Worrying trends?
Recent surveys identify a worrying trend at golf courses across England and Scotland
RECENT surveys in England and Scotland have identified what is termed a “demand deficit” at golf courses, with too many facilities chasing too few golfers. An English Golf Union (EGU) survey in 2008
revealed that about four million people play golf in England alone, but that only about twenty-eight percent of that number are members of clubs, a fall of four percent since 2006. If this continues through 2009, then many could find themselves in dire straits and unable to meet their costs. The report found that almost half of England’s golf clubs have falling numbers of members. Nine out of ten have membership vacancies, with the majority actively seeking new members. Waiting lists have virtually disappeared. At a time when many clubs will have sent out their annual renewal notices, many are concerned as to what impact the economic downturn will have. Keith Lloyd, the chief executive of the Golf Club Managers Association, said: “The reaction I’m getting is that some people are paying their subs and some are not. It was not uncommon for clubs to lose thirty to forty members last year and that’s probably going to be the same this year. I think most managers are worried by what will happen this time next year, because the economic climate is adding fuel to the fire.” The EGU survey found that:
• Seven out of ten club golfers are aged 45 and over
• Juniors (under-18s) make up only 9 percent of memberships - an increase of 1 percent since 2000
• 45 percent of clubs have experienced falling membership since 2006 (49
members on average, or 12 percent)
Ageing membership
• 23 percent of clubs have increased membership since 2006 (53 on average, or 14 percent)
• 82 percent of clubs have vacancies across all categories
• It is estimated that there are about 81,000 vacancies nationally (average, 46 per club)
• 20 percent of clubs have waiting lists (expected to fall in 2009)
• 58 percent have joining fees (a figure expected to fall in 2009)
• Only 10 percent have joining fees for juniors (a figure expected to fall in 2009)
• Average adult joining fee - £760
• 24 percent of clubs require handicaps (a figure expected to fall in 2009)
From a Scottish Golf Club survey, November 2008 (217 clubs responded, some 84.7 percent of these were private, 8.4 percent were municipal and 6.1 percent proprietary). Clubs were asked to identify the three most pressing issues facing their club.
The top five were:
• Maintaining membership (easily the most important concern)
• Increasing costs • Lack of visitors
• Cost of course maintenance and improvement
• Ageing membership Initiatives to increase/retain memberships: • Special offers • Coaching/taster sessions for beginners • Club open days
What are you like?
Bretton King, owner of: a menagerie, worn out knees, a competitive nature and a sense of humour!
Who are you? Bretton King, Managing Director of Ecosolve Ltd., importers and suppliers of Deep Drill and Drill & Fill aerators amongst other things.
Status? Married with one son (15) and one daughter (10 going-on 16!), two terriers, two cats, three horses, chickens and more.
Who’s your hero? The modern day one would be Martin Johnson, because he had fantastic playing and leadership skills when under the most intense pressure. From the last century I would have to pick Winston Churchill - he knew how to motivate people and never veered from his beliefs.
What is your dream holiday? Retracing the route through Tuscany and Umbria that my wife and I followed on our honeymoon - stunning scenery, delicious food and crazy Italian drivers.
What annoys you the most? Political correctness and the nanny-state syndrome that is imposed on us all. Oh - and the current crop of spineless banking chief executives.
What would you change about yourself? My knees (they’re worn out!) and my occasional (?) lack of patience when delays occur.
Who wouldn’t you like to be? George W. Bush - he may have retired recently, but he is faced
with twenty-four hour security protection for the rest of his life after his war-mongering antics.
Favourite record, and why? Red Barchetta by RUSH (a Canadian rock band). It’s a great track for driving to and, as ever, brings back memories of schooldays and friends of yesteryear.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? A beautiful blonde with a sense of fun and a similar outlook on life - my wife!!
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Wake up and switch the alarm off. If I then discovered it was real, I’d get on the phone to the nearest Aston Martin dealer…
If you were to describe yourself as an instrument, what would you be? A drum kit - you can get a calm, serene rhythm from it but you can also get an absolute racket out of it too!!
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? A college lecturer once said “Never become shackled and isolated in your working environment - get out and visit other likeminded people’s businesses, because their experiences will lead you to develop a more successful business too”.
What’s your favourite smell? Bonfire smoke
or freshly dug earth - even sat here, the thought of them conjures up marvellous images of an outdoor life.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Competitive, thorough and humorous.
What talent would you like to have? Greater musical/linguistic skill - I’d really like to be able to play a musical instrument properly (e.g. guitar) and be able to communicate fluently with people in their own language (e.g. Spanish).
What makes you angry? Benefit fraudsters (they cost the hardworking taxpayer a fortune and feel that it is their “human right” to have what others have to earn) - and uninsured, unlicensed and untaxed drivers - get a licence and pay like the rest of us do!!
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? The death penalty and when sentencing to life imprisonment - mean it.
• Fee reductions • No joining fees • Summer memberships • Direct debit payments
Schemes aimed specifically at juniors and under-30s: • Promotions/links with local schools • Family memberships
• Sharing of resources (eg, club secretaries, head greenkeepers)
• Mixed gender competitions
Richard Flint, the EGU’s Golf Development manager for the EGU, which has recently received a £12.5million grant from Sport England to promote the game, particularly among youngsters, said “The trend is that more people than ever are playing the game, but fewer are committing to golf club membership. Over the next year we will see the true impact of the credit crunch. This year will be a testing time for golf clubs, to see whether people will be forgoing memberships for other things.” “However” he continued, “the news is not all negative. While the 2008 survey showed that about 40 percent of clubs have had a decrease in membership, 23 percent have had an increase. A quarter of the clubs have put in innovative programmes to get members in and have shown it can be done.”
Source: The Times
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