Newspaper Article Regarding UK Amateur Golf Decline

[HomerJSimpson]

I seem to recall a few years ago Sky featured a format called "Power play" Golf. This featured 2 holes on every green with players having to decide if they went for the harder or easier pin placement, which would affect the points scored.

Went to a GM day at the Grove when Powerplay Golf came out. Interesting format and quite enjoyable too. We tried it a few times at our course but it never seemed to take off and I've not heard of it anywhere for a long time either.

To my mind the answer is a lot simpler. Get members using their club more often, along with their families. Get takings up, and create a buzz about the place. I would hope this would attract new members on the back of it. Very basic and simplistic view of course and it takes a lot of work and dress code invariably has to come into the equation at some point. Clubs need to look at how they sustain their own business model. Certainly that's where my interest lies. I need to be happy my club is being run as efficiently as it can, with the interest of the members at its heart and with as much money being invested back into the course as possible. If not, why pay the membership fee?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

It is worth bearing in mind that golf is absolutely booming in the far east.
I believe that is only in the UK and USA that figures are down.

I see slow play as being the main factor, twenty years ago golfers took 3 hours for a round of 18 holes nowadays it is 5 hours. Even with electric trollies and buggies.
Overall standard of play is also much poorer.

To slow means too boring for me.
The two are obviously linked.

I think we would find that in the Far East golf remains an aspirational pastime. If you play golf then you have "arrived" and this was the case in this country through the 60's & 70's.

Fortunately and contrary to the belief of some on here, in England entry into the game has gradually become more egalitarian (this had generally been the case in Scotland for many years) and I think we have now reached the peak of demand for golf from the wider population.

In any event we forummers are the last people that should be asked what needs to be done since, by our presence on the forum, we are already clearly committed to the game. Better to ask those that either refuse to give it a go or those that may have done and then decided not to stick with it.

Then and only then can the powers that be consider making informed decisions as to the likelihood of broadening the appeal of golf.

 

[duncan mackie]

To my mind the answer is a lot simpler. Get members using their club more often, along with their families. Get takings up, and create a buzz about the place. I would hope this would attract new members on the back of it. Very basic and simplistic view of course and it takes a lot of work and dress code invariably has to come into the equation at some point. Clubs need to look at how they sustain their own business model. Certainly that's where my interest lies. I need to be happy my club is being run as efficiently as it can, with the interest of the members at its heart and with as much money being invested back into the course as possible. If not, why pay the membership fee?

it's a sad reflection on the underlying issue that you don't see the contradictions in this as presented - you aren't alone, and it's a (disastrous general) view taken by many.

if your course is in a large catchment area where everyone can walk, or of course cycle , to then there is some validity to the restaurant model, and if it's large enough then the country club model can work too.

BUT the business model for 99% of the customer base starts with the golf facilities and everything else has to compete on separate terms with the other specialist facilities available (restaurants, gyms, pools, bars, pubs, etc etc etc) and the acceptable compromise on that is now extremely small for most consumers. for a golf club to meet the quality requirements on food that meant members went out of their way to eat there they would have to compromise their staffing or margins.

catering should add to the buying equation of golfers ie I'm prepared to pay more to play at Rye than I would do for the golf alone because the catering is so enjoyable (a number of top clubs have clocked this and deliver well; but it's primarily the visitor market that keeps such services viable and available to members - many clubs have simply wound back catering to meet the membership cost aspirations in a competitive market; coffee machines and no catering staff until 10 except when a large society is booked in is a common example).

I go to the club to play golf, with other golfers; why on earth would I arrange to meet friends and family at the golf club to drink coffee?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The point is, at present, we have very few members eating, either at weekends or in the evening and it does seem there's an opportunity to develop this area. However as I said, my main consideration is how profitable the club is, what the investment plans are for the course and whether we getting enough members through the door

 

[timd77]

Great thread this, very interesting debate.

i think the lack of TV coverage is a big factor. Take any hobby, whether it's sport, playing a musical instrument, knitting; unless you get to see someone else that's really good at it then you're not inspired to take it up. How many musicians name older musicians as their inspiration and made them want to pluck a guitar, hit a drum etc. it's easy to listen to music, cheap and accessible. The only golf I've seen this year has been the masters and the open. In fact, it's usually the masters that inspires me to get the clubs out after the winter!

