When do you think you will next play golf?

[Sports_Fanatic]

A big issue is that many clubs will need to get revenue coming into the club. With bars and restaurants likely to remain closed, the average member who has paid his fees for the year wont actually offer additional benefit to the club at all in terms of incoming revenue.

Don't be surprised if there is some "encouragement" given to green fees to get footfall through that not only generates income, but also potentially introduces new players to the club who may then go on and take up membership.

I think my club still have 220 members who haven’t paid this years subs. Whilst part of me says they should have to wait until June to play, the club are obviously going to just push to get them back on board. That’s a lot of money for the first month or so to benefit.

Get your point though that they will ultimately need to find away of making some money from all areas.

 

[Imurg]

A big issue is that many clubs will need to get revenue coming into the club. With bars and restaurants likely to remain closed, the average member who has paid his fees for the year wont actually offer additional benefit to the club at all in terms of incoming revenue.

Don't be surprised if there is some "encouragement" given to green fees to get footfall through that not only generates income, but also potentially introduces new players to the club who may then go on and take up membership.

Firstly, if the guidelines published are going to happen, clubs won't be allowed visitors for a while.
One reason for this could be that, as a member, the club has some leverage should you flaunt the rules in place...first breach of SD = a warning, 2nd breach = a week's suspension etc..
A visitor would not face any sanction should they be seen to not be SDing apart from, maybe, being escorted off the course.

Secondly, I'm not convinced that clubs need the money..Now...
Its early May
Most clubs year's run either Jan-Dec, Apr-Mar, etc..
Most will have had a lot of subs paid - obviously some, if not most, will have had less than normal
But they'll still be sitting on a decent amount in the bank as of now. Just as an example, my club has taken in somewhere in the region of 750k in the last 2 months. Obviously some will be less but were still taken a few hundred thousand quid
Although there is no profit from bar/catering coming in, there's little being spent on it either.
Members will have a month or so to themselves, then the visitors will be allowed and, in time, the bar reopens and the revenue flows.
Not saying that clubs won't struggle but, for now, they should have money in the bank.

 

[patricks148]

had an email from the club with a link to the Scottish Gov website and asked to explain why you think golf should be relaxed.

 

[i*windows]

So at Munich Eichenreid, where they host the BMW open, members are limited to 9 holes a week. Membership fees >2K per year, course is closed from Nov-March. At the club I play at to the east of Munich, open to all comers reduced green fees, no bar or food, but the pro shop is open - happy days

 

[ScienceBoy]

I like the idea of the foam inserts in the holes, only addition I would make is add a 6 inch ring sprayed around the hole. If your ball touches the line you are holed out and a shot is added to your hole total. Inside the cup is holed out and no shot added.

Doesn’t matter if you hit the foam insert and still end up inside the line then, so takes away all ambiguity around holing out with foam inserts in.

 

[KenL]

had an email from the club with a link to the Scottish Gov website and asked to explain why you think golf should be relaxed.

Could you post the link up here please?
Thanks.

 

[howbow88]

I like the idea of the foam inserts in the holes, only addition I would make is add a 6 inch ring sprayed around the hole. If your ball touches the line you are holed out and a shot is added to your hole total. Inside the cup is holed out and no shot added.

Doesn’t matter if you hit the foam insert and still end up inside the line then, so takes away all ambiguity around holing out with foam inserts in.

Just to clarify: you mean enforced gimmes within 6", right? I would agree with that myself, though I would push it to a foot.

You would like to think that most people playing would do this anyway.

 

[Orikoru]

Just to clarify: you mean enforced gimmes within 6", right? I would agree with that myself, though I would push it to a foot.

You would like to think that most people playing would do this anyway.

Yeah a foot is definitely a gimme in a non-comp! I wouldn't have thought you even need to mandate that, but you never know with some people. In the last round before courses closes (where people were already social distancing, hole cup were in upside down etc) we had already agreed to be more generous with the gimmes, it was pretty much anything within 4 feet for us.

