Golf clubs in trouble?

[inthehole]

Credit crunch, recession, number of golfers/club membership declining.. I guess we've all heard these comments but how many clubs have gone into administration? how much of the gossip is actually true ? Isnt it just the case that some clubs will just spend less money and accept a more basic level of service/quality? What happens to courses if there is no demand do the courses which shut just become farmland? What does everyone think?

 

[USER1999]

I guess some will inevitably fold, new owners will come in, invest more money and the whole thing will start up again, until it all goes bust again.

Tbh, I hope some of the rubbish (there are many) courses do fold, and their members and customers can go and support the better courses, thus keeping them afloat.

 

[dangermouse]

not many clubs will fold immediately would be my guess - most will have something in the bank or some sort of bakn funding, and it will take a few years for the closures to start coming thick and fast.

most clubs need more juniors to play the game though - we have the grand total of 1 junior in the club, and about 50 members over 60. When the inevitable happens in a handful of years, it leaves us 49 memberships short of where we are now

Edited the maths - no-one would believe I'm an accountant!

 

[viscount17]

Amid all this we have one course expanding (with rather grandiose ideas!) and another in the planning stage. Our course manager reckons both will be in trouble, the one thing we're not short of here is courses.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know our club has been struggling to attract new members and that we aren't full but I'm pretty sure we're doing ok as we had some robust planning when we were forced to move from inside the racecourse five or so years ago. That said I know a few plans for work on the course and inside the clubhouse have been trimmed down or put on hold but I think we'll be ok.

That said I hear rumours that Mill Ride just down the road are also struggling. They seem to have been in difficulties for a few years now and we at Royal Ascot came very close at one point to buying them out when our own future wasn't so clear cut. A decent course but one that seemes only to cater for society and corporate bookings and where memberships can often have to wait for a tee time.

 

[Imurg]

I've documented here before how astonished I am that my old club is still going with less then 100 members, some of which are 5 dayers and some associate (small subs/discounted green fee). The place is never busy and it must be the range that keeps it going - as its the only one in town.
New club seems healthy and busy - hopefully no problems there.

 

[pigmeister]

What courses are they viscount?

 

[viscount17]

One near St Ives is developing a 'championship' course. Their plan is to host championship events within 5 years. Spending a fortune bringing in mature trees apparently. It is also said that membership will be astronomical so what that says about green fees!

The second is planned for Little Paxton, £7M development, but only in the permissions stage. They'll be competing against; Wyboston (3 m), St Neots (1.5), Abbotsley & Cromwell (4 m), John O'Gaunt (8 m), Brampton (5 m), St Ives (9 m), Colmworth (7 m), Pidley (13 m), Menzies Cambridge (12 m), Cambridge Meridian (12 m), Bourn (10 m), Orton Meadows (21 m), Thorpe Wood (22 m), and a whole lot more within 20 miles/less than 30 mins.