Monthly poll 1 - the most important consideration when visiting a golf club?

[JezzE]

Monthly poll time again and this time we're trying to find out what you consider the most important consideration when visiting another club or course - you can pick just one form the list, and it's really the one thing that will make the most impression on you and perhaps determine whether or not you will revisit...

Second poll to follow along a similar theme, looking at the key considerations of joining a club.

Thanks for your help/input

 

[duncan mackie]

it's a shame you have worded 4 and 5 the way you have, because I feel it won't really get the true picture.

I voted for the condition of the course on the basis that it includes the greens, where the condition of the greens vote excludes the condition of the tees/bunkers/fairways. Others may not see it that way.

Surely, relative to the other items, simply having a category for course conditions would have been sufficient?

 

[drawboy]

I firmly believe that the course quality is the first consideration when visiting a club. No one plays a course because it is cheap. Three things the majority of golfers require of a course in my opinion are
1. Great greens
2. Good level tees
3. Good sand filled bunkers
The rest you will put up with but for me if one of these is lacking then it will affect the overall feel of the course and you are unlikely to want to play there.
Lovely locker rooms/showers and the like are nice but the quality of the course is always paramount for me.

 

[thecraw]

Jezz,

the biggest thing is a good website for me. Good information, good quality pictures and easy contact. That will grab my attention.

 

[CMAC]

when going to, or visiting a course its because of the quality of the course. If the quality is good you'd expect the condition to be of a Par.

 

[JezzE]

it's a shame you have worded 4 and 5 the way you have, because I feel it won't really get the true picture.

I voted for the condition of the course on the basis that it includes the greens, where the condition of the greens vote excludes the condition of the tees/bunkers/fairways. Others may not see it that way.

Surely, relative to the other items, simply having a category for course conditions would have been sufficient?

I actually think the condition of the greens specifically is critical because I know several people who will willingly excuse a course many things if the greens are good, including condition of the tees and fairways... which is why I worded it that way.

 

[mouth]

when going to, or visiting a course its because of the quality of the course. If the quality is good you'd expect the condition to be of a Par.

I voted on this basis too. I only really play in my works society apart from the odd knock with my brother or best mate (both members at same course and play there as a guest).

Playing as a society immediately removes some of the categories in the poll such as speed of play because we get the first tee for an hour or so and cost of green fee because we generally get golf and some kind of food offer be it coffee and bacon roll or breakfast/simple meal for the regular price of 18 holes anyway.

Warmth of the welcome? There with 25 mates anyway so couldn't care less. Views? As long as it doesn't overlook a Liverpool (other cities are available) council estate I don't really mind. Distance? It's generally once a month and isn't a major factor.

The last couple of courses we've played were in relatively bad condition but we had torrential downpours for about a week before each event.

The point JezzE makes about forgiving a lot for good greens is valid though.

 

[bobmac]

I actually think the condition of the greens specifically is critical because I know several people who will willingly excuse a course many things if the greens are good, including condition of the tees and fairways... which is why I worded it that way.

I agree.
When you ask people how they got on at another course, they more often than not comment about the greens.

 

[duncan mackie]

fair point Jezz, but I'm not sure that element comes out in the choice.

I would agree that the condition of the greens underpins the general quality of the course, but in responding condition of the course I am implicitly including the greens.

 

[Birchy]

Ive gone for condition of the greens. The fairways, green fee, welcome can be the best in the world but if the greens dont roll true then there isnt really much point imo. Theres not much difference to your shot off a poor-ish fairway to a good one but the difference between a putt on a good green to a bad green is massive imo.

 

[BogeyHole]

I've played on some good courses and the odd goat track.

For me the most important thing for a good day out is the people I'm playing with.

For someone to be good enough to invite me to their chosen home is enough reason for me to want to play it.

After that, the condition of the greens always sticks in the mind.

 

[Region3]

If I had to choose between a few courses to go and play, the quality of the course would be the deciding factor more often than not.

Having said that, a big negative in any of a few of the choices offered would prevent me going back regardless of the course.

 

[Slab]

Because the questions asking about another club and not just a club then quality for me as the question implies you already play golf at a club where you've considered (& accepted) points such as locality/price/warmth/condition etc etc so vists to other clubs would be more tuned to the quality

Also condition is such a variable of other temporary influences (such as weather) that i'd guess its more difficult to base your decision on those areas

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Being a bit critical of the poll, I would imagine it is an amalgamation of three or four of the questions that makes a golfer decide.
I know you say 'most important' but I don't think it is that simple.

Rate the four top reasons might have given a better result.

I might chose to play Kingsbarns because of the design but I would not like to pay £500 and play with Bruce Forsyth.

 

[Foxholer]

I agree with Doon. There's a number of reasons to choose a course (or not).

I'd sooner a 'place in order of importance' or top 4 or 5 rather than a single one.

Personally chose 'quality of course' on the expectation that greens and everything ales about the place would be at a similar level, or a good reason why not.

 

[Lollfred]

Voted for the quality of the course myself, but tbh if i could for for all the options i would of done ! apart from speed of play & distance from home. The welcome from the club for me is important, there is nothing worse than dealing with a grumpy pro or staff member when a paying visitor, and i would serioulsy consider avoiding a 2nd visit if faced with arrogance or second rate customer service.

How do you guys feel about this one ?

 

[JezzE]

Being a bit critical of the poll, I would imagine it is an amalgamation of three or four of the questions that makes a golfer decide.
I know you say 'most important' but I don't think it is that simple.

Rate the four top reasons might have given a better result.

I might chose to play Kingsbarns because of the design but I would not like to pay £500 and play with Bruce Forsyth.

As explained on this poll or the other one, the system does not currently allow us to do that, and besides, in all of the polls we run we're often trying to find out which is the critical reason when push comes to shove. Some polls lend themselves more readily to picking out just one answer than others; this one, clearly, was not one of them...

 

[DaveyG]

Ofcourse the course has to be in decent nick but i honestly think its the warmth and people after my experience recently when joining.

 

[HickoryShaft]

I need to be honest and say the cost.

However - before you all jump down my throat my thinking is this:

1) If its too high a cost then it is 'not an option' so cost gets me through the door. I would not pay £100+ a green fee for anything that is not a historical course like St Andrews and even then I would need to be on a mission to play it. (yes I know it higher cost than that)

As the price band comes down then it gets easier to warrent taking a trip from my club I have paid to play all year at and spend some cash elsewhere.

2) If there is an offer on somewhere decent then it makes it attractive to play - hence cost being the main driver and the thing that gets me through the door in the first place.

After that all of the other issues do feature in my thinking also - state of the course, state of the greens etc.


Going back to a course- however - all of the other things will usually tke the higher spots in my thinking.

as well as being a club member I play in a works society and when it is asked what is the max people would be willing to pay to play places you get a real spread so it is clear to me that this is a big issue for a lot of folks also.

 

[GB72]

I have gone for the quality of the course but it is not that simple a choice. The cost always comes into it but the better the course, the more I am willing to pay. I am not sure how the other factors come into it as I am unlikely to know the condition, atmosphere, quality of views etc before I turn up.