The future of golf clubs? hopefully not....

[PJ87]

Are you on smack? Have you spoke to a teenager recently? They have no social skills or social awareness and know nothing about teamwork. I find it scary that you think xbox chat is classed as teamwork and socialising.

I recently took my nephew to an airsoft day. All the young kids remained isolated from one another whilst all the 40 year old children had a right laugh

Ofc I'm on smack for actually understanding someone else's point of view?

It's a skill they learn and can be applied to real life

Isn't it why the army is now using it as an ad campaign as it's a skill that can be useful / lots of computerised situations happening now.

Most teenagers are anti social. Been like that since the dawn of time.

 

[Robster59]

Our club has seen an influx of members this year. A lot came from a local club that closed down due to lack of cash and catastrophic financial management.
We've had a considerable number join since lockdown, perhaps on the thought that there would be less courses open to visitors. Included in that were a good number of young members, and I was chatting to 4 of them on the patio at the weekend. All nice lads, very sociable and polite. Apparently they've been playing almost every day since they joined.

The trick for the clubs is, post lockdown, keeping those members. Our club is working hard on improving the course, being as inclusive as possible and not being fuddy.

But.... before lockdown, there was, IMO, still too many courses in our area for the number of playing golfers. It is not a time to be lax and think that this blip is going to remain. The real test will come when it is time to renew memberships and how many decide to stay at the club. That is really down to the clubs and what they do to retain those members. That involves changing where it is necessary and practical and listening to members. Providing facilities and making sure they have a good course to play on.

 

[GB72]

Our club has seen an influx of members this year. A lot came from a local club that closed down due to lack of cash and catastrophic financial management.
We've had a considerable number join since lockdown, perhaps on the thought that there would be less courses open to visitors. Included in that were a good number of young members, and I was chatting to 4 of them on the patio at the weekend. All nice lads, very sociable and polite. Apparently they've been playing almost every day since they joined.

The trick for the clubs is, post lockdown, keeping those members. Our club is working hard on improving the course, being as inclusive as possible and not being fuddy.

But.... before lockdown, there was, IMO, still too many courses in our area for the number of playing golfers. It is not a time to be lax and think that this blip is going to remain. The real test will come when it is time to renew memberships and how many decide to stay at the club. That is really down to the clubs and what they do to retain those members. That involves changing where it is necessary and practical and listening to members. Providing facilities and making sure they have a good course to play on.

This is where I think that some clubs have to plan very carefully. We all appreciate that many clubs have experienced a pretty dramatic cut in revenue for much of this year but I would see it as a mistake to try and recoup those losses too quickly. If you have just found a decent number of of new members, to then look to up the subscription by a substantial amount next year to try and rebuild the bank balance could see all those gains lost pretty quickly.

 

[Robster59]

This is where I think that some clubs have to plan very carefully. We all appreciate that many clubs have experienced a pretty dramatic cut in revenue for much of this year but I would see it as a mistake to try and recoup those losses too quickly. If you have just found a decent number of of new members, to then look to up the subscription by a substantial amount next year to try and rebuild the bank balance could see all those gains lost pretty quickly.

I think that is a good point. We do have visitors to our club and whilst they are important for revenue, the club has managed to continue thanks to nearly all the members committing to stay at the club despite it being closed for a couple of months. For those clubs who put a greater reliance on revenue from visitors, this will have hit them very hard. Our club was very good at keeping up the correspondence with members including details of finances, current accounts and projected year end figures.

 

[Grant85]

It's a strange dynamic at the moment. At the start of lockdown, I think a lot of us were fearing for our clubs that they would really struggle and have to make big changes to keep the lights on. However in reality it's led to a huge demand for memberships and as far as I know almost all clubs have more members now than they were projecting pre-Covid.

At the moment there is still people on furlough, people working from home, people unable to go on holiday and in the main, a surprisingly high no. of people still feel comfortable financially. My guess is that a lot of these new members were people who were playing regular golf as guests / visitors and probably still spending £50 to £100 a month on golf (at least during the summer). With most clubs not having visitors and restricting guests - these casual golfers have decided they will have to join to play regularly and, as they aren't travelling for work, can justify the membership and maybe get 2 or 3 games in each week.

This has made the courses busier but visitor income will be down in a lot of member centric courses and there will be no room on the tee to introduce it. Especially if the trend continues and the vast majority of professional / office workers become home based and can play golf every afternoon.

I would say my club is not one that relies hugely on visitor income but it's certainly an area that was bringing in cash on the tee and in the bar that is not coming back this year.

Hopefully with new members most clubs will have a sufficient turnover to cut their cloth to suit, but anecdotally we will also know plenty of clubs who have been struggling for 10 years, not had money for repairs / maintenance etc. and probably within a year will be back in a similar position effectively operating hand to mouth each month.

 

[sunshine]

Ofc I'm on smack for actually understanding someone else's point of view?

It's a skill they learn and can be applied to real life

Isn't it why the army is now using it as an ad campaign as it's a skill that can be useful / lots of computerised situations happening now.

Most teenagers are anti social. Been like that since the dawn of time.

Well said.

Or maybe it was just the smack talking

 

[PJ87]

Well said.

Or maybe it was just the smack talking

Well considering 1/3 my control room are ex apprentices we all grew up on Xbox/ playstation and we are the quickest when stuff goes wrong on taking releases of signals etc because we can navigate the computers quicker than those who didn't grow up with it

Not saying their worse or anything just we are quicker at that aspect

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think that is a good point. We do have visitors to our club and whilst they are important for revenue, the club has managed to continue thanks to nearly all the members committing to stay at the club despite it being closed for a couple of months. For those clubs who put a greater reliance on revenue from visitors, this will have hit them very hard. Our club was very good at keeping up the correspondence with members including details of finances, current accounts and projected year end figures.

snap!

