What an atmosphere!!

[Hobbit]

With a spare Saturday, and wanting to do something different, Mrs Hobbit and I took ourselves off to the local rugby club. The match itself wasn't exactly a classic but there was some decent banter from the crowd.

However, golf clubs could learn a lot from the atmosphere in the bar afterwards. Wives, girlfriends and children were made hugely welcome. Children with the favourite Xmas toys, including a couple on scooters whizzing around, weren't tut-tutted at. Guys that probably haven't thrown a rugby ball in anger for 30-40 years were chattering away with lads in their late teens/early 20's. It was a revelation!!

The kitchen benefited from a signifacant number of families having the evening meal there.

Golf club members, secs and managers would do themselves a huge favour by modelling their clubs the same (inclusive) way.

 

[1948griff]

Not sure about children whizzing around on scooters...that would fairly irritate me.
Think a lot of golf clubs could learn a lot from other social clubs operational models though and financially benefit.

 

[davidy233]

With a spare Saturday, and wanting to do something different, Mrs Hobbit and I took ourselves off to the local rugby club. The match itself wasn't exactly a classic but there was some decent banter from the crowd.

However, golf clubs could learn a lot from the atmosphere in the bar afterwards. Wives, girlfriends and children were made hugely welcome. Children with the favourite Xmas toys, including a couple on scooters whizzing around, weren't tut-tutted at. Guys that probably haven't thrown a rugby ball in anger for 30-40 years were chattering away with lads in their late teens/early 20's. It was a revelation!!

The kitchen benefited from a signifacant number of families having the evening meal there.

Golf club members, secs and managers would do themselves a huge favour by modelling their clubs the same (inclusive) way.

My previous golf club in Aberdeenshire (Alford) was like that - On a Sunday afternoon there would be loads of families in as they joined their dad for Sunday lunch or a drink after the round, much more like a family friendly pub than a traditional golf club - lots of young families where both mum and dad were members - and at the other end of the scale any youngish person who got a Wednesday afternoon or Friday morning off work would play in the seniors sweep - which had it's own razor sharp handicap system.

Just a really friendly club.

 

[London mike 61]

With a spare Saturday, and wanting to do something different, Mrs Hobbit and I took ourselves off to the local rugby club. The match itself wasn't exactly a classic but there was some decent banter from the crowd.

However, golf clubs could learn a lot from the atmosphere in the bar afterwards. Wives, girlfriends and children were made hugely welcome. Children with the favourite Xmas toys, including a couple on scooters whizzing around, weren't tut-tutted at. Guys that probably haven't thrown a rugby ball in anger for 30-40 years were chattering away with lads in their late teens/early 20's. It was a revelation!!

The kitchen benefited from a signifacant number of families having the evening meal there.

Golf club members, secs and managers would do themselves a huge favour by modelling their clubs the same (inclusive) way.

If I found a club like that I would join straight away, no problem. :thup:
Its about time the stuffiness was knocked out of golf and made more family friendly, I know it wouldn't suit everyone and I understand that but for me it works

 

[In_The_Rough]

Sounds a good night. Kids whizzing around on scooters not sure about that could cause an accident by banging into someone knocking over drinks/food etc.

 

[patricks148]

With a spare Saturday, and wanting to do something different, Mrs Hobbit and I took ourselves off to the local rugby club. The match itself wasn't exactly a classic but there was some decent banter from the crowd.

However, golf clubs could learn a lot from the atmosphere in the bar afterwards. Wives, girlfriends and children were made hugely welcome. Children with the favourite Xmas toys, including a couple on scooters whizzing around, weren't tut-tutted at. Guys that probably haven't thrown a rugby ball in anger for 30-40 years were chattering away with lads in their late teens/early 20's. It was a revelation!!

The kitchen benefited from a signifacant number of families having the evening meal there.

Golf club members, secs and managers would do themselves a huge favour by modelling their clubs the same (inclusive) way.

The big advantage most other sports have is the time it takes to play.. rugby 90 mins is not too long for people to hang around watch and have a drink after.

When i played Cricket it was the same... all afternoon 6 hours + back at the back the clubhouse you would get the two home games players a handfull of the two teams that were away coming back for a drink, 50 60 tops.

The club shared the ground with the Hocky team and they used the club over the winter.. not many more teams, more like 200 plus in the bar.

Golf takes a fair while in most places so i don't think you can model on other sports, but what do i know

 

[BTatHome]

...
Golf club members, secs and managers would do themselves a huge favour by modelling their clubs the same (inclusive) way.

It's not always the fault of the secs and managers etc, the membership has a lot to say in the way that clubs are .... you only have to see the discussions on here about traditions in respect to shoes/clothes, where to stand, to see that!

 

[upsidedown]

One of the problems with golf is the vast majority of the time you're finishing your game at different times from everyone else so unless you're an absolute lush you're unlikley to hang around till everybody else is in.
Certainly at our place the place is humming after a shotgun and on Fiddle days there can be up to 50 folks in the bar before hand and most will stay for at least 30-60 mins after. On a Medal round day the bar is dead which is a shame.

