The problem with golf ....

londonlewis said:
"Europe's golf market experienced steady growth in demand and supply for 25 years until its peak which occured in 2009 during the global economic crisis. Prior to this the average annual growth in the number of registered golfers was approx 5% year on year, whereas supply grew by an annual average of 3% year on year. Between 2009 and 2013, golf participation fell by 4%, whereas between 2014-2015 the trend stabilized to a very slight fall to -0.3%"
KPMG Golf participation report for Europe 2016.


"Based on information shared by local golf associations, golf membership continues to become less attractive to non-competitive golfers."
KPMG Golf participation report for Europe 2016.

"Based on our survey, declines in golf participation were not widely associated with the economic crisis in and after 2008, but they were often attributed to the actual technical difficulty of the game"
KPMG Golf participation report for Europe 2016.


Page 13 provides growth initiatives for European golf.
http://static.golfbenchmark.com/media/3/0/0/4/3004.pdf

I look forward to seeing all of this being pinned back on the joining process and an interview.
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Of course you do...
 
CMNI said:
All of this relates to those already playing - people like you who play, know the score, and aren't put off by the show.

It makes zero reference to new players in any of those three statements.

I agree with you, if you know about golf, golf clubs then whats the fuss. It is those who aren't even willing because the game puts so many off because of the perceived exclusivity that the game does not warrant. The game can be, and should be played by anyone. Look at world number 1's life story, not how many people would imagine a pro-golfer coming to be, inspiring stuff (though he probably wouldn't have made it into Drive4shows club as a youth player :whistle: )
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Let's just totally ignore it then...
 
CMNI said:
Also below quote is directly lifted from page 14 of your link:

"Limited personal free-time and thenature of the game, competingactivities, and the sense ofexclusivity in the sport can make it difficult to entice newcomers to register as members. "
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"sense of exclusivity" says it all really doesn't it.
 
londonlewis said:
"sense of exclusivity" says it all really doesn't it.
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Uck wise up. You know it is part and parcel. The exclusivity comes from a number of factors, and obviously the club gate keeper is one of the key aspects in the perceived exclusivity.

I thought you were a golfer not a a fisher, put your bait away you're running out.
 
CMNI said:
Uck wise up. You know it is part and parcel. The exclusivity comes from a number of factors, and obviously the club gate keeper is one of the key aspects in the perceived exclusivity.

I thought you were a golfer not a a fisher, put your bait away you're running out.
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Wise up???

golfer not a fisher?

I'm done. Have a good weekend everyone.
 
Golly, I do like a thread where folk can argue for hours - but where the participants are not quite looking at the same thing. Excellent fun.

I'd only comment that some "golf clubs" are "clubs" and some "golf clubs" are "courses" and the two are different beasts. So yes, I think I'd expect some difference in process for gaining entry to one or the other. Whatever it is you want out of your golfing life will determine the nature of the beast you aim to join - it'll be your choice, but you'll also be choosing the entry process.
 
ScienceBoy said:
Golf is broken, that's a given.

The solution? Maybe it needs to redefine what "fixed" is rather than over extending to make everyone happy.

Established members don't see the problems, why would they, it's fine as it is and I agree. When I was a member and not a parent golf was PERFECT and there was no need to change.

For people coming in new or trying to get back in it's just not fit for purpose. I can't see it being so for another decade... 10 years or more of a club not getting my subs, I want it to just be 3-5 years.

We may need less golf clubs but we needmore variety of clubs, some short, some long, more 9 hole courses etc. Maybe we need more clubs, just less 7000 yard "championship" courses.

Those shorter that do exist need to offer competitions and handicap rather than just a place to play golf.

When we fully understand what fixed is we can see what is REALLY broken.
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Utter poppycock, it may not fit your current life circumstances and may not be perfect but golf is far from broken, try and get a bit better perspective on it. We all make choices in life and golf doesnt fit in with those you have made currently. Theres things we'd all like to change but wanting the whole sport restructured to fit your niche a bit unrealistic
 
Trojan615 said:
Interesting points on the discussion about hogan / Nike folding on a us site....

Unfortunately this is the direction the golf business/game is going. The game is too hard to master, too expensive for the middle class and takes too long to play for working people..

Is this true ?
Is it time for a major change in the way we play the game ( less clubs - cheaper) or less holes - quicker rounds ? Discuss
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(I'm skipping the intervening 33 pages and just responding to this.)

