Optimistic post: has covid been good for golf?

[howbow88]

I am still amazed at how many people are still out walking/running/cycling. I think the fitness clubs are going to take a serious hit.....people have realised that you don't need to spend £50 a month to exercise, you can do it for free.

I don't know about that. Anyone running on tarmac instead of a treadmill will have some pretty sore knees and ankles soon enough. Anyone who usually does weights, swimming, classes, etc, is probably using running as a way to keep active, but for many they are just waiting for the moment the gyms reopen - my fiance being one of them.

 

[Mandofred]

I don't know about that. Anyone running on tarmac instead of a treadmill will have some pretty sore knees and ankles soon enough. Anyone who usually does weights, swimming, classes, etc, is probably using running as a way to keep active, but for many they are just waiting for the moment the gyms reopen - my fiance being one of them.

Only if they have body injury issues already. Many will go back to gym life....it gives them the ooomph they are after. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55210452 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-55720276

Many will realize they don't need to spend money to keep fit. But, if it helps to go to the gym, good for them....do what you need to do.

 

[DCB]

Our Muni courses are seeing traffic that they haven't seen for many a year. Since they reopened last summer they have been almost fully booked every day. In Jan they even shuffled things to squeeze in a few extra tee times each day. The biggest test comes after the pandemic, in that all those itinerant golfers need to be encouraged to stick around and join a club. Fortunately most muni courses here in town have at least one club attached to the course. There is huge potential for growing the sport out there at the moment.

 

[SammmeBee]

Certainly not for our club. Where I play I have been privvy to the financial cost of covid and it was pretty scary just because of the first lockdown. Even if we went to full capacity for members it is not going to make up the shortfall. It has cost the jobs of two long term employees and several part time ones.

It will certainly have put our course renovation programme back by a few years.

Subs obviously not high enough then......

 

[Tashyboy]

it’s going to be interesting at our place. The course was not far off full before Covid. After the first lockdown the course was rammed. You really struggled to get a tee time. But a fair few extra players were folk that were furloughed. What’s going to happen to those people once work returns. Going to be interesting times ahead.

 

[evemccc]

Similar situation here
I was planning on switching clubs this year, to where Kraxx plays
But now unsure after the last year we've had to deal with, I'd like to see a long spell with no Lockdowns before committing to a switch of any kind

But what's peed me off at my club
I paid fees up front last March, £675
Yes, I know that may be cheap to some down south, but this is Newcastle.... And I've added the price for a reason..... Read on

Anyway the club decided after reopening after covid shut down to offer a new member deal (last May) for a ridiculously low £399 for 1st year, then renew this year at £499
So, that's £898 for 2 years golf if they take up the renewal deal

Meanwhile, club has raised the normal fee to £695
So if I renew, my 2years will cost me £1370........against the new member £898

Madness...!!

This I can assure you has got the backs up of many members.
50 new members paying peanuts

Many other things happened during 1st lockdown where tbh the members were taken for granted a bit, where they put green fees and tee times ahead of members for instance

I've still not decided what to do, need to see what my regular playing pals are considering
It's not just about money as the new club I was looking to move to is about 30% more again, but firstly need to see when we ever eventually are able to play again

I think you're justified in feeling more than a little 'miffed'

 

[evemccc]

I think that's the kind of insight that the general public doesn't see.
All that is banded about is how it's been great that more people have joined clubs and how equipment sales have increased.

As people have mentioned already, there's possibly lots of short-termism going on, and a few more members aren't making up the shortfall in F&B, societies etc.

Internal, inter-club, inter-county, national and international competitions cancelled, pro golf losing millions from lack of crowds and reduced sponsorship, golf holiday companies going bankrupt and disappearing, possibly several thousand range and club employees suffering financial hardship...

Has Covid been good for golf?
No it's been an absolute disaster.

I have zero concern for 'pro golf losing millions' - look at the way the PGA Tour pays it's Tour pros, it's obscene wealth for those very few who win tournaments, with nothing for those who miss the cut, and plenty of golfers yo-yoing between Euro Tour and EuroPro struggle.

The only thing I about Pro golf I care about is being able to see the Senior Open at Sunningdale and the practice days of the Open, away from the hoopla of 'event fans', and that's because I want to watch it live. Not that I care about the 100 million in the bank (at the very least) for Rory, Phil, DJ and Tiger isn't being added to..

 

[moogie]

Wow ?

Sounds bonkers.

