Golf committees are killing golf clubs....

[Fish]

Interesting article and observation, I'm sure we are all aware of unpopular decisions being made at times and that some clubs and thus committees are entrenched with an old guard, but how many members leave clubs due to the committee and its ruling?

Is it a huge hurdle to get things passed by them, are they frightened of change and as such hold on to draconian and outdated values, should there be more of a mixed age group throughout a general committee or all committees to give balance to the membership?

http://bit.ly/1gjLJLh

 

[fundy]

so 1 students project seems to be failing and that leads to the headline of committees killing golf clubs - seems pretty lazy journalism to me

his idea is hardly unique or ground breaking, maybe thats his issue!

as for committees, very hard to assume they are all the same, some do great things for clubs, some hinder the clubs and all the areas in between

 

[Old Skier]

One of the unfortunate facts of committees is that no one else wants to go on one so you end up with the same people. Most of those same old people would rather let others take the reins but a lot of today's golfers feel they are far to busy to get involved which is a shame because then the committee then get lambasted for being set in their ways.

 

[UlyssesSky]

It's not just committees, but officials on all levels in the golf industry.

While they complain about so many people stopping to play, they seem to do everything to keep the structures that turn people away in tact while introducing changes (e.g. to the handicap system) that don't address the real issues.

 

[Junior]

My own opinion on this is that our club would not survive without the helpers and volunteers who sit on the various committees. It's a thankless task as you are never going to please everyone. Unless your at a top notch course, trying to attract new members whilst keeping the current ones happy is not as easy as it sounds.

 

[Bratty]

so 1 students project seems to be failing and that leads to the headline of committees killing golf clubs - seems pretty lazy journalism to me

his idea is hardly unique or ground breaking, maybe thats his issue!

as for committees, very hard to assume they are all the same, some do great things for clubs, some hinder the clubs and all the areas in between

I agree. It could be that his methodology, profit projections, costings or other factors have been found lacking by certain committees.

There has been a less than positive experience with Groupon at my club, so maybe others are viewing this in the same light?

Mention voucher schemes at my place and wait for the reaction!

 

[duncan mackie]

Well that was a sad article....

Clearly an articulate individual who has managed to secure funding for a business proposition that has nothing new in it on cold analysis. He convinces individuals at clubs to take it to the committee and the committee look at in in the cold light of day and conclude that even if they did want to pursue a program of green fee marketing they wouldn't go this route....

Bad committee?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with the others and one students experiences is hardly a reason to question the hard work and dedication many committees put in up and down the land. Without their efforts and time, many golf clubs would struggle, issues would go unresolved and development of the club and course would stagnate. It's not an easy role as I've found dealing with some of the committee and board but as long as they are open to ideas, fair and up front I don't have a problem, even if their decision isn't always what I want to hear

 

[chrisd]

Ggg

Well that was a sad article....

Clearly an articulate individual who has managed to secure funding for a business proposition that has nothing new in it on cold analysis. He convinces individuals at clubs to take it to the committee and the committee look at in in the cold light of day and conclude that even if they did want to pursue a program of green fee marketing they wouldn't go this route....

Bad committee?

I agree Duncan, having sat on committees of differing sports etc it's noticeable how many ideas pop up and generally they've been tried before and don't work but people get so fixated on the idea they don't accept the integrity of the people who have the final decision for the benefit of the membership. Some clubs are populated by outdated members with outdated views but so few younger people want to help these days and so the status quo remains

 

[Backache]

Mmm lad wants to make money flogging space in golf clubs, clubs don't agree, lad blames committees.

 

[Jimaroid]

Kid's a chancing idiot.

He'll probably go far.

 

[User20205]

It's a decent idea, but not suitable for most members clubs. The misconception is that these, want/need to turn a profit....they don't.

If this was floated to our membership must would pay higher subs than allow discounted tee times.

It's only suitable for a club that has spare capacity it needs to sell.

 

[UlyssesSky]

It's only suitable for a club that has spare capacity it needs to sell.