I personally don't find it too expensive. There are several nice courses near me that only charge around £20 for a round of 18 on the weekends. Cheaper if you can get a Friday off work and go then. I don't think 'takes too long' is an issue either really. You can always pick a shorter course, or a 9 hole if you're pushed for time. But in summer the length of a game is actually appealing to me. Get out in the midday sun and get back in time for a nice late afternoon pint or two. I always get this funny sense of achievement after completing 18 holes which is hard to describe.

I thought golf was becoming more popular if anything. I've got a few friends into it in the last year. You've got places like TopGolf popping as well attracting people who maybe would never have thought about golf otherwise.
 
Orikoru said:
(I'm skipping the intervening 33 pages and just responding to this.)

I personally don't find it too expensive. There are several nice courses near me that only charge around £20 for a round of 18 on the weekends. Cheaper if you can get a Friday off work and go then. I don't think 'takes too long' is an issue either really. You can always pick a shorter course, or a 9 hole if you're pushed for time. But in summer the length of a game is actually appealing to me. Get out in the midday sun and get back in time for a nice late afternoon pint or two. I always get this funny sense of achievement after completing 18 holes which is hard to describe.

I thought golf was becoming more popular if anything. I've got a few friends into it in the last year. You've got places like TopGolf popping as well attracting people who maybe would never have thought about golf otherwise.
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Really you need to read at least a decent portion of the previous pages as the points raised have been answered as to why it's too expensive and time consuming for some which while not relevant to you are relevant to some and can hold back some from taking it up or continuing with it and having multiple options for everyone from shorter courses or 9 hole courses etc would be a benefit.

On a personal level before I had kids cost and time were never an issue, I had 2 days off in the week and plenty of spare cash and time to play. Then I had kids and both cash and time has disappeared. it's only been in the last 6 months when my kids have got in to golf that I am getting a game in but never more than once a week and never weekly. But if I am to join a club I need one that embraces the family way, is cost effective and and allows me the option to play less if I cannot fit more in to it.

My eldest plays at Sturminster Marshall Golf Club which is a 9 hole course with a great kids academy. I also play at The Hamworthy Club which is a Par 3 9 hole course with really small greens and tight play, this works great for my 6 year old as well who also plays Football there. I also play at Bulbury Woods as a Pay and Play user. All 3 do not have a decent driving Range, 2 have no range and 1 has 4 bays to 150 yards Max. So If I wish to use a driving range I have to go to Dudsbury Golf Course which I can't play as I am not a member but can practice there.

So as you can see, far from simple and at times it can be a pain in the ass. My old course Canford Magna closed down, yet that had a really good 9 hole, a pitch and Putt and 2 18 hole courses as well as a really good driving range. Unfortunately one of the 2 owners died and the club was closed down in April even though it was plenty busy..
 
Orikoru said:
(I'm skipping the intervening 33 pages and just responding to this.)

I personally don't find it too expensive. There are several nice courses near me that only charge around £20 for a round of 18 on the weekends. Cheaper if you can get a Friday off work and go then. I don't think 'takes too long' is an issue either really. You can always pick a shorter course, or a 9 hole if you're pushed for time. But in summer the length of a game is actually appealing to me. Get out in the midday sun and get back in time for a nice late afternoon pint or two. I always get this funny sense of achievement after completing 18 holes which is hard to describe.

I thought golf was becoming more popular if anything. I've got a few friends into it in the last year. You've got places like TopGolf popping as well attracting people who maybe would never have thought about golf otherwise.
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Well, if you can't be bothered to read the previous posts I can't be..............
 
Trojan615 said:
...

You ever have that feeling you probably shouldn't have started a thread....?
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TBH, I think it's been a great thread, if anything it shows the wide range of opinions and differences from clubs all over the Country, great to see how succesful clubs like LP has been in getting new members to clubs still stuck in the past, whether it's answered Mike's question, I'll leave that to him, I'm sure he's capable of sorting the wheat from the chaff.
 
pauldj42 said:
TBH, I think it's been a great thread, if anything it shows the wide range of opinions and differences from clubs all over the Country, great to see how succesful clubs like LP has been in getting new members to clubs still stuck in the past, whether it's answered Mike's question, I'll leave that to him, I'm sure he's capable of sorting the wheat from the chaff.
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I can only dream of starting a thread this popular.....the last time I started a popular thread it was about when I was at a house party and ended up taking my bosses daughter home with me (not on this forum, so don't go searching for it)
 
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