Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for all the very helpful and thoughtful responses. I am formulating a more thoughtful response of my own, but I'm running short on time as I am heading out for a long weekend out of the country.
However, I have a few follow up questions:
1) Terry & Clint, while I appreciate the caddie culture having been one myself and belonging to a club with a long history of supporting the Evans program, are mandatory caddies going to become a major hurdle to attracting and retaining younger members? Outside of a few privileged clubs, how are they going to sell caddie programs to younger guy who might be swayed into not joining a club because of an extra $3-400 in monthly costs during the golfing months? Especially when that amount it more than most junior member monthly dues? Just an honest question...and I would be curious to know what the WGA is doing to combat the potential decline in caddies and caddie programs.
I ask because my club doesn't have a "mandatory" caddie program currently, despite being a fairly healthy caddie club (for Minnesota, but not anywhere near clubs in Chicago like Beverly) in the summer with maybe 30-40 kids showing up for loops. Most of them get out. But there is a movement in the golf committee to make a caddie or cart mandatory before a certain time in order to boost the caddie program. My main worry is that a program like that would strongly discourage younger members to join. Maybe it's not as big of an issue as I think it could be, but doesn't a board of directors eventually have to ask themselves, what's more important?
2) How important are year-round activities in attracting younger members, or developing a stronger membership? Our club is certainly strong into the family/country club realm (well attended pool, tennis, etc..), but other than having (by far) the best sledding hill in the Twin Cities and cross country skiing and snowshoeing...there isn't a whole lot to do. I know paddle tennis is huge in Chicago, but we're on a pretty tight property. Have other people have experience with things that bring people to the club in the winter (in northern states?) Ice rinks? How about indoor golf simulators?