Features

A golf club that shut its doors during Covid finally welcomes people back, a legal body flags a sharp rise in disciplinary cases and a Shropshire club shows what genuine community partnership can look like. Here’s three stories concerning the UK golf industry we learnt during September.

Running unattended for up to 10 hours and collecting as many as 40,000 balls a day, Wayrobo’s WayPick 2 could save clubs up to £30,000 a year in labour costs while freeing staff to focus on work that actually benefits members and visitors.

Dark entrances, awkward retail and silence at the clubhouse door are quietly driving golf club members and visitors away, says a behavioural psychologist. Fortunately, some of the world’s leading venues have worked this out, and here, according to Ian Knox, head of European Tour Destinations, is what they’re doing differently.

From equipment hire to on-course drinks buggies, CardsSafe’s card-retention system is now used at clubs including Foxhills, Silvermere and The London Golf Club – which has expanded its installation three times since first adopting the technology in 2008.

As BGL’s group chief operating officer, Stephen Brown will now apply lessons from leading the company’s Adventure Leisure and Ninja Leisure divisions to its golf operations, aiming to challenge convention on how people play, practise and engage with the sport.

Golf boards are often dominated by people with decades of experience in the game. But Brandie Deignan, who’s just spent three years on Wales Golf’s board, argues that the most valuable voice around the table may be someone who’s never played – an outsider willing to question long-standing conventions, particularly over who golf is failing…

As England Golf backs Air Ambulance Week, the story of Paul, who suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest mid-round and received 13 defibrillator shocks from a Thames Valley Air Ambulance crew, shows why clubs are being urged to review their emergency preparedness.

The National Golf Clubs’ Advisory Association says its enquiries are now dominated by member discipline and misconduct issues – including rising incidents on WhatsApp and social media, as well as pace-of-play frustrations.

Mark Luckett has been head professional at Yeovil Golf Club since the club acquired the professional shop in 2020. He talks about driving range technology and how TGI Golf has helped grow the pro shop, including during a change of its ownership.

Wayrobo is expanding its presence across the European golf market as more facilities explore robotic ball collection as part of their long-term approach to range operations.

In the second article of this series, Dr John Fry explores why golf course management’s future may lie in rediscovering many of the principles that shaped the game for generations.

The UK golf club market remains resilient in 2026, with strong participation, membership growth and investor confidence supporting sustained demand. Christie & Co’s James Matson examines the key factors attracting buyers, from diversified income streams and strong demographics to the continued appeal of golf resorts.

Moving beyond the standard rectangle, Tacit’s new Premium Collection draws on heraldic and maritime design to give clubs a more distinctive way to signal their identity on the course – with tiered pre-order savings available for spring delivery.

Big-name irons carry big price tags. Here’s when the upgrade genuinely pays off — and what to look for before you spend a penny.

Steve Bird, Business Development Consultant at Foremost Golf, weighs up the strengths of the pro and in-house retail models, and considers which approach offers the greatest opportunity for green grass retail in 2026.

Golf retail has evolved dramatically, with custom fitting, technology and expert advice transforming it into a vital revenue stream. TGI Golf explores how smarter selling, merchandising and customer service are helping retailers achieve stronger margins.

An extraordinary month for English amateurs, a Borders club stripped of almost 100 years of trophies and a third drought in five years that has left clubs counting trees, badger damage and water bills. Here’s three stories concerning the UK golf industry we learnt during August.

Thinking of franchising your golf business? Learn the key steps – from proven models and IP protection to franchisee recruitment, training and ongoing support.

Alan Martin, golf general manager at Another Place, The Machrie, talks about running a links destination on Islay – recruitment on a remote island, the logic behind a winter closure and why Another Place, The Machrie now rivals anything else in Scotland.

Forget Spain and Portugal – Golfalot editor Dan Box heads to Austria’s Tyrol region, discovering championship courses, alpine scenery and the Austrian Alpine Open in a golf destination the UK market has, to its detriment, largely overlooked.

David Murch, Business Development Consultant at Foremost Golf, shares how planning earlier and making data-led buying decisions can strengthen retail performance.

Duddingston Golf Club in Edinburgh is set to expand its ladies’ section, with club captain Pauline Davie and former Scotland international Katie Graham leading a drive to welcome new and experienced players and develop the region’s next elite female golfer.

Jack Frances, director of golf at Hadley Wood Golf Club and TGI partner, talks course investment, junior and ladies’ programmes, and why staying close to the latest industry trends keeps his professional shop ahead of the game.

A new study shows the same golf club can be recommended by one AI assistant and invisible on another, a Greater Manchester club’s ordeal with an illegal encampment makes the case for a simple physical deterrent, and a Cornish centenarian’s weekly round is a reminder of what the game does for a long life. Here’s…

Female adult membership at Scottish golf clubs grew by 1.6 percent in 2025, while junior girl membership rose by 2.9 percent, according to new figures from Scottish Golf.

Worcestershire’s Gaudet Luce is installing a 72-panel solar array, voltage optimisation and EV charging, covering 22.8 percent of site electricity use and delivering over £315,000 in lifetime savings with a payback period of just over four years.

James Hare, Business Development Consultant at Foremost Golf, explains how a strong PGA professional can become a key driver of golf club success.