What Members Want From Their Golf Clubs

After a summer that has seemed to be all too short, we are fast approaching the time of year when many of you might well be considering whether you want to renew your golf club subscription in 2025.

It got us thinking about a simple question: what do you want and/or expect from your golf club? And, as it turns out, none of it is rocket science.

Annual Subscription

For most of us, this is right at the top of the list. Golf-club membership can be expensive. How competitive is your club? Do you feel it has tried to cash in since the end of the pandemic? Does it offer payment by monthly instalments? When you work out how much you are paying for each round of golf you play, does it represent value for money? 

Course Condition

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Second on the list for most of us is knowing that our course is going to be in decent condition throughout the year. Of course we all accept that we are going to have to play off winter tees, and for many of us that is going to mean hitting off mats - are they in good condition? Will you be faced with winter greens? If so, will they be proper putting surfaces or simply a hole cut into a piece of fairway? How good are the greens? We all want smooth, true putting surfaces. Is there proper sand in the bunkers? I reckon that this is one of the biggest bugbears for most club golfers.

Greenkeepers

Having your course in great condition is one thing and is a sign that the club has employed greens staff who know what they are doing. But just as important is having greenkeepers who acknowledge you, who are polite and courteous and are happy to share a laugh and joke with you. When all is said and done, you are helping to pay their wages.

Maintenance Programmes

Does the club have a designated programme of improvement work? If so, do they keep you up to date and tell you when certain holes may have to be closed? And if there are no plans for improvement, why not?

Course Closures

There are always going to be times when the weather forces the club to admit defeat and close the course. But if your course has proper drainage and is well maintained, these closures should be kept to a minimum. And if you are a member of a club that has to close for weeks at a time, do they offer you refunds on your subs or some other form of compensation? If they don’t, you will probably be looking elsewhere. People who play all year round want to know that they are going to be able to do so.

Tee Times

Are you able to get the tee-times you want? I speak to many club golfers who grow increasingly frustrated at their inability to play when they want to do so. If you are a member of a club that is attached to a hotel then you may just have to suck up the fact that there are going to be times when you struggle to get on the course. And when you get frustrated with societies on your course remember that if it were not for their existence your annual subscription would probably be an awful lot higher. If there is a booking system, how easy is it to use? How far ahead can you book your tee time?

Sustainability

Times have changed. Does your club do the right things to live hand in hand with nature? If it has ponds and lakes, are they well maintained? Is the water crystal clear? And are they able to keep it clear without the use of harmful chemicals? These things are important.

Practice Facilities

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

How good are the practice facilities? The days when we were offered a field have long gone. Clubs should now be offering either a driving range where you can pay for buckets of balls or, if they don’t have room, a well-manicured practice area that is clearly marked, that provides distance markers. As club members we now expect the practice putting green to be exactly the same as the surfaces you will find on the course.

Slow Play

What does your club do to discourage five-hour rounds? Time and again, slow play is flagged up as a major turn-off for both players and those who would otherwise take up the game. Members want to join clubs which are proactive in tackling this issue. Is there a course marshal? Does the pro ever give members a gentle reminder?

Friendly Membership

There is no point in joining a club that boasts a fabulous course but a membership who look down their noses as newbies. We want clubs who give new members a "buddy", where the captain and committee go out of their way to introduce themselves and help you to integrate.

Women & Juniors

Does the club have active women’s and junior sections? These are signs of a healthy club, a club that is likely to be warm and welcoming. If there is an ageing membership it may not be a good sign. In this day and age, golf clubs should be doing all they can to actively encourage members of all ages and both sexes.

Welcoming Club Pro

When you walk into the shop you want to be greeted with a warm and welcoming smile. Even better, you want the shop staff to know who you are. 

Well Stocked Shop

Not all of us want to shop at golf discount stores or buy our clubs, balls and other accessories online. Most of us prefer personalised service. How well-stocked is your pro shop? And is the pro open to offering discounts? Does he provide club fitting? Does he arrange for the major manufacturers to come along to your club for fitting sessions?

Good Clubhouse

After being out there for four hours, it is essential that you finish your round in a clubhouse bar that you would be happy to bring friends and family to. Many clubs charge far too much for food and drink. There is no excuse for this. Do you get a member’s discount? Is the food home-made? Is there a lively programme of social events? I have never been able to understand why so many clubs fail to make proper use of their second-best asset. Why is it that, especially during the winter, they shut up shop when the sun goes down? 

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