Saving English Golf on SSN

SAPCOR1

SAPCOR1

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Good feature on SSN just now about trying to halt the decline of the game in England.

Various initiatives including The Golf Foundation and various clubs trying to change the "elitist" image and remove the barriers that put people off.

Encouring youngsters is vital I feel as well as the ladies and removing some of the ludicrous dress code rules.

Adapt or die!
 
I believe that the dress code on course is fine the youngsters know how to make golf wear look good. More girls should be encouraged to play and some committees should be encouraged to represent a broader spectrum of age groups. Also, there should be an immediate ban for anyone, of any age who begins to show signs of a "napoleon complex" when in a position of responsibility.
 
Some dress code rules are just ridiculous though, a few off the top of my head are:

Shorts only with knee length socks
Shirts must have a collar
Shirts must be tucked in
Shirt and tie in the bar

Came across a Mrs Napolean yesterday who had a go at my father in law who I politely told her where to go
 
I agree that the dress code should adapt, but I don't want it relaxed overly on course. In the clubhouse is a different matter though.

I had a run in myself this week with a committee member. He decided to report me for bringing too many guests to the course (not all at once I might add). He didn't quite have the nerve to say it to my face though. Now, the 3 guests who I regularly play with are going to join elsewhere this year, and will be joined by me next year. Well done sir, you've just cost the club over 3 grand per year.
 
That's a shame bluewolf, too many people hiding behind positions of so called authority.

Thankfully it is now a buyers market and a lot of clubs are changing for the better not only to hold on to their membership but to attract new members including juniors and ladies.

Luckily in Scotland the game itself is not viewed as elitist, just some of the bad things associated with the game
 
I agree that more needs to be done to encourage the youngsters, who seem to have an active and thriving section at our club, but don't think the ladies do themselves any favours. They have their own AGM and hold funds in separate accounts with their own Treasurer and other officers. They obviously don't regard themselves as members of the club in general so encourage the view that they should not be treated as such?
 
Don't think the decline has anything to do with dress codes, perceived elitism or Mr/Mrs Napoleon on the committee...

Economy has flatlined and 'regular' folk just haven't got spare funds to play what can be a relatively expensive day out...

Clubs around here that had waiting lists you can now get in without any hassle [even in some cases joining fee is being waived]... To get a weekend round at local muni you had to book at least a week ahead and then only as a fourball... Can get on now with relative ease...

Same goes for many other sports/pastimes...
 
Our place has started offering juniors up to the age of 17 free golf for 2012 and after a month of offering this have 16 new juniors. They also have 2 open days this month which are fully subscribed, so possible a few more joining which we need as our membership is fairly old.
 
SAPCOR1 said:
Good feature on SSN just now about trying to halt the decline of the game in England.

Various initiatives including The Golf Foundation and various clubs trying to change the "elitist" image and remove the barriers that put people off.

Encouring youngsters is vital I feel as well as the ladies and removing some of the ludicrous dress code rules.

Adapt or die!
Click to expand...

Be interested to see that as we have a feature going in the next issue on exactly that topic. It's a ticking time on for sure
 
MikeH said:
Be interested to see that as we have a feature going in the next issue on exactly that topic. It's a ticking time on for sure
Click to expand...

Look forward to the article Mike.

Some of the clubs I visit I am the youngest there and I'm nearly 50!

Other issues clubs need to address is flexible memberships, poor websites, social media marketing etc etc
 
SAPCOR1 said:
Other issues clubs need to address is flexible memberships, poor websites, social media marketing etc etc
Click to expand...

Which is a polite way of saying "get into the 21st Century".
Try to cater for the people you need to attract to the club, without losing the good will of the people you already have. It's a difficult situation but somebody somewhere must have the answer.
 
People get possessive of their clubs and want to hold up the traditions and values, bastions of a golden era.

That is fine and noble but surely it can be done as well as taking into account changes not only within society but within the game itself?
 
