State of the Game 2008 - Connecticut and beyond

[Mike Sweeney]

I thought this was a pretty good and practicul summary in my Connecticut golf newsletter of where things are and where they are going without any doomsday predictions:

http://csgalinks.org/2009%20The%20State%20of%20the%20Game.pdf

http://csgalinks.org/Club%20Issues/Private_Clubs.htm

and a related blog:

http://csgalinks.blogspot.com/

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mike,
Read those. Additionally, we got an email 'survey' from CSGA asking:

Playing Privileges At CSGA Member Clubs

 As you are aware, from recent articles, golf across the country is suffering in both membership and rounds played.  The Connecticut State Golf Association would like to assist our member clubs, private and public, to increase utilization.
The CSGA is in the process of developing a program where clubs on a voluntary basis could post individual customized offerings to make "dead times" available to CSGA members to increase utilization of their facilities and raise income for the club.
It will come as no surprise to you that many players do not join private clubs or men’s or women’s clubs because they would rather play their 15 or 20 annual rounds at a variety of clubs.  We believe this is the player’s this program will attract.
Please respond to the following inquiries:

Private Clubs: Would you be willing to have unaccompanied non-member play at your facility?

Public Clubs: Would you discount fees for participants?

All Clubs: What would you see as requirements?

· Member of another Private CSGA Member Club?
·Member of a CSGA Member Club?
·Must have a USGA GHIN Handicap?
·Lunch mandatory?
·Carts mandatory?
·Fees or amount of discount?
·Number of groups per week?
·Which days (hours) of the week?
·Other restrictions or ideas that your club may impose?

 Please respond with your thoughts.

Some of the really solid clubs in CT. are losing members at pretty serious rates.

'09 looks like no fun. 

[Mike Sweeney]

Jim,

Even when things settle down, I would guess that many (but not all the brand name) clubs are going to move more and more to an European model. As a guy who likes to play a variety of courses this seems like a good thing to me as a consumer.

I know that a Golfing Society that I belong to that basically plays weekday outings at private clubs is now finding themselves at first tier courses in Westchester.

[Dave Bourgeois]

As a publinks golfer I would certainly welcome the European model.  I live in Northern Fairfield county, CT, but have not heard of any membership fire sales.  Waterbury would be the closest club of interest to me but I have not heard of anything there.

Where I am, Richter Park, Oxford Greens, and the drive to Links at Unionvale are the best options even when compared to the private clubs.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mike,
I think it's a great idea and I hope it gains some footing, especially on the private side, and it could open up some great places to play.

Dave,
I've heard of a couple of clubs that waived or lowered  their initiation fees for '08. A couple lowered their young adult fees to very reasonable levels.
I think we might see more of this, but if some of the privates were smart, they'd broaden their scope and allow more outside play from the public sector. They could more easily maintain their present standards if projected/real cash flows were made up from outside. I think it could be a win/win for players and private clubs going forward.

[Mike Sweeney]

Mike,
I think it's a great idea and I hope it gains some footing, especially on the private side, and it could open up some great places to play.

Dave,
I've heard of a couple of clubs that waived or lowered  their initiation fees for '08. A couple lowered their young adult fees to very reasonable levels.
I think we might see more of this, but if some of the privates were smart, they'd broaden their scope and allow more outside play from the public sector. They could more easily maintain their present standards if projected/real cash flows were made up from outside. I think it could be a win/win for players and private clubs going forward.

Update:

http://www.csgalinks.org/tournaments/2009/Players%20Club/PlayersClub_information.htm

Participating Clubs:

http://www.csgalinks.org/tournaments/2009/Players%20Club/Participating%20Clubs_information.htm

CC of Waterbury

http://www.csgalinks.org/tournaments/2009/Players%20Club/Country%20Club%20of%20Waterbury.pdf

CC Of Waterbury is a fantastic Ross course that is only held back by its Par 69 and its location between Hartford and Fairfield County. This may be the best deal in golf today!

Temperatures in the 50's this weekend.......

[Richard Hetzel]

Actually, I am pretty surprised that more private clubs don't do this already. I can understand the ultra-exclusives not doing it, they won't be the clubs suffering anyway.

You could charge a premium or something along the lines of the BEST upscale public in the area and bring in an extra $4-5K a month w/out affecting the playing rights of the members. You might even get some people to join because they had such a great all around experience....

The only reason I am not a member of a club is that I am on a crusade to play 500 different  golf courses and belonging to a club would not allow me to work towards that number (BTW I am at 218) as fast as I would prefer.

[derrickp]

I thought this was a pretty good and practicul summary in my Connecticut golf newsletter of where things are and where they are going without any doomsday predictions:

http://csgalinks.org/2009%20The%20State%20of%20the%20Game.pdf

http://csgalinks.org/Club%20Issues/Private_Clubs.htm

and a related blog:

http://csgalinks.blogspot.com/

Mike,
Thanks for passing this info along. I live on the same street as CC Waterbury, getting to play it once a month for $65 will be fantastic! One plus of this economy I guess.

[Justin Broderson]

Great info!

I live in NJ and travel to CT almost daily for work.  I just wish more clubs in NJ would do such a thing.