Membership in decline...

[Tiger]

So I'm finally getting round to reading the Darren Clarke GM edition and was intrigued by two things. Firstly good luck to the guys at the Centurion Club. From the photos I saw it looked good but not as good as their proposed pricing model. The second thing was the clothing debate, or more crucially the premise under which the article was started...

The suggestion was that golf club membership was reducing and ageing and that somehow this was linked to dress codes. I don't think there's evidence of this and think the problems are more to do with the speed, cost and brand of the game.

When I think about why I hadn't started golf sooner it was because I believed the game was too expensive, took too long and was for old people. What's worse is now I play golf I recognise that it costs me a fortune, takes so long my Mrs gives me earache every time I play and is predominantly played by older people...

So what do you think needs to be done to boost club membership?

 

[StrangelyBrown]

So what do you think needs to be done to boost club membership?

1. It needs to be cheaper.
2. It needs to encourage younger, more open-minded people to participate.
3. It needs to rid itself of the perception / stereotype that it's played by old, boring, narrow-minded, elitest, beligerent, arrogant, poorly dressed, arrogant, egotistical, sneering twonks.

The last one is the most difficult to change, because they are not just perceptions / stereotypes. They exist. Even on this forum, I'm sorry to say.

 

[dufferman]

1. It needs to be cheaper.
2. It needs to encourage younger, more open-minded people to participate.
3. It needs to rid itself of the perception / stereotype that it's played by old, boring, narrow-minded, elitest, beligerent, arrogant, poorly dressed, arrogant, egotistical, sneering twonks.

The last one is the most difficult to change, because they are not just perceptions / stereotypes. They exist. Even on this forum, I'm sorry to say.

I couldn't agree more. The posts I see on here absolutely astound me, and yet people wonder why this game we all love isn't as popular as it could be.

What's worse, I truly believe that many of these people DO NOT want the sport to change, and would rather the sport die out with them and their way of playing than flourish for the next generation!

 

[scratch]

1. It needs to be cheaper.
2. It needs to encourage younger, more open-minded people to participate.
3. It needs to rid itself of the perception / stereotype that it's played by old, boring, narrow-minded, elitest, beligerent, arrogant, poorly dressed, arrogant, egotistical, sneering twonks.

The last one is the most difficult to change, because they are not just perceptions / stereotypes. They exist. Even on this forum, I'm sorry to say.

I'm not sure if I actually agree with these views. I think the problem is a bit more deep rooted than this. Modern kids are spending much less time partaking in sport and more time on games consoles and PC's. And I think this is coming from the attitudes of schools and 'compensation cultures' where they don't encourage sport anymore in case someone gets injured and the school gets sued.

Start encouraging kids to play more sport and there will be more people getting into golf, after all it is quite a cool sport with people like Woods and McIlroy as ambassadors.

 

[cs1986]

1. It needs to be cheaper.
2. It needs to encourage younger, more open-minded people to participate.
3. It needs to rid itself of the perception / stereotype that it's played by old, boring, narrow-minded, elitest, beligerent, arrogant, poorly dressed, arrogant, egotistical, sneering twonks.

The last one is the most difficult to change, because they are not just perceptions / stereotypes. They exist. Even on this forum, I'm sorry to say.

Must admit whenever I go playing golf wether it be at the driving range, in the club shop, on the putting green or even in american golf, there is always someone there who I feel is arrogant and is looking down at you. Maybe its my own paranoia but just the way some people look at you when in a golf establishment says 'What are you doing here?'

I also think membership fees should be cheaper. £1000 a year for example is damn expensive, especially in the current climate!

 

[Bucket92]

I've heard a few of my mates say that they don't understand why golfers have to wear such stupid clothes, could be a reason for a lot of people not wanting to try it?

 

[sydney greenstreet]

I do not think golf is as expensive as it once was, when I was a lad it was very expensive and felt snobby, nowadays you can get a starter set for under £100, maybe not the best but I played Dunlop 65i irons until a few years ago at a cost of £4.99 a club and got down to a hcp of 14, so when some high cappers pay 3 or 4 hundred pounds for irons and still play off 28. It can be expensive but only if you want it too. Consider a game of football that costs about £25 a ticket for 90 mins of action and a round of golf for the same price for 3 hours of fun.

 

[Slab]

I heard recently that there was only one or two sports not in decline (Lingerie Football being one, google it if you don't believe it exists)

But for golf I'd have to say that cost is a huge barrier for many while a real/perceived lack of welcoming playable short courses with learning/practice areas at a keen vfm price

This perception may come from too many courses being private clubs, located behind wrought iron gates and long driveways (not that these need to change dramatically, only that more welcoming open facilities need to exist)

 

[dufferman]

I'm not sure if I actually agree with these views. I think the problem is a bit more deep rooted than this. Modern kids are spending much less time partaking in sport and more time on games consoles and PC's. And I think this is coming from the attitudes of schools and 'compensation cultures' where they don't encourage sport anymore in case someone gets injured and the school gets sued.

Start encouraging kids to play more sport and there will be more people getting into golf, after all it is quite a cool sport with people like Woods and McIlroy as ambassadors.

Even if the government / councils / schools did start encouraging more sport in youngsters, Golf wouldn't be top of the list. Tennis, Football, Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Rounders, Netball, Basketball, Badminton, all aspect of track & field all get a look in over golf because of the cost and space needed. Could you imagine a school group of 13-16 year old's popping to your course for an hour golf lesson out on the course? Nope, neither can I.