 

[GB72]

With a spare Saturday, and wanting to do something different, Mrs Hobbit and I took ourselves off to the local rugby club. The match itself wasn't exactly a classic but there was some decent banter from the crowd.

However, golf clubs could learn a lot from the atmosphere in the bar afterwards. Wives, girlfriends and children were made hugely welcome. Children with the favourite Xmas toys, including a couple on scooters whizzing around, weren't tut-tutted at. Guys that probably haven't thrown a rugby ball in anger for 30-40 years were chattering away with lads in their late teens/early 20's. It was a revelation!!

The kitchen benefited from a signifacant number of families having the evening meal there.

Golf club members, secs and managers would do themselves a huge favour by modelling their clubs the same (inclusive) way.

Totally agree and one of the things I miss most about my rugby playing days. The thing about the rugby club was that there was something up there for all of the family and that made the life of the players so much easier. There would normally be a few wives etc up there to watch or for a drink so my wife did not mind coming to the club (the fact that she could wear jeans etc helped as well but that is not the subject here). People brought their kids up and they would all play together saving the need for one parent to stay at home and also allowing a longer stay in the bar. Everyone felt welcome whether you had anything to do with the club or not. I had mates from other areas up to stay frequently and they would quite happily start the evening the in the bar at the rugby club.

The difference is that all of the rugby clubs that I have played at have made great efforts to be part of the community and be a benefit to all. Golf clubs are, by and large, insular beasts run for the benefit of the members only and too many members want to be shut away from the outside world, families, kids etc rather than open the doors to all and reap the rewards that come with it.

 

[shivas irons]

I couldnt think of anything more awful at a golf club.Its bloke time,round of golf and a chat in the bar.Why do woman insist on doing what blokes do and dragging their kids along as well,Good grief let blokes have their time together.Men will be going to maternity classes next

 

[Deleted member 18588]

In general rugby players are significantly younger than golf club members and, therefore, likely to be more tolerant of relaxed dress standards and children in the clubhouse.

I appreciate that clubs do need to attract more of these younger guys but there are a number of problems not least of which can be alienating many of the existing, older membership whose subs and bar spend are vital. Many of these members could be deterred from staying at the Club if, for instance, there were children playing in the lounge.

This is the balancing act that Club Committees and proprietors are faced with and I, for one, would not like to say what is the answer.

 

[GB72]

In general rugby players are significantly younger than golf club members and, therefore, likely to be more tolerant of relaxed dress standards and children in the clubhouse.

I appreciate that clubs do need to attract more of these younger guys but there are a number of problems not least of which can be alienating many of the existing, older membership whose subs and bar spend are vital. Many of these members could be deterred from staying at the Club if, for instance, there were children playing in the lounge.

This is the balancing act that Club Committees and proprietors are faced with and I, for one, would not like to say what is the answer.

I actually disagree with the age thing. Yes, at first team level a lot of our backs were younger but the front 5 were in their late 30s or early 40s, the second team was pretty much all 35 and above as were the vets. Add to that the old members, supporters etc and the demographic in a rugby club bar is not much different from a golf club. Having a family atmosphere does not attract the younger members but what it does do is attract the 30-40 age group who can involve their families in their weekend activity rather than have to dash to the course, hurry round and then dash home so as to spend some more time with the wife and kids.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I actually disagree with the age thing. Yes, at first team level a lot of our backs were younger but the front 5 were in their late 30s or early 40s, the second team was pretty much all 35 and above as were the vets. Add to that the old members, supporters etc and the demographic in a rugby club bar is not much different from a golf club. Having a family atmosphere does not attract the younger members but what it does do is attract the 30-40 age group who can involve their families in their weekend activity rather than have to dash to the course, hurry round and then dash home so as to spend some more time with the wife and kids.

But the average age of golf-club members is 50+.

 

[GB72]

But the average age of golf-club members is 50+.

With many of the supporters at local rugby clubs being ex players who are well past their 50s, it does even out. Out of a couple of hundred or more people who could be up the rugby club on any Saturday, I would say at up to half.

But age seems to be the demographic that all the clubs want to change, move away from the aging membership. A more family orientated atmosphere may just be what is needed to get some of those into golf or to get some of those already playing to spend more in the club than they do at present.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

With many of the supporters at local rugby clubs being ex players who are well past their 50s, it does even out. Out of a couple of hundred or more people who could be up the rugby club on any Saturday, I would say at up to half.

But age seems to be the demographic that all the clubs want to change, move away from the aging membership. A more family orientated atmosphere may just be what is needed to get some of those into golf or to get some of those already playing to spend more in the club than they do at present.

As I said I appreciate that but the difficulty is doing that whilst not alienating your existing core membership.

For the foreseeable future golf is likely to remain a minority sport so new members are difficult to come by and it would be either very brave or very stupid for any Committee to set about attracting new members in ways that may antagonise existing members.

If I knew the answer I could make a fortune as a Consultant to Golf Clubs.

 

[MegaSteve]

The scene, as described by Hobbit, can be found at many muni's and p&p's up and down the country... Such facilities/venue's tend to get derided by golf club memberships...