Certainly has been....
I could list so many other things

After reopening from 1st lockdown last year, they were the 1st club in County to take green fees in
At a time when tee times were so scarce due to demand and the 10mins intervals
Complete disregard for members
That really got my back up and prompted me to write into secretary, committee, several letters exchanged, but BS replies

They've never furloughed a single green keeper during this whole pandemic
Which in itself is ridiculous
Especially during 1st lockdown of courses, where only basic course maintainence was permitted

Been some crazy decisions made

 

[Steve Wilkes]

Certainly has been....
I could list so many other things

After reopening from 1st lockdown last year, they were the 1st club in County to take green fees in
At a time when tee times were so scarce due to demand and the 10mins intervals
Complete disregard for members
That really got my back up and prompted me to write into secretary, committee, several letters exchanged, but BS replies

They've never furloughed a single green keeper during this whole pandemic
Which in itself is ridiculous
Especially during 1st lockdown of courses, where only basic course maintainence was permitted

Been some crazy decisions made

Not furloughing staff in springtime, I would have thought would have been a good thing, not knowing if your course was going to be given the go-ahead to open anytime very soon

 

[moogie]

Not furloughing staff in springtime, I would have thought would have been a good thing, not knowing if your course was going to be given the go-ahead to open anytime very soon

Why a good thing?
All they could do at that point was cut grass whilst the course was shut 1st time around.
No bigger jobs could be undertaken
Guidelines were laid down by England golf for this period

So saving money
For a club that has very little
Even a couple months wages
Would have been a far better idea

 

[Paperboy]

Think it's too early to say, crunch time fast approaching with renewals by April 1st. Really hope we will have had a couple weeks playing by then to wet their appetites again.

Mine was in January So far it's cost me £650 a round

 

[D-S]

It heavily depends on the Club’s business model. If 80- 90% of your income comes from members subs then it has been a boom time - furloughed staff, all f&b staff plus a proportion of greenstaff is all an absolute bonus. Also these types of clubs now have full memberships, which as their main income source is extremely positive. Again these clubs have little reliance on green fees (non existent 23/3 to 13/5, 2/11 to 1/12 and 5/1 to ’ early March?’ - total 20 weeks) and societies which were scarce last season.
However if green fees and societies are a key part of your income the loss of 20 weeks income and societies is difficult to have been compensated by a busy mid May to end October period, there were no more daylight hours last year than normal.
Around here (Bristol) the members clubs have made small or no increases in subs for next year but the green fee reliant proprietary clubs are increasing by over 5% as this has not been a boom at all for them as all the extra income received in the summer has been lost with the November and Jan-March lockdown.Interestingly the other sector that has lost money is the very high end clubs who charge very high green (£100+] fees which subsidise members subs. These lost chunks of this highly profitable visitor income,as due to increased demand from club members when the courses were open as well as the lost 20 weeks mean that 2020/2021 was a financial disaster but as they are wealthy clubs they can probably weather it.

 

[jim8flog]

Subs obviously not high enough then......

The subs have to be competitive with other clubs in our area.

Prior to Covid we had the largest number of members of any club in Dorset and a fairly healthy financial situation.

What has cost us the most is the lack of visitor income.

 

[Crow]

It heavily depends on the Club’s business model. If 80- 90% of your income comes from members subs then it has been a boom time - furloughed staff, all f&b staff plus a proportion of greenstaff is all an absolute bonus. Also these types of clubs now have full memberships, which as their main income source is extremely positive. Again these clubs have little reliance on green fees (non existent 23/3 to 13/5, 2/11 to 1/12 and 5/1 to ’ early March?’ - total 20 weeks) and societies which were scarce last season.
However if green fees and societies are a key part of your income the loss of 20 weeks income and societies is difficult to have been compensated by a busy mid May to end October period, there were no more daylight hours last year than normal.
Around here (Bristol) the members clubs have made small or no increases in subs for next year but the green fee reliant proprietary clubs are increasing by over 5% as this has not been a boom at all for them as all the extra income received in the summer has been lost with the November and Jan-March lockdown.Interestingly the other sector that has lost money is the very high end clubs who charge very high green (£100+] fees which subsidise members subs. These lost chunks of this highly profitable visitor income,as due to increased demand from club members when the courses were open as well as the lost 20 weeks mean that 2020/2021 was a financial disaster but as they are wealthy clubs they can probably weather it.

Very true. My club has a small membership and has traditionally made money from visitors and weekend golf breaks (there's a hotel attached). That side has obviously taken a hammering with lockdowns etc.
We've taken on a lot of new members under the Playmoregolf scheme but I'd guess that many of those won't be renewing once everyone is back to full time work.

 

[Golfnut1957]

It heavily depends on the Club’s business model. If 80- 90% of your income comes from members subs then it has been a boom time - furloughed staff, all f&b staff plus a proportion of greenstaff is all an absolute bonus. Also these types of clubs now have full memberships, which as their main income source is extremely positive. Again these clubs have little reliance on green fees (non existent 23/3 to 13/5, 2/11 to 1/12 and 5/1 to ’ early March?’ - total 20 weeks) and societies which were scarce last season.
However if green fees and societies are a key part of your income the loss of 20 weeks income and societies is difficult to have been compensated by a busy mid May to end October period, there were no more daylight hours last year than normal.
Around here (Bristol) the members clubs have made small or no increases in subs for next year but the green fee reliant proprietary clubs are increasing by over 5% as this has not been a boom at all for them as all the extra income received in the summer has been lost with the November and Jan-March lockdown.Interestingly the other sector that has lost money is the very high end clubs who charge very high green (£100+] fees which subsidise members subs. These lost chunks of this highly profitable visitor income,as due to increased demand from club members when the courses were open as well as the lost 20 weeks mean that 2020/2021 was a financial disaster but as they are wealthy clubs they can probably weather it.