Doesn't seem like much is changing round here. Of the four clubs I've sent membership enquiries to I've only heard back from one which has taken two weeks to schedule a interview and told me that I must wear a jacket and tie. No wonder golf retains it's a elitist image, a real shame.
 
jp5 said:
Doesn't seem like much is changing round here. Of the four clubs I've sent membership enquiries to I've only heard back from one which has taken two weeks to schedule a interview and told me that I must wear a jacket and tie. No wonder golf retains it's a elitist image, a real shame.
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What a joke! If someone can give a good reason why you should need to wear a jacket tie I will listen.

After over 25 years no-one has so far....

Even being interviewed by the committee is sad in my opinion
 
SAPCOR1 said:
What a joke! If someone can give a good reason why you should need to wear a jacket tie I will listen.

After over 25 years no-one has so far....

Even being interviewed by the committee is sad in my opinion
Click to expand...

If I was asked for an interview and told I must wear jacket and tie I am afraid I wouldn't even go near a club like that.

Snooty bastards.
 
maybe im playing the devils advocate, but people wouldnt think twice about wearing a shirt or tie to a job interview.

at the end of the day you are asking to join a private members club, which is subsidised by the members through there fees, all they are asking is that for the interview you dress smartly, its your chance to make that first impression.

now i am not an old fuddy duddy, im tattooed and in my time been a bit of a thug, not proud but truth, but i equally enjoy the etiquete of golf, the dressing smart for ther course, traditions that go with the game and the club you belong to.

guess its hoarses for courses you look for a club that suits your wants, im H M Forces so guess im used to all that sort of thing and have no probs with it

but can understand that some club committees maybe have the little hitler syndrome, my local club is in the north east and is in a genuine working mens area, so we dont have that problem, but every one dresses correctly for the coarse, but you can wear what you want in the bar so a happy medium.
 
bluewolf said:
He didn't quite have the nerve to say it to my face though. Now, the 3 guests who I regularly play with are going to join elsewhere this year, and will be joined by me next year. Well done sir, you've just cost the club over 3 grand per year.
Click to expand...

Danny, sorry to hear that mate. If it had been me I'd have made a point of going straight to the committee and outing him face to face, especially if you are within the rules. The trouble with walking is that it won't change their opinions and sadly they'll just get someone else in.
 
People have got to get real! A tie is a glorified bib that the dandy's started putting patterns on, nothing more than that.

I like to be "smartly dressed" but I have no problem if someone wants to play in jeans with a round neck shirt that hasn't been tucked in. It should be their choice.

Fair enough not wearing football shirts as that can cause trouble in certain parts.

Same as certain people getting hot under the collar (not round necked shirt obviously) about the soft soled golf shoes. As long as the greens are not damaged what is the issue?

Of course it is true that if a club wants these "standards" then that is up to them, most of them won't be around in the future
 
Thing is, if a club has a full membership and healthy bar takings then there is no need to look at their practices but if not then they have to at least consider change. Take the shirt and tie for an interview point. If you are not struggling for members then you can pick and choose and it is for the applicant to impress the club. If the club is desperate for members then it may need to start removing hurdles to people joining and realise that the club needs to impress the prospective member or vice versa. My old club had interviews in shirt and tie and my new club did not. Which one has a full membership and friendly, more approachable members and which is way down on membership numbers.

I still strongly believe that clubs need to be looking at membership retention as opposed to attracting the crock of gold that is new members. My old club dropped joining fees and offerred reduced costs for new members to be subsidised by an increase in fees for existing members. This was one reason I left. In all my time at my old club I never had any official update or communication from the club and they wonder why I never felt part of it (any 'news' was communicated by word of mouth around the long term members who were in the know). At my new club I get at least one email a week updating me about something (work to the course, deaedlines for competition entries etc) last week I received an apology that the club could not absorb the increase in tax on the beer but had sourced a cheaper bitter which they were trialing to see whether it was a suitable substitute. The clubs listens to suggestions and never less than welcoming to the guests that I have signed in. I even believe that smart jeans may be allowed in the club house.
 
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