What is the Social Side of Your Club Like

[GB72]

Rather than hijack the membership thread I thought I would start a new one on the social aspect of membership.

For me, the social side of my club is sorely lacking. That is not to say it does not exist, it is more to the point that it is not for me and is very reserved. The bar is full of small groups chatting amongst themselves quietly, no interaction and no banter. The social functions are pretty much all dinner dances playing old tunes and there is no TV so no attempts to get people in to watch the match or the Open.

That is a big down side to the clubs around me but that is just my opinion as it clearly suits many. I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I was brought up in the bussle of rugby clubs with families everywhere, joking and banter left right and centre and more lively evening functions. I appreciate that golf clubs will never be that but does your club provide what you are looking for socially or, as in my case, is the atmosphere and are the events geared towards the older members of the club who use it as their main social hub.

 

[drew83]

Rather than hijack the membership thread I thought I would start a new one on the social aspect of membership.

For me, the social side of my club is sorely lacking. That is not to say it does not exist, it is more to the point that it is not for me and is very reserved. The bar is full of small groups chatting amongst themselves quietly, no interaction and no banter. The social functions are pretty much all dinner dances playing old tunes and there is no TV so no attempts to get people in to watch the match or the Open.

That is a big down side to the clubs around me but that is just my opinion as it clearly suits many. I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I was brought up in the bussle of rugby clubs with families everywhere, joking and banter left right and centre and more lively evening functions. I appreciate that golf clubs will never be that but does your club provide what you are looking for socially or, as in my case, is the atmosphere and are the events geared towards the older members of the club who use it as their main social hub.

I think is partly my issue too.....I need to change my expectations I think....Any golf club will be reserved compared to a rugby club I guess.

 

[turkish]

Rubbish

 

[drew83]

Rubbish

I take it your is quite a lively clubhouse then?

 

[Hacker Khan]

I think the social aspect and culture of the clubhouse will reflect the needs of the vast majority of the members. So inevitably you will mostly get the type of establishment that they feel comfortable in.

From visiting many clubs they mostly seem relatively similar, kind of a bit staid and pleasant enough for a pint after a round, but not really somewhere that would make me ever want to visit them either on my own or with my family/friends if I was not playing golf there. But of course there are excepetions.

 

[RollinThunder]

Chances are, the members and management want to keep it that way. The retired probably make up a large percentage of their members, so they will most likely prefer a much quieter atmosphere, and to maybe take their wives to the odd dinner dance. The atmosphere of a golf club isn't something that could be changed by a higher authority, it needs a group of members to act as a stimulus. The same way our local pub is suddenly livened up when our cricket team walks in after a game. I would love it if a golf club had the atmosphere of the Working Men's Club that I go to, but people wouldn't consider it to be fitting of a golf club. It's almost like a quiet, slow, atmosphere is expected of a golf club bar.

Speaking as someone in their 20s, a golf club isn't somewhere where you socialise. Perhaps a few pints after a round, watch a bit of the sport on TV, and have a few games of pool, but definitely not attend a dinner dance, or jacket and tie event. It's a shame, because my clubhouse has the potential to be a nice venue, as I've said before, the bar is nicely decorated, there are TVs and a pool table, and an excellent view of the course. If there was a decent group of people, I wouldn't hesitate for one minute to have a full drinking session there, the atmos is good with a couple in the bar, never mind a large group. You're never going to get groups of young people using a golf club as a social hub (as much as I'd like to). Town centre pubs and bars offer much more hustle and bustle, women, and general entertainment.

 

[Leereed]

I play at a resort course so club house has always got people in so adds to the atmosphere.As far as members go it's the same faces in there. We have sky and sometimes go up on a night to watch England games.The good thing is you don't have to dress like you just played golf. Smart casual is fine.jeans trainers no problem.
As we can play other courses in the hotel group we sort out away days, which is always well turned out.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Interesting to hear what people want. I have no interest in going to socials at night at any of the clubs I have been a member of. Not for me. It wouldn't matter what the event is.

