 
You make a big assumption that all clubs need more members. Our membership has grown steadily over the last few years as the course and practise facilities have improved against some of the local competition, not to mention an increase in pay and play additionally to the point where too many not too few is the problem going forward imo, thankfully our website whilst adequate isnt actively trying to get us even more members.
 
Dodger said:
I do.

I don't agree with some of your post though but then I am not an expert either but have taken advice from industry experts.
Click to expand...

Dodger, I wasn't talking about your club or anyone's club in particular, I was just asking the question.
It seems from some of the replies that some members think their club could do better.

You make a big assumption that all clubs need more members
Click to expand...

Nope, didn't say that either.
I'm glad your club is flourishing but the sad fact is , some clubs arent and need to attract new members.
 
Last edited:
DCB said:
Whilst a good website is essential for bringing in visitors or new members it needs to be updated and kept fresh with current information. That can be a problem. You need computer literate people who can do that quickly and easily when it is needed.
Click to expand...

Where this is an issue, the clubs need to make sure that they invest in a website design that has a content management system built in which means that very little computer literacy is needed to keep the content up to date. Pretty much anyone who knows how to go onto the web, log in to a website and type text would be able to manage it. That would mean anyone who can use the forum!!
 
Been a pet subject of mine for months now. The website is adquate but we are missing a huge trick promoting via social networks. I asked a while back for other club websites, monthly newsletters and links to facebook or twitter pages. I pulled it together (many thanks if you sent me anything) and put it into a short presentation. The club said they did not think there was a need to introduce socil amedia as the majority of members don't use it.

No evidence other than the damming word of the committee yet I see the majority of our members inculdung the ladies and seniors with smart phones. No discussion, no looking into it further. The cherry on the cake was they thought their once a month (at best) table top letter was the best way of letting people know results and forthcoming events. WHat about the car park golfers that never venture into the 19th, and those wanting to know more up to date information?

Sadly my club is technophobic. It doesn't take much time or effort to set up social network pages and a matter of minutes to post something relevant or prevalent to the day (course closed, greens maintenance going on, large society booked in etc). I haven't given up the ghost and will wait for the new captain to come in during October and try again as he seems far more receptive to ideas
 
I feel that my club website does a pretty good job. Shows the course, the fees, the pro shop, contact details etc. The club has no social media presence but does very well with emails alone. I get updates, tee closures, even info on sales in the pro shop by email and so I am happy with that.

What would I change, I would have a facebook back that you could use to arrange a game, get course conditions etc. The other ideal would be a google diary that I could sync with to get all of the comp dates into my phone/netbook.
 
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