The manager of an English golf club has said that a recent county golf meeting that he attended showed golf “at its worst”.
The anonymous manager told Golf Club Management that many of the positive initiatives carried out by golf clubs that were highlighted at the meeting were undermined by the attitude of an “old guard that is against progress that continues to lurk under the surface”.
“For example,” he said, “many clubs have seen drops in membership levels and are running up overdrafts. But offers of free golf lessons for beginners by the county golf partnership were met with opposition by two people representing two golf clubs who said: ‘New golfers just clog up our courses. We don’t want beginner golfers – we just want golfers with handicaps.’ Most depressing was that their comments were applauded by many others.”
He added that some of the comments from attendees suggested that some clubs are not being run as professional businesses.
One club that is in debt to the tune of a seven-figure amount had just spent a large amount of money on an unessential clubhouse refurbishment project, for example.
“Another club’s spokesman told me they make golf cheap for the elderly but expensive for youngsters – over 80s get an 80 per cent discount. He said: ‘They’ve made the club what it is, so they deserve cheaper golf, but young people have to pay for their lifestyle,’” said the manager.
“This truly is golf at its worst!”
He added that the meeting did also showcase how some golf clubs are tackling the difficult financial climate in order to improve their fiscal performances.
“There have been many green shoots of progress,” he said, “especially with inclusive clubs that have helped juniors come through. But this has been against the traditional backdrop of old fashioned dress codes and subscription bias towards senior memberships that is opposed to change.
“The very least golf club committee members can do is acknowledge the efforts being made by their county officers on their behalf, and applaud and support them. Such negative comments from the old guard can be so discouraging for those struggling with membership issues.
“In my experience club or committee members often tell you how the downturn doesn’t affect them and that their club is doing all right. Then you find out from the club’s manager, who actually knows what’s going on, that the club is, in fact, in trouble.”
Has your club encountered opposition to necessary change from an ‘old guard’ of members? Please detail any stories in the comment fields below
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