Saying that, I played bank holiday Monday with my mate and his 6 year old son came along for the day. He stayed in the buggy on the course, except for Tees & Greens where he hit a few shots & putts - he was quite into it and felt like a grown up which I guess helped. He couldn't play for toffee's BTW, he's not a McIlroy in the making. The Marshall on the course said nothing, didn't give us a hard time, and we weren't holding up play at all.

I feel that had that of happened on other courses I play, there would be many people to jump on the 'GET THAT CHILD OFF THE COURSE' bandwagon, as there will be on here. Goes back to some people not wanting to change the view of old men in plus 4's smoking pipes and what not!

 

[MegaSteve]

In general the 'ordinary working man/woman' doesn't have as much disposable income as he/she say had a decade or so ago [when 'the game' was booming]... When that 'problem' is 'cured' I am sure the game will get looked again at by the 'masses' and boom times will return...

 

[triple_bogey]

So I'm finally getting round to reading the Darren Clarke GM edition and was intrigued by two things. Firstly good luck to the guys at the Centurion Club. From the photos I saw it looked good but not as good as their proposed pricing model. The second thing was the clothing debate, or more crucially the premise under which the article was started...

The suggestion was that golf club membership was reducing and ageing and that somehow this was linked to dress codes. I don't think there's evidence of this and think the problems are more to do with the speed, cost and brand of the game.

When I think about why I hadn't started golf sooner it was because I believed the game was too expensive, took too long and was for old people. What's worse is now I play golf I recognise that it costs me a fortune, takes so long my Mrs gives me earache every time I play and is predominantly played by older people...

So what do you think needs to be done to boost club membership?

Totally agree with point 3. The thing is, these types want to keep it old fashioned. As a way of keeping the ruffian's out.

Are we talking about the decline of membership in the UK only or is it worldwide? Not read the article.

 

[Sharktooth]

R

I do not think golf is as expensive as it once was, when I was a lad it was very expensive and felt snobby, nowadays you can get a starter set for under £100, maybe not the best but I played Dunlop 65i irons until a few years ago at a cost of £4.99 a club and got down to a hcp of 14, so when some high cappers pay 3 or 4 hundred pounds for irons and still play off 28. It can be expensive but only if you want it too. Consider a game of football that costs about £25 a ticket for 90 mins of action and a round of golf for the same price for 3 hours of fun.

3 hours of fun? Or 3 hours of frustrations, highs, lows, rushes and contemplations of suicide perhaps?

 

[rosecott]

3. It needs to rid itself of the perception / stereotype that it's played by old, boring, narrow-minded, elitest, beligerent, arrogant, poorly dressed, arrogant, egotistical, sneering twonks.

The last one is the most difficult to change, because they are not just perceptions / stereotypes. They exist. Even on this forum, I'm sorry to say.

Are you talking about me?

 

[dazzio78]

I've heard a few of my mates say that they don't understand why golfers have to wear such stupid clothes, could be a reason for a lot of people not wanting to try it?

On the other hand, a guy at work said he'd like to get into golf just because of the clothes that you can wear To balance that, he went on to say that he felt he needed to be a bit older to play golf (he's mid 20's)...

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Are you talking about me?

Only you yourself can answer that.

 

[rosecott]

Only you yourself can answer that.

I could probably claim 5 out of 10.

 

[Qwerty]

1. It needs to be cheaper.
2. It needs to encourage younger, more open-minded people to participate.
3. It needs to rid itself of the perception / stereotype that it's played by old, boring, narrow-minded, elitest, beligerent, arrogant, poorly dressed, arrogant, egotistical, sneering twonks.

The last one is the most difficult to change, because they are not just perceptions / stereotypes. They exist. Even on this forum, I'm sorry to say.

I think the second point is the most important, but as you say they have to be open minded and get beyond their preconceptions and give the game a chance.
They'll never know if the game is for them unless they get out on a course and give it a go. Theres now Golf clubs/courses in most Towns and cities to suit most Attitudes and budgets.

The Majority of most established golf clubs membership is always going to be aged 50+ as they have more disposable cash and more time on their hands. I don't think this will ever change. its not a fact that would ever bother me but Most Kids/ teenagers don't want to be associated with a game that's predominantly played by others that are at least 20 years older than them, unfortunately it's Just not Cool.

I left a very highly rated Golf club due to reasons mentioned in the 3rd point, but I don't begrudge the club existing the way it does. There's plenty of other clubs out there for me to join with members that I seem to have more in common with.

I think what I'm trying to say is that initially it takes a certain type of person to take up golf, Someone who's willing to get out there and give it a go and some who likes a challenge.
Personally, I'd say as a sporty type I was always going to take up the game it was just a matter of when. No type of preconception was going to put me off. If I come across someone who's attitude I don't like I just steer clear.

 

[bluewolf]

I could probably claim 5 out of 10.

Only 5? Hell, I can beat that with my eyes closed behind my copy of the Times in The Men only Lounge.......

 

[bluewolf]

FWIW, one of the biggest barriers to the growth of golf is that most people only take it up when they're over 30. Kids don't want to play it because it's perceived as slow, boring and stuffy (my 9 yr old sons words, not mine). Encourage kids to play and the game will grow, or at least stop declining at as fast a rate.

 

[triple_bogey]

I seen lots of kids really get into the game. They in time start to get better and only when they do show that commitment, do the parents start to think about membership. And this is where I think they start to lose heart. I've seen it happen at my old clubs and at courses where I've been a guest.
The older esteemed members start the bullying (or however you see it) tactics. That ''children should be seen and not heard'' mentality'' is very ripe and alive.
Some I've seen have been reduced to tears.......:sbox: