Can local Golf Clubs Survive the Financial Meltdown ?
Golf clubs throughout Scotland never mind locally are fighting for survival as they battle it out to attract new members at a time when the number of people playing the game is suffering a spectacular crash.
Our two local clubs, Airdrie and Easter Moffat, are not immune from the economic crisis that is picking of business on a daily basis.
Can our local clubs ride it out and keep the wolf from the door ?
Scotland has long been heralded as the “home of Golf”, this fact compounded the belief that the game of golf in Scotland was immune to the financial epidemic gripping the world.
The last decade has saw the game open its doors to countless new participants, fussy snooty nosed committee members interviewed for membership with an authority normally reserved for royalty.
Not that long ago if you were to walk into your local golf club and ask about joining, you would be shown the door if you didn’t produce several exceptional references.
Even with the proper credentials you would still be told in no uncertain terms that you would go on a waiting list but should not expect a call for at least five years.
Wealthy, powerful businessmen would sweat it out as the men in blazers made them squirm to prove they were worthy of membership.
Not that long ago the power of the golf club committee member was something to behold in the local community, terrified members would rather feel the wrath of the Police than that of the Captain of their golf club.
Before the well documented global financial meltdown Private Golf clubs had enough members to cover costs and healthy waiting lists that provided the stable security of guaranteed new members when others died or left.
But, as golf continues to suffer from the recession – in Scotland alone club membership levels are reportedly down 10 per cent in the men's game and 25 per cent in the women's game – these same men in blazers are having to climb down from their ivory towers.
As the dark financial clouds get ever denser around communities and business the committes are swiftly finding out that every home has tough financial decisions to make on a daily basis.
Members take home pay is slashed and household bills rocket therefore golf club membership is reassessed and the value of their membership slips down the houshold priority list.
Family essentials are rightly prioritised.
A mixture of stubbornness and pride delayed Golf committees from the inevitable humble pie eating but the financial reality of plummeting membership figures and thousands of pounds disappearing from the balance sheets soon brought about a stiff state of realism.
As most clubs are non profit making every penny is a prisoner, member resignations mean cut backs and the threat of extinction for clubs calls for tough decisions to be made. The alternative is club closure.
Waiting lists have disappeared with the snobbery membership exclusiveness faster than a downhill left to righter at Augusta, the market reality for Golf is that if you can pay you can play.
The humble approach by the committees hasn’t been extended to discarding the blazers and old school ties for denims and hoodies but a more low brow approach has gripped the golfing fraternity.
Survival has a knack of uncovering class equality.
The closure of the local Golf club will spark little sympathy from those not part of the club. As outlined above the ancestral snobbery alienates large sections of the community, for these reasons Golfing Committees have their work cut out if they are to survive.
At substantial costs clubs like Airdrie and Easter Moffat have been forced to take out press ads and put up banners in prominent positions on the course to advertise memberships, they have held Open Days to let potential members see what's on offer and they have even reduced or suspended their joining fees.
Getting new members through the doors is a tough enough task, explaining the joining incentives to the existing members is mission impossible.
It is unfair that the existing members paid a £500 joining fee, the reality is though if this fee is continued their club will die.
Cutbacks are taking place but the balance is tough, the course has to be perfect to encourage players however green keeping staff don’t come cheap.
Golf club committees are volunteers from normal working environments few can boast at having members that are economists or business development managers, what chance have they got if the Alistair Darling’s and George Osborne’s can’t bring about financial growth with a countries resources at their disposal.
The tunnel is dark with no glimmers of light at the end of it, clubs will need to be imaginative to survive.
Do you sympathise with the Golf Clubs plight ?
Whats your thoughts on financial priorities in these tough times ?
Is Membership at Airdrie or Easter Moffat Golf Club good value ?
Why should anyone join a Golf Club ?