What would interest me is a friendly, open, relaxed bar with simple golf club food, decent pricing, big tv in the corner with sport on, (volume down). Preferably upstairs bar with view over the course. I want to use it, perhaps before a round, certainly after a round for a friendly drink and a snack, not a meal. A bit of banter at the bar and with other tables of members. If anyone has been to Knaresborough GC then that pretty much ticks all the boxes for me. Shame I don't live there.

This would clearly not be enough for others who want a fuller, more involved social side.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Lots of social functions through the season, winter too. All very well supported. Most have live music, a dine-in + folk just coming for a drink at the presentations etc. Day to day is steady but Saturdays very busy especially across tea time and into the evening. Proper banter and a right good laugh. Best bit about the club to be honest.

 

[bladeplayer]

Rather than hijack the membership thread I thought I would start a new one on the social aspect of membership.

For me, the social side of my club is sorely lacking. That is not to say it does not exist, it is more to the point that it is not for me and is very reserved. The bar is full of small groups chatting amongst themselves quietly, no interaction and no banter. The social functions are pretty much all dinner dances playing old tunes and there is no TV so no attempts to get people in to watch the match or the Open.

.

Saves me writing it out Greg ..

I chat with nearly everyone (whether they like it or not ha ha) but find in general it is as you say above ..

The stereotypical Cliquey groups

 

[jamielaing]

I think this is the changing times. In the 80s my grandad's life revolved around the golf club. In the 90s I, as a young whipper snapper, would only find him there with his mates. This is where we got taken for meals, birthday parties were held there and you could walk in and chat to anyone. Saturday nights the bar had at least 50 people in it.

Now, same club, I walk in on a Friday night and my only company is the bar staff. Saturday's are better, there are six old boys all staring at the TV.

I tried a function a few months ago, it was a quiz followed by a dance. After the quiz everyone stood up and left. There was maybe 10 of us left so I chose town as the better option.

Unfortunatley golf clubs are no longer the social hub from what I have seen. As much as I try to support the golf club, it's difficult to spend my Saturday night sat there looking at the wall and people who don't want to talk. I can do that at home for free with HID.

 

[Big_G]

My club does really well socially. The social committee does a really good job selling any of the events they put on, most are sold out.

The great bonus from this is that we do so well with bar/catering takings we don't rely as much on green fees as other clubs so the course can be kept for the members

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think this is the changing times. In the 80s my grandad's life revolved around the golf club. In the 90s I, as a young whipper snapper, would only find him there with his mates. This is where we got taken for meals, birthday parties were held there and you could walk in and chat to anyone. Saturday nights the bar had at least 50 people in it.

Now, same club, I walk in on a Friday night and my only company is the bar staff. Saturday's are better, there are six old boys all staring at the TV.

I tried a function a few months ago, it was a quiz followed by a dance. After the quiz everyone stood up and left. There was maybe 10 of us left so I chose town as the better option.

Unfortunatley golf clubs are no longer the social hub from what I have seen. As much as I try to support the golf club, it's difficult to spend my Saturday night sat there looking at the wall and people who don't want to talk. I can do that at home for free with HID.

My old club used to be like this. They did not adapt and when the oldies started to die or were not able to come out they still kept doing the same things. Younger people stopped using the bar, going to events as they were for old people only. Now the events are badly attended, the bar is dead, steward not replaced and the bar only open at certain times. I could see it coming but the oldies thought it would never decline.

I meet people from there every now and again and they still keep talking about how things used to be and don't grasp things have moved on.

 

[Tarkus1212]

My club has a good mix of functions some are casual and others formal, something for everyone really. As we're a private members club I try to support the social events as ultimately they help keep the fees down and they are there for the benefit of members.

 

[jamielaing]

My old club used to be like this. They did not adapt and when the oldies started to die or were not able to come out they still kept doing the same things. Younger people stopped using the bar, going to events as they were for old people only. Now the events are badly attended, the bar is dead, steward not replaced and the bar only open at certain times. I could see it coming but the oldies thought it would never decline.

I meet people from there every now and again and they still keep talking about how things used to be and don't grasp things have moved on.

It's sad really. I was a junior in those days but since growing up I have worked a number of jobs including managing bars in town. I have a reasonable understanding of what pulls people in and these older generation golf clubs just don't comprehend it. I had to laugh when they started serving premix cocktails 'for the young things'.