If I owned a golf club I'd do what others have said about making it family orientated and a social & health focal point for the local community; gym, swimming pool, restaurant, games/TV rooms, pool tables, get some open/fun days going, all that malarkey. Maybe even have a multi sport thing going on like a tennis court or snooker tables. Said it before, people pay £50 a month for health club memberships, so get it all in one place, slash the costs and pass the savings on to the members.

Might help relieve the guilt of buggering off for 5 hours too!

Having said all this, if I could afford to join a golf club, I'd want it to be one where you had to where trousers and females were banned (joke!) But then I don't need to 'get into golf'.

 

[6inchcup]

Great thread this, very interesting debate.

i think the lack of TV coverage is a big factor. Take any hobby, whether it's sport, playing a musical instrument, knitting; unless you get to see someone else that's really good at it then you're not inspired to take it up. How many musicians name older musicians as their inspiration and made them want to pluck a guitar, hit a drum etc. it's easy to listen to music, cheap and accessible. The only golf I've seen this year has been the masters and the open. In fact, it's usually the masters that inspires me to get the clubs out after the winter!

If I owned a golf club I'd do what others have said about making it family orientated and a social & health focal point for the local community; gym, swimming pool, restaurant, games/TV rooms, pool tables, get some open/fun days going, all that malarkey. Maybe even have a multi sport thing going on like a tennis court or snooker tables. Said it before, people pay £50 a month for health club memberships, so get it all in one place, slash the costs and pass the savings on to the members.

Might help relieve the guilt of buggering off for 5 hours too!

Having said all this, if I could afford to join a golf club, I'd want it to be one where you had to where trousers and females were banned (joke!) But then I don't need to 'get into golf'.

so your idea is the spend hundreds of millions on a country club but charge very little to use the facilities,sounds like a plan to ruin,take the hotels away and it could be a devere or similar,there are plenty of resort courses giving what you wish but cheaply,no.

 

[timd77]

so your idea is the spend hundreds of millions on a country club but charge very little to use the facilities,sounds like a plan to ruin,take the hotels away and it could be a devere or similar,there are plenty of resort courses giving what you wish but cheaply,no.

I wasn't really thinking as lavish as a country club. More of a multi sports centre with a social side to it too.

 

[MashieNiblick]

it's a sad reflection on the underlying issue that you don't see the contradictions in this as presented - you aren't alone, and it's a (disastrous general) view taken by many.

if your course is in a large catchment area where everyone can walk, or of course cycle , to then there is some validity to the restaurant model, and if it's large enough then the country club model can work too.

BUT the business model for 99% of the customer base starts with the golf facilities and everything else has to compete on separate terms with the other specialist facilities available (restaurants, gyms, pools, bars, pubs, etc etc etc) and the acceptable compromise on that is now extremely small for most consumers. for a golf club to meet the quality requirements on food that meant members went out of their way to eat there they would have to compromise their staffing or margins.

catering should add to the buying equation of golfers ie I'm prepared to pay more to play at Rye than I would do for the golf alone because the catering is so enjoyable (a number of top clubs have clocked this and deliver well; but it's primarily the visitor market that keeps such services viable and available to members - many clubs have simply wound back catering to meet the membership cost aspirations in a competitive market; coffee machines and no catering staff until 10 except when a large society is booked in is a common example).

I go to the club to play golf, with other golfers; why on earth would I arrange to meet friends and family at the golf club to drink coffee?

Interesting.

What would be the result of treating the golf club as a sports facility not a social club/restaurant.

Might be crazy, but would people use the club more often if the food side were pared back and space put over to stuff that would appeal to golfers - indoor practice facilities, Trackman areas, virtual golf, demo club try out areas, dedicated golf fitness gear, with pro on hand, etc.

You know I just might.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Interesting.

What would be the result of treating the golf club as a sports facility not a social club/restaurant.

Might be crazy, but would people use the club more often if the food side were pared back and space put over to stuff that would appeal to golfers - indoor practice facilities, Trackman areas, virtual golf, demo club try out areas, dedicated golf fitness gear, with pro on hand, etc.

You know I just might.

We don't have the money; we don't have the space.

More likely scenario is that we investigate strategic partnerships with a local Health Club and also with Farnham Rugby Club (both about a mile away). Maybe also with local restaurant(s). If they eat at the restaurant Mon-Wed they get a voucher for something from us at a reduced rate or indeed free. Simple objective is to get people to the club and to see and feel what golf is about.

 

[duncan mackie]

Interesting.

What would be the result of treating the golf club as a sports facility not a social club/restaurant.

Might be crazy, but would people use the club more often if the food side were pared back and space put over to stuff that would appeal to golfers - indoor practice facilities, Trackman areas, virtual golf, demo club try out areas, dedicated golf fitness gear, with pro on hand, etc.

You know I just might.

not at all crazy with regards to the stuff that would appeal to golfers; it's a proven formula in as much as it's valued by people making buying decisions re membership.

having an excellent curry night on a Friday isn't valued in the same way!!! it may be of interest, may be used, but it won't affect the buying decision not the take up of the sport (advertising taster golf sessions in the local curry house would be more effective!)

 

[GB72]

I agree that many suggestions would not attract new members. What it wold do, however, is maximise the amount spent at the club by existing members. The income could the at least partly make up for lower membership numbers, fund initiatives to attract new members or help prevent fee increases that could further drive away existing members

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I agree that many suggestions would not attract new members. What it wold do, however, is maximise the amount spent at the club by existing members. The income could the at least partly make up for lower membership numbers, fund initiatives to attract new members or help prevent fee increases that could further drive away existing members

Increasing member spending is important - but members don't like to think that despite paying their subs the club depends upon their largesse to keep going. And I don't feel I should feel guilty if I don't spend as much as I might - I spend a good amount as it is. I could spend a lot more, but my golf club is simply not the environment for most of the discretionary spending that I could put it's way.

The answer for me is to get folk interested in golf and taking lessons - at the club or indeed anywhere where we can set up a link to the club - and onto on the golf course. Get them on the golf course - nurture and spoil them - and maybe a few will join as members. Now how you achieve that is what all clubs are struggling to understand and get past their committees and members.e

 

[GB72]

Increasing member spending is important - but members don't like to think that despite paying their subs the club depends upon their largesse to keep going. And I don't feel I should feel guilty if I don't spend as much as I might - I spend a good amount as it is. I could spend a lot more, but my golf club is simply not the environment for most of the discretionary spending that I could put it's way.

The answer for me is to get folk interested in golf and taking lessons - at the club or indeed anywhere where we can set up a link to the club - and onto on the golf course. Get them on the golf course - nurture and spoil them - and maybe a few will join as members. Now how you achieve that is what all clubs are struggling to understand and get past their committees and members.e

I don't see it as a matter of feeling guilty or even the club relying on my largesse but rather a few simple steps to attract extra cash. Take, for example, Madadey's comment. He used to go to the nearby pub for Sunday lunch after a round as he did not want to change into a jacket and tie for the club dining room. I have done similar. A simple change could easily attract money to the club that would have been spent down the road. My usual example is dropping in to the club for a spot of lunch. If I could go in wearing what I had on when passing I would. As I am normally in jeans I do not and go to the pub for a bar snack. Quite often my wife would like to meet me for some lunch after a round if the weather is nice or come up for some breakfast before I tee off. She does not, however, due to the dress restrictions. She does not own trousers except for work ones and lives in smart jeans. She is certainly not going to dig out one of her smart dresses just to come up for a sandwich and a coffee. Little things changed that could attract more money from the existing membership without any pressure. On the plus side, at least my club does not apply a dress code to children under 12.

I would also add that getting families up to the club for other reasons could get them in to golf. Once the barrier of the perceived atmosphere and attitude has been crossed, there may be a spark of interest. My wife has tried golf before and may have another go with a bit of a push. If she were up the club having lunch and the lady captain stepped in for a chat and asked if she may want to have another try or if the pro asked if she would be interested in ladies group lessons or such like then you never know. Same with kids, relatives etc. You never know but once you have them in the club house you have a chance to find out.

 

[Birchy]

Golf needs to break down the barriers if it wants more people playing the sport.

There is far too much bullhit hiding behind the "tradition" title.

Yes mr captain, yes mr president blah blah blah. Its a load of crap and embarrassing.

Tuck your shirt in.
Wheres you white socks?
Jacket and tie in that room
No kids/women allowed there
No trainers in here
No jeans

 

[bluewolf]

Golf needs to break down the barriers if it wants more people playing the sport.

There is far too much bullhit hiding behind the "tradition" title.

Yes mr captain, yes mr president blah blah blah. Its a load of crap and embarrassing.

Tuck your shirt in.
Wheres you white socks?
Jacket and tie in that room
No kids/women allowed there

Plenty of clubs that don't have that formality mate.. You've chosen to join a traditional club. You'll have to play by the rules..

 

[MegaSteve]

The next generation are getting all the 'pleasure' they seem to need by sitting in front of their screens...

Believe they'll eventually be known as the sad puppie generation...

Anything that requires getting off their collective backsides appears to be way too much of an effort...

 

[Birchy]

Plenty of clubs that don't have that formality mate.. You've chosen to join a traditional club. You'll have to play by the rules..

That's just a taster of the most annoying ones about golf in general. I don't mind them but they are just unnecessary really.

Theres crappy formalities at every club that imo are not needed if you want to open it up to more people. The culture needs to change golf wide imo if the sport really wants the numbers to swell.

 

[pendodave]

I don't think there's a single magic bullet. Most of the points here have some validity.

I think megasteve raises an important point. Modern technology seems to manage to sedate/willingly enslave a pretty large chunk of the population. Which obviously suits a lot of people just fine, but it doesn't help get people onto a golf course.

The fact that golf in our country (doesn't seem to happen in Europe anywhere near as much) seems to foster a nit-picking approach to matters of dress and social mores strikes me as significant. Making people feel uncomfortable (which many golf clubs do, or are perceived to) is no way to get people joining up.

Finally, the game itself is really difficult. It just is. Without a significant investment in time and effort it can just be an endless steam of rubbish. I know some people are happy with this, but who could blame anyone for thinking there must be a more enjoyable way of spending 4 hours. I'm not sure about bigger holes, but maybe allowing/encouraging people to tee the ball up for every shot might give a faster route to a level of enjoyment which gets someone to persevere just a little longer.

 

[bluewolf]

That's just a taster of the most annoying ones about golf in general. I don't mind them but they are just unnecessary really.

Theres crappy formalities at every club that imo are not needed if you want to open it up to more people. The culture needs to change golf wide imo if the sport really wants the numbers to swell.

Makes you proud to be British doesn't it?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I don't see it as a matter of feeling guilty or even the club relying on my largesse but rather a few simple steps to attract extra cash. Take, for example, Madadey's comment. He used to go to the nearby pub for Sunday lunch after a round as he did not want to change into a jacket and tie for the club dining room. I have done similar. A simple change could easily attract money to the club that would have been spent down the road. My usual example is dropping in to the club for a spot of lunch. If I could go in wearing what I had on when passing I would. As I am normally in jeans I do not and go to the pub for a bar snack. Quite often my wife would like to meet me for some lunch after a round if the weather is nice or come up for some breakfast before I tee off. She does not, however, due to the dress restrictions. She does not own trousers except for work ones and lives in smart jeans. She is certainly not going to dig out one of her smart dresses just to come up for a sandwich and a coffee. Little things changed that could attract more money from the existing membership without any pressure. On the plus side, at least my club does not apply a dress code to children under 12.

I would also add that getting families up to the club for other reasons could get them in to golf. Once the barrier of the perceived atmosphere and attitude has been crossed, there may be a spark of interest. My wife has tried golf before and may have another go with a bit of a push. If she were up the club having lunch and the lady captain stepped in for a chat and asked if she may want to have another try or if the pro asked if she would be interested in ladies group lessons or such like then you never know. Same with kids, relatives etc. You never know but once you have them in the club house you have a chance to find out.

My point is simply that clubs need new members as it takes an awful lot of food and drink to make a membership. But what you say is nonetheless absolutely true. I was at club pro shop yesterday and was going to pop in for a coffee until I realised I was wearing jeans. I went into clubhouse to get my Club Championship start time for Saturday. Oh dear. Got some looks. I know why! But why?

Today - working from home I decided to get out of the house and grab a bit of lunch at the golf club. Of course I had to get changed out of my 'work' clothes into what is acceptable in the clubhouse. I spent about £7 btw - not a lot - but every little does help.