 

[Shooter McPowick]

I don't know why people are so fixated about holing out, its going to be casual golf. If playing solo, do whatever you want just don't touch the flag. If a 2 ball you'll most likely be giving each other putts anyway.

 

[Mandofred]

How are people going to handle playing for money? Every group I know of plays for something. My regular Wed/Sat group (around 25 in decent weather, 4 ball with partner) always plays 50p front, 50p back and a Pound on the total. Then another couple Pounds in the clubhouse (obviously not going to happen) for people going 1st, 2nd overall.

 

[patricks148]

Could you post the link up here please?
Thanks.

: www.ideas.gov.scot/covid-19-a-framework-for-decision-making

 

[Imurg]

How are people going to handle playing for money? Every group I know of plays for something. My regular Wed/Sat group (around 25 in decent weather, 4 ball with partner) always plays 50p front, 50p back and a Pound on the total. Then another couple Pounds in the clubhouse (obviously not going to happen) for people going 1st, 2nd overall.

I think its going to be discouraged.
Nothing to stop a pair playing for something in their 2 ball but roll ups and organised ( or semi organised) comps are not going to be on the menu for a while.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Just to clarify: you mean enforced gimmes within 6", right? I would agree with that myself, though I would push it to a foot.

You would like to think that most people playing would do this anyway.

Yes, got caught up in the finer detail and forgot the big picture.

I think most will do this anyway but it would be great to standardise it.

 

[Orikoru]

How are people going to handle playing for money? Every group I know of plays for something. My regular Wed/Sat group (around 25 in decent weather, 4 ball with partner) always plays 50p front, 50p back and a Pound on the total. Then another couple Pounds in the clubhouse (obviously not going to happen) for people going 1st, 2nd overall.

Is that really the biggest issue? Just don't play for money maybe? Or one person keeps a running total of who owes what at the end and you can bank transfer it if you must.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Great news from the Club yesterday - with renewals now closed we have 550 playing members paid in full (or paying in full by monthly DD) and that number is both sufficient to keep our finances healthy - and a balanced number for playing in accordance with how we must in the time of Covid once we can.

From a personal basis and when next to play... over the years I have learned to try and not project forward on difficult or worrying things, just to deal with them as best I can today - and then repeat tomorrow - and so in respect of playing I have simply closed my thinking to wondering when that might be or worrying about the club or how we might manage. And sure enough - any projection I might have done (but didn't) over worrying on the financial viability and stability of my club has gone - it was nothing I could do anything about other than renew - which I did. And so we hear yesterday that we are OK.

 

[Mandofred]

Yes, got caught up in the finer detail and forgot the big picture.

I think most will do this anyway but it would be great to standardise it.

I don't give a gimme outside of foot. I've made a lot of people mad with that one. Annoys the hell out of me (if you are playing for money) seeing people give 2-3 footers.....they're not gimmes. If we are just playing social for no money, I don't care if you pick your ball up from 10 feet.....or even putt at all...up to you.

 

[Mandofred]

Is that really the biggest issue? Just don't play for money maybe? Or one person keeps a running total of who owes what at the end and you can bank transfer it if you must.

I was kidding...... coming from the US, nobody I knew played for money, they just played golf for the heck of it. Over here it seems crazy important to some people.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I don't give a gimme outside of foot.

Unless it’s for mind games I agree.

The enforced gummies from 6” was to just deal with foam ring bounce out and speeding up/ keeping separation around the hole.

 

[Imurg]

Unless it’s for mind games I agree.

The enforced gummies from 6” was to just deal with foam ring bounce out and speeding up/ keeping separation around the hole.

So the cups are sticky...?

 

[Shooter McPowick]

How are people going to handle playing for money? Every group I know of plays for something. My regular Wed/Sat group (around 25 in decent weather, 4 ball with partner) always plays 50p front, 50p back and a Pound on the total. Then another couple Pounds in the clubhouse (obviously not going to happen) for people going 1st, 2nd overall.

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