[Jason Thurman]

I'm interested in learning more about what clubs have done to boost the participation of their membership. I'm not looking for strategies to add new members, but more looking for strategies to get current members to utilize the club more frequently.

What have you seen?

[JMEvensky]

If you're talking golf participation,I think it comes down to the Head Pro and Green Chairman.They have to design outings/tournaments/clinics which appeal to everyone.More importantly,they have to do a lot of outreach--persuading the members that the outings/tournaments/clinics are worth playing in.

There's really no substitute for calling members on the phone and asking them to play--no e-mails,no newsletters,no posters in the Pro Shop.You have to have people willing to call the members personally.I've always thought this kind of membership participation is,or should be,the job of the Green Committee.

If you're talking club participation in general,that's easy.Appeal to the wives and kids.

[Kyle Casella]

In terms of golf, I actually think a better driving force outside the pro are the members who play frequently. If you can get those people to organize fun, yet casual games for people outside of the group that they normally play with, it really helps drive turnout. They key is having the regulars expand outside of their usual four or eight friends. What I see sometimes is a blast email or text