That would probably be 80% of the clubs, wouldn't it?

And even if clubs don't need to turn a profit, they still need to break even, since no one can afford to spend more than they earn for a longer period of time.

Seeing news like this "Club membership in England dropped 20 per cent between 2004" (source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/rough-times-for-golf-as-britains-amateurs-turn-their-backs-on-the-sport-9687900.html) you'll have to wonder how much more existing members are willing to pay to make up for the loss of members... 20%? 30%? 50%?

Seeing that lack of players is a problem, and, like Einstein said "Problems cannot be solved with the same mind set that created them." Maybe committees like in the OPs post or memberships like yours (@therod, no offense!) are in fact killing golf clubs...

 

[YorkshireStu]

What's killing golf clubs is extraordinary membership fees not specifically committees. Look at most other sports from squash to 5-a-side, they're far cheaper and far more accessible.

 

[Grant85]

There's a few issues here...

Are committee members generally resistant to change?
not in my experience. They may be resistant to effort, as for the most part change takes time which not everyone can afford but most will be willing to explore ideas.

Are committee members lazy?
no! They are giving up their own time that would otherwise be spent golfing or with family.

Are golf clubs run commercially enough?
almost certainly not. Most clubs have their course as their main resource but do not do enough to sell vacant tee times to non-members.
Obviously this is a double edged sword as offering tee times to the public (especially on weekends) may encourage members to resign as they know they can play & spend a bit less money.

I think serving the 'pay to play' golfer is a challenge to most 'struggling' clubs as they have to monetise their course to survive but committees seem reluctant to do this.

 

[Bratty]

We've lost members and we've gained members. It's up to reach club to do what they feel best for their members or shareholders.

Just because the committee decided not to take this person up on their offer doesn't make them a poor committee.

Some clubs fail, some survive. Some committed are great, some are poor. But not all can be either.

 

[heronsghyll]

FYI I left my last club because of a committee ruling. I left my local (only 500 yards to the club house) and joined another course 15 min drive away because of a series of committee decisions. So it's true, some people will leave.

 

[User20205]

That would probably be 80% of the clubs, wouldn't it?

And even if clubs don't need to turn a profit, they still need to break even, since no one can afford to spend more than they earn for a longer period of time.

Seeing news like this "Club membership in England dropped 20 per cent between 2004" (source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/rough-times-for-golf-as-britains-amateurs-turn-their-backs-on-the-sport-9687900.html) you'll have to wonder how much more existing members are willing to pay to make up for the loss of members... 20%? 30%? 50%?

Seeing that lack of players is a problem, and, like Einstein said "Problems cannot be solved with the same mind set that created them." Maybe committees like in the OPs post or memberships like yours (@therod, no offense!) are in fact killing golf clubs...

Don't confuse falling membership with spare capacity.
Rammed courses, 5hr rounds and booked only tee times will accelerate a decline in membership.

Club membership has dropped because there are too many clubs not worth being a member of. If some of those close its not necessarily a bad thing.

The decline in membership is often quoted. Define declining?

There are less members now than when ? 2004 was cited, how does now compare to 1954?

I don't know.

Re the op. There are clubs with spare capacity that work really hard at attracting visitors. I wouldn't be a member at one of those clubs.

 

[hovis]

Beau desert has big problems. The're end of year accounts show that 60% of its members are 55 and over, 27% are 30 to 54, and 10% are 18 to 29 and 3% junior's. 71% of people leaving are in the Junior to 54 range.

This is why clubs are closing. Imo too many people with unwillingness to let go of the old and move with the times and attract some young blood

 

[Bratty]

I remember a survey saying that memberships were dropping. However, the same survey said people didn't necessarily want membership, but wanted to play golf.

So, no amount of "attractive, new shiny, all bells and whistles options" are likely to speak to that group. If that group is large, then clubs are at an impasse, surely.

Attract new blood, yes, by only if the new blood want to be attracted. Which they may not. If that's the case, members will feel aggrieved at all sorts of offers being offered to people who have no intention of joining, and packing out the course.