Membership in decline...

[mikee247]

We have a reciprocal arrangement at our place where we can go and play 14 other clubs in the area for free. So yesterday myself and 3 others teed it up at Mill Ride Nr Ascot in Berks. Nice track, Ive played it before, well cared for, good lay out but rubbish greens imo. The place was absolutely dead. Hardly saw a sole all the way round apart from a couple of young chaps in a buggy we let through who were clearly very good. We went in the bar afterwards but we had to let them know we were coming as they close it at 7!!! Again no one in there.... There's tons of incentives everywhere for members to get new ones on board but I was gob smack how dead the place was for a nice club in the heart of the wealthy belt of the UK so it must be bad out there. Im not 100% sure what the fees are but expect they are over 1200 a year but surely as an owner you need to have the club house and the course buzzing all day during the summer and should be doing everything including open days or even free be's to get the bodies in. Anyone a member on here?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Our membership is virtually full, and we have a joining fee. We have picked up a lot of members from one local club. It is not lots of new people taking up the game, but existing golfers looking for something better. Clubs need to be competitive, quality of the course, facilities, subs, to compete, and those that are not competitive risk falling by the wayside.

Trust you are not nicking members form us? Ah yes - of course you transferred

Clubs have to work hard to keep their membership level consistent with the subs they charge and what the existing members think is reasonable. As soon as the balance is wrong the club will struggle membership wise - but it can be sorted. We are very active selling our traditional club and course. We run relatively inexpensive academies for juniors, ladies and gents. At the moment junior and ladies academies are doing well and we are getting a steady feed of new members from them. Gents less so. But then wasn't always a member of a club while I was a student (late teens to mid-20s) , and for ten years when I had a young family - so mid-30s to mid-40s - still playing a little but not a member - family and house costs pressures.

And as far as I can see that isn't going to change as far as membership of clubs is concerned. Other pressures, demands and priorities over key periods in peoples lives - maybe still playing but not a member.

So target has to be getting youngsters interested in the game before mid-teens - they may well not continue playing (much) but the chances are they'll have got an interest that means they may well continue playing a little and then when in 40s can be addressed as potential members - through the likes of our academies. Have a go - inexpensive - see if you like it - think about joining our club - you don't have to.

Final thought - my lad stated playing when he was 11. He joined my club. No joining fee and £100 a year including free group lessons with one of the assistant pros. At 14 cricket took priority so we cancelled his membership as he wasn't playing. Then mid teens - girls and a band - so all sport stopped. But he still played occasional game with me at the club and on holiday and with his mates at the local par 3.

Now coming up 21 - at uni and seriously into his metalcore band - all tattoos, ear stretching (a fad now passed with him thank the lord), alternative dressing, screamo, merch, promoting etc. But he still enjoys playing golf and maintains an interest in watching majors and what's going on in golf. He 'got it' when he was 11. Will he play golf when he is in his 30s - I bet he will be. Will he be a member of a golf club when he is in his late 30s and 40s - I'd guess quite possibly. It would then be up to the likes of my club to attract him.

 

[Akie]

Interesting about some of the comments about Blackley, I have played there a few times in interclub matches and its a nice club, its not the most interesting course but the members I have met are friendly and varied. Its not a council course as was suggested.
Akie is in the process of joining there so his comments would be interesting. Did he submit a letter from his employer for example?

I've not been asked to submit anything from my employer yet, would be a bit irked if I did to be honest. I'm having an interview with the nominations committee which I guess could put some people off but I guess it depends what the interview is for. If it is to rigorously new members against their standards then I'd probably be put off but if its just to give the committee a chance to meet new members and put names to face and show them around etc then its probably a worthwhile exercise.

 

[Billysboots]

I have a wonderfully simplistic view as to what sort of golf club attracts and retains members, based on my experience as a member at three establishments during the last 16 years.

You can have the best clubhouse, the most immaculate course, wonderful facilities and so on. But what makes a club special is its members. My last two clubs are classic cases in point. Up until seven years ago I was a member at one of the premier clubs in the county - fantastic course, comfortable, modern clubhouse, but the stuffiest, most unfriendly membership you could ever wish to meet. The same fourballs played at the same time in every competition, and in the main new members were treated like outsiders, and it was made very difficult for those newbies to integrate unless they already had friends at the club.