 

[Papas1982]

Well considering 1/3 my control room are ex apprentices we all grew up on Xbox/ playstation and we are the quickest when stuff goes wrong on taking releases of signals etc because we can navigate the computers quicker than those who didn't grow up with it

Not saying their worse or anything just we are quicker at that aspect

Im guessing you’re in the late 20’s to 40’s bracket. Same as myself. Imo we had the sweet spot of actually gong outside as well as new tech.

All the young kids we take on now are certainly better on computers than those they‘re replacing, but they’re scared to answer a phone. Imo it’s clear that social skills are deteriorating.

 

[sunshine]

Im guessing you’re in the late 20’s to 40’s bracket. Same as myself. Imo we had the sweet spot of actually gong outside as well as new tech.

All the young kids we take on now are certainly better on computers than those they‘re replacing, but they’re scared to answer a phone. Imo it’s clear that social skills are deteriorating.

I'm guessing...
His name begins with a P, maybe Paul?
And he's 32 or 33

 

[Papas1982]

I'm guessing...
His name begins with a P, maybe Paul?
And he's 32 or 33

Hahaha.

How did I know spot that ???

 

[PJ87]

Im guessing you’re in the late 20’s to 40’s bracket. Same as myself. Imo we had the sweet spot of actually gong outside as well as new tech.

All the young kids we take on now are certainly better on computers than those they‘re replacing, but they’re scared to answer a phone. Imo it’s clear that social skills are deteriorating.

It's gone full circle now.. people like the phone again because of video calls

 

[Crumplezone]

Since it reopened after lockdown, my local driving range is heaving with all types. Women, kids, youths, families as well as the usual middle aged blokes. It's way busier than I ever saw it before. Guess some of them must be actually playing too. Maybe golf has found a new surge of popularity.

 

[Papas1982]

It's gone full circle now.. people like the phone again because of video calls

I’m talking being in an office and a phone ringing.

The young guys know how to input data at high speed, but don’t have the confidence to answer a call. I’ve seen them literally email people 10 foot away instead of talk

 

[PJ87]

I’m talking being in an office and a phone ringing.

The young guys know how to input data at high speed, but don’t have the confidence to answer a call. I’ve seen them literally email people 10 foot away instead of talk

Not always a bad thing. Get a paper trail going

Although all the phones in our room are recorded

We phone each other on diff desks to give instructions for the tapes

 

[Papas1982]

Not always a bad thing. Get a paper trail going

Although all the phones in our room are recorded

We phone each other on diff desks to give instructions for the tapes

Maybe in your job, and I agree if it’s important it could be handy. At my place it’s simply a case of youngsters not chatting and being afraid to ask a question As they know they should know the answer. Knowing that if they’re pulled up on it, they can say the email was private.....

My job is at a crossroads atm, more use of computers so companies taking youngsters who can bash out data entry at speed, yet the experienced guys need to hold their hand on anything challenging As they kids don’t really learn the role. More just a case of that goes there becuase it does. Nobody ever asks why?

If brexit happens, it’s gonna be like the monkeys and Shakespeare. We’ve a second office laid out with desks for people to come in and just bash simple work out Whilst the rest of us look over their shoulder.

 

[Grant85]

Personally think it's a total myth that youngsters don't have basic social skills.

I think in the main they are as good & bad as other generations and people are just remembering their youth through rose tinted specs.

Things move on, culture moves on and humans adapt to the environment they find themselves in. I'm sure if whatsapp groups and social media had been around when you were coming of age, the way you interact with friends and colleagues would have been different.

 

[Robster59]

Personally think it's a total myth that youngsters don't have basic social skills.

I think in the main they are as good & bad as other generations and people are just remembering their youth through rose tinted specs.

Things move on, culture moves on and humans adapt to the environment they find themselves in. I'm sure if whatsapp groups and social media had been around when you were coming of age, the way you interact with friends and colleagues would have been different.

I'd agree with you. The same has been said of teenagers in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, etc. I am sure I was thought of in the same manner when I was a teenager growing up in the 70's. But, most of the ones I come across are polite and communicative if you take to them as your equal and not talk down to them.

Anyway............ as often happens, we are wildly off-topic. This has been moved from talking about the future of golf courses to some people tarring all current teenagers with the same brush.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Strange times. We had over 120 new members on the temporary three month membership on offer. Seems to have been some sound business as it has provided a very quick inflow of cash and in return people get to try club membership and play. Without initiatives like this all of these players would be struggling to play regular golf as most courses are still members or members & guests and few are offering visitor green fees, even pay and play as the ones around here have clubs attached or affiliated and they are looking after those members first.

I do believe memberships will change, whether that is on an annual fee for playing credits, rolling shorter term contracts or some other form. I think current golf memberships with their annual renewals will have to change especially if clubs want to compete with the others courses nearby.

 

[Grizzly]

Around me (20 mins drive or less) I currently have 8 clubs.

1 is closing after after this Summer for farmland, though many believe it will then be sold on for housing in the next couple of years.

2 are due to close within the next 2-3 years for housing.

1 is due to reduce to a 9 hole course (currently 27) with the 18 hole course replaced by housing. Many believe that the entire site will end up going.

1 is heavily rumoured to be going for housing, with letters going out to members in February about the possibility of this. Since Covid though, I think that they have been doing a roaring trade. I personally don't think it will go now.

So 8 clubs down to 4... Quite a small amount of clubs for a large population roughly 260k+ people, in my opinion.

Wow, whereabouts is that?