It's now very difficult to make any changes as even if you put the best of events on you would presume it would be a nightmare and just go to town or your local instead.

How things used to be is great but there needs to be movement to keep people coming in. A silent bar with no atmosphere which has been decorated to look like a large version of the captain's living room is not going to appeal.

 

[RollinThunder]

I think this is the changing times. In the 80s my grandad's life revolved around the golf club. In the 90s I, as a young whipper snapper, would only find him there with his mates. This is where we got taken for meals, birthday parties were held there and you could walk in and chat to anyone. Saturday nights the bar had at least 50 people in it.

Now, same club, I walk in on a Friday night and my only company is the bar staff. Saturday's are better, there are six old boys all staring at the TV.

I tried a function a few months ago, it was a quiz followed by a dance. After the quiz everyone stood up and left. There was maybe 10 of us left so I chose town as the better option.

Unfortunatley golf clubs are no longer the social hub from what I have seen. As much as I try to support the golf club, it's difficult to spend my Saturday night sat there looking at the wall and people who don't want to talk. I can do that at home for free with HID.

That sounds like the decline of pubs in general, amplified in recent years by the smoking ban and stricter drink driving laws. Town centres have taken over as the social hubs (particularly for my age group). Even village pubs are considered by many to be uncool. The problem is what will happen when these old fellows eventually die? Unless slightly younger old people take their places, the bar will be empty. It needs to stimulate the influx of young people, how, I don't know. More sport on TV, tidy young barmaid (as funny as it sounds, many of my pubcrawls have been dictated by how good-looking the barmaids are!), and possibly cheaper beer.

It's a similar position the working men's clubs are in. The clientele there are mostly OAPs, who have been brought up in the WMC culture, with dregs of the middle-aged. The younger generation haven't, and unless young people start using them, they will die.

 

[Hacker Khan]

That sounds like the decline of pubs in general, amplified in recent years by the smoking ban and stricter drink driving laws. Town centres have taken over as the social hubs (particularly for my age group). Even village pubs are considered by many to be uncool. The problem is what will happen when these old fellows eventually die? Unless slightly younger old people take their places, the bar will be empty. It needs to stimulate the influx of young people, how, I don't know. More sport on TV, tidy young barmaid (as funny as it sounds, many of my pubcrawls have been dictated by how good-looking the barmaids are!), and possibly cheaper beer.

It's a similar position the working men's clubs are in. The clientele there are mostly OAPs, who have been brought up in the WMC culture, with dregs of the middle-aged. The younger generation haven't, and unless young people start using them, they will die.

I think club houses are never going to attract groups of young people as 'a destination' or somewhere to spend their leisure time nowadays, as the image of golf and clubhouses has put pay to that. No matter how fit the bar maid is. But there's no reason why they can not try and attract the family market a bit more, possibly aim for more of a nice village pub feel and atmosphere.

 

[john0]

I'm not too sure to be honest. I usually just change my shoes in the car park and go straight home without entering the clubhouse.......

 

[GB72]

Thing is I am not young. I am 42 and even so I still feel that the clubhouse is aimed at an older market.

 

[Crawfy]

My old club used to be like this. They did not adapt and when the oldies started to die or were not able to come out they still kept doing the same things. Younger people stopped using the bar, going to events as they were for old people only. Now the events are badly attended, the bar is dead, steward not replaced and the bar only open at certain times. I could see it coming but the oldies thought it would never decline.

I meet people from there every now and again and they still keep talking about how things used to be and don't grasp things have moved on.

This is my club at present. Its seems to only get a "turn" on a Satyurday afternoon. I regularly play on a Sat/Sun eve and both the car park and bar are empty. The social committee do try with random social events, however these seem to be a struggle to fill. With Golf clubs tending to be on the outskirts of town, the drink driving laws (especially in Scotland) have had a significant impact on an already struggling business.
Decisions however to cancel SkySports baffle me. Why would you remove the opportunity for members to gather in the bar to watch the finale of golf tourneys - especially the majors. It would not take much to promote e.g Pie beans & mash or haggis specials during The Open, Burger Specials during The Masters and respective deals on American/British/Scottish beers for US Open and PGA etc.
Such suggestions I have passed on...to no avail.