I'm not privy to our clubs current financial situation, but we definitely fit your first model.
I spoke to a previous club President just after LD1 and we had seen a massive increase in membership numbers, but he felt that these only offset the loss in F&B. What he didn't know at that time was how crazy the summer was going to be with societies and visitors taking up any times not filled by members. It was the bar that was the most astonishing aspect of it all, periods in the past where we knew we could go in and have a quiet pint, gone. People were definitely making up for LD1.
With regard to staff, during previous lockdowns it was all the clubhouse staff and half the greens, but this time, with the course being so wet, all the staff have been furloughed for almost the full duration.
What does all this mean? It hopefully means that we'll come out of this in good health. The main potential issue is the fact that subs were due on Jan 1st, when everyone knew there would be no golf for a few months. How many have decided not to bother? No idea, but with the AGM due next month we'll soon find out.

 

[backwoodsman]

Its a two way street.

My club itself is fine - in a better financial position than we were in the previous 12 months. Now have full membership with a waiting list, and about 100k better off than last year (even after buying new machinery). Obviously green fees were well down, as was food & beverage. But furlough helped and the business rates relief was a serious boon - especially with the level of rates we pay.

But then, to echo Traminator and others, theres a lot of negatives. Our club professionals have had a real hard time - so much time with no ability for sales and lessons. Overall equipment sales will have fallen putting that industry under stress. And everything connected with the professional game has suffered. A lot of jobs are connected with setting up & staging the profession events and they'll all have suffered.

Overall, I'm pleased for my club, abd a new intake of players taking up the game is good, but i struggle to think that that will outweigh the negatives

 

[Golfnut1957]

I genuinely think that there is potentially bigger threat to golf than covid and lockdown. We will get on top of that sooner rather than later, it might not go away, but we will beat it.

However, the weather pattern is a different matter. It is three years running now where the winter has proven to be a killer for golf. If you play on a links or on a course with good drainage you will be spared to an extent, but the vast majority are suffering badly.

This year the issue has been mainly masked by covid but if LD3 hadn't happened I doubt I would have been on the course much, if at all, since Christmas, it's so wet.

The danger of course is that this pattern continues and golf becomes something that you can't play in the winter, what do clubs do then about managing members expectations. What will the membership model look like for those clubs that can only provide golf for 8 or 9 months of the year and what will the fees be.

 

[Oddsocks]

I genuinely think that there is potentially bigger threat to golf than covid and lockdown. We will get on top of that sooner rather than later, it might not go away, but we will beat it.

However, the weather pattern is a different matter. It is three years running now where the winter has proven to be a killer for golf. If you play on a links or on a course with good drainage you will be spared to an extent, but the vast majority are suffering badly.

This year the issue has been mainly masked by covid but if LD3 hadn't happened I doubt I would have been on the course much, if at all, since Christmas, it's so wet.

The danger of course is that this pattern continues and golf becomes something that you can't play in the winter, what do clubs do then about managing members expectations. What will the membership model look like for those clubs that can only provide golf for 8 or 9 months of the year and what will the fees be.

couldn’t agree more! I’m walking most courses in the area during the current wet spell purposely to find the best draining. If 1/3 of you membership is in poor weather, I’m better of paying more and joining a better draining course.

I think there is definitely going to be more pressure in clubs to deliver a better winter course in coming years

 

[Imurg]

couldn’t agree more! I’m walking most courses in the area during the current wet spell purposely to find the best draining. If 1/3 of you membership is in poor weather, I’m better of paying more and joining a better draining course.

I think there is definitely going to be more pressure in clubs to deliver a better winter course in coming years

This is exactly why me, Fragger and CVG bit the bullet and went to Ellesborough.
Built on the chalk hillside it's like a sponge, just soaks everything up.
The lowest part of the course is the 10th green and 11th tee.
If there's a puddle on the green, wait 10 minutes and it'll be gone.
We'd have been open all January except when it snowed. We may have been carry only but we'd have been open. I've never come off the course with more than a couple of splashes of mud on the troos.
The 3 other clubs I've been a member of would been shut for certain.
We play all year round so we need a course thats open all year.
Its expensive for sure but I'll be paying my subs as soon as the letter hits the floor.

 

[Golfnut1957]

South Shields is brilliant like that, built on limestone they don't know what mud is. We played there in a winter open once and were partnered by a couple of members, one of whom commented on our trolleys, they looked as if we had been off-roading with them. His, as he told us over and over was pristine, he hadn't cleaned it for 6 months.

I've been a member here for nigh on 30 years and have no intention of leaving, and it is not one of those all our yesterday things when I reminisce about winters where our course only shut for a week or so for snow, and many winter days it was a woolly hat, 3 layers and not a waterproof jacket in sight.

I have a new Sunderland waterproof jacket in my wardrobe which I haven't been able to wear yet because of all the rain.