I eventually moved from there to a more modern thinking club, which had a basic clubhouse in comparison, but it is one where everyone gets a warm welcome. The course when I joined was good, but nothing special - it was let down by maintenance. But for the first year or so I accepted that because I could see the management were moving in the right direction, and have been rewarded with a course which is now regarded as one of the best in the area. All that, and the friendliest membership anywhere, where relaxed is the order of the day, and I am happy being drawn with anyone in a competition.

As a consequence, we have no problem retaining members, or attracting new ones. It's self perpetuating - friendly members attract other friendly golfers, and so it continues. I think gimmicks like a free lesson with the pro, or other promotional methods, are perhaps for clubs who may not have recognised they have a fundamental underlying issue with an exclusive membership who don't welcome visitors and newcomers with open arms.

A free lesson at a closed-shop establishment, or golf in a relaxed atmosphere with a wide circle of friends? It's a no brainer.

 

[scratch]

I am a school governor and one of my specialised subjects is school PE. And I am afraid, despite what ever people may read in The Daily Mail, that statement is utter bilge.

Believe me, it is not bilge.

When I was in school, we had teams for rugby, football, cricket, athletics, basketball, cross country, swimming and tennis. We had PE twice a week with sports/school matches on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Please do not patronise me by telling me that schools encourage sport to the same levels today.

 

[Akie]

Believe me, it is not bilge.

When I was in school, we had teams for rugby, football, cricket, athletics, basketball, cross country, swimming and tennis. We had PE twice a week with sports/school matches on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Please do not patronise me by telling me that schools encourage sport to the same levels today.

How recent was that? I left school just over ten years ago and we still had all those things you mentioned above. A lot will depend on the school I'm guessing rather than a generalisation of the whole country.

 

[Fader]

When I was in school, we had teams for rugby, football, cricket, athletics, basketball, cross country, swimming and tennis. We had PE twice a week with sports/school matches on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Please do not patronise me by telling me that schools encourage sport to the same levels today.

I remember at primary school we had a footy team that played matches throughout the season against all other schools in the Medway towns, then when I moved up to secondary school we had teams for all of the above sports pretty the only reason I made sure I went to school was to make sure I got on all the sports teams. Now my old school doesn't even have a football pitch to use, they built on the athletics track & field area, the current PE teacher there told us at a school reuinion last year now there is just the curriculum they follow and no sports teams to represent the school and sports day is now optional for all pupils. Certainly different from my time there in the mid/late 90's.

 

[gdc]

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?

A pair of trousers and a T-shirt with a collar? What absolute madness who dresses like this?

 

[cs1986]

Snelly, we may not agree on some/most/almost all things but this post echos the point I have been trying to make throughout this thread. There's a club out there for everyone. The only clubs that will fail, are the ones who fail to cater fully for their intended market.

I'm equally as happy playing Birkdale, as I am playing Haigh Hall. I played at a lovely course in Cheshire last week where membership appeared to be by invite only. I didn't feel, or be made to feel, out of place. Every club has a specific set of rules. If you don't like their rules then you don't have to play. If enough people don't like their rules, then the club will struggle.

Not a bad course Haigh Hall, especially for the price it is to play! I used to play there quite a bit when I lived in Horwich. Will no doubt play the course this Summer when I visit home.

 

[scratch]

How recent was that? I left school just over ten years ago and we still had all those things you mentioned above. A lot will depend on the school I'm guessing rather than a generalisation of the whole country.

It was a while ago in my case, before home PC's, game consoles, mobile phones and all the other things that kids prefer to sport these days.

BTW, I wasn't trying to rubbish your course when I called it a council course, I saw on the website they refer to the council setting the subs, guess that is your name for the committee?

 

[Akie]

It was a while ago in my case, before home PC's, game consoles, mobile phones and all the other things that kids prefer to sport these days.

BTW, I wasn't trying to rubbish your course when I called it a council course, I saw on the website they refer to the council setting the subs, guess that is your name for the committee?

Guess it depends which school, I know my old school has better facilities than when I was there and still has the old school field but guess land is cheaper up narf.

No problem, I like it there and the bit about a reference from your employer said if you wish or they asked, they didnt. Probably just always been there and never removed as these days clubs should be biting your hand off if you want to join. The joining process took longer than I'd like but it happens. Yeah I think the council is just the committee that decide the rates, I dont know that much about that side of things but not seen or heard anything referring to it as a council run course. To be fair I'm a big fan of Heaton Park as a muni!

 

[woody69]

Personally I think it's down to the simple fact that golf is actually quite a hard game to play and it's certainly very hard to be good at it, which requires a lot of time and dedication. Take that fact with the cost of playing and people aren't prepared to spend that much money and with the "instant" life we live in most people tend to want things yesterday so don't have the patience or the inclination to join a club and play.

 

[bluewolf]

Not a bad course Haigh Hall, especially for the price it is to play! I used to play there quite a bit when I lived in Horwich. Will no doubt play the course this Summer when I visit home.

Agreed, I play it a couple of times per year myself. Usually before the Open as it gets very busy afterwards. I was merely using Haigh Hall as an example because its the nearest Muni course to me.....

 

[Tiger]

Personally I think it's down to the simple fact that golf is actually quite a hard game to play and it's certainly very hard to be good at it, which requires a lot of time and dedication. Take that fact with the cost of playing and people aren't prepared to spend that much money and with the "instant" life we live in most people tend to want things yesterday so don't have the patience or the inclination to join a club and play.

Interesting post woody :thup: I think the snooty club/hooray henry debate is a red herring. Soneone mentioned earlier that golf is the sport you turn to when your days of <insert sport of choice> are numbered. Why is that?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My club has been running membership open days for a year or so and it is a cheap and easy way to attract membership as our 51 members ahead of target indicates. Rock up, get a guided tour of the club and meet the main people (pro, captain, GM etc) and get to play nine holes with a committee member. No hard sell as such. Come along if you are interested, have a nose around, play a few holes and make an informed decision

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Personally I think it's down to the simple fact that golf is actually quite a hard game to play and it's certainly very hard to be good at it, which requires a lot of time and dedication. Take that fact with the cost of playing and people aren't prepared to spend that much money and with the "instant" life we live in most people tend to want things yesterday so don't have the patience or the inclination to join a club and play.

Yup - you don't get much in the way of instant gratification when you take up golf if your expectations are wrong. Hardly the sport for the 'I want it and I want it now' generation. If they want to create a new game where a ball is hit using sticks inot ahole that is faster and easier than golf then feel free - but don't call it golf - pap maybe. Maybe those who like this new game of pap will one day consider taking up the grown up version - the game of golf. But leave my game alone.

 

[Qwerty]

I know of quite a lot of guys and mates that have given the game a try a some point and just because they've struggled to hit the the ball they've thrown in the towel at the first opportunity.

I can only put it down to the fact that they can't take the embarrassment of hacking their way around the course, despite my best efforts of trying to convince them that "everyone's been there" and that its a pretty quick learning curve once you get into it, they decide that its not for them.
Id imagine that most of us have bored someone into trying the game at some point out only to see the same outcome.

I don't know how you'd convince these people to stick with it? Surely their expectations couldnt of been that high, it's a tough game, But I sometimes think its a shame that they've made the effort to get out there and try it only to instantly give up.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Believe me, it is not bilge.

When I was in school, we had teams for rugby, football, cricket, athletics, basketball, cross country, swimming and tennis. We had PE twice a week with sports/school matches on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Please do not patronise me by telling me that schools encourage sport to the same levels today.

If you look on my post the quote that I said was bilge was 'And I think this is coming from the attitudes of schools and 'compensation cultures' where they don't encourage sport any more in case someone gets injured and the school gets sued.' Which is utter bilge.

I am not arguing that there is less PE now, in some schools (but not all) this is very true, and in another post I explained some of the reasons why. But compensation culture is definitely not one of them.

 

[scratch]

If you look on my post the quote that I said was bilge was 'And I think this is coming from the attitudes of schools and 'compensation cultures' where they don't encourage sport any more in case someone gets injured and the school gets sued.' Which is utter bilge.

I am not arguing that there is less PE now, in some schools (but not all) this is very true, and in another post I explained some of the reasons why. But compensation culture is definitely not one of them.

Sorry but I beg to differ on this point, everyone seems to be out to make a fast buck these days. My daughter managed to pierce her cheek with a pencil in primary school, when the school phoned my wife to tell her what happened the first thing they asked was would we be putting in a claim against the school. Very sad but quite true.

 

[PNWokingham]

Would the open presentation be more suitable with a couple of builders vans in the back ground, and the captain of the r an a wearing jeans with half his arse showing?

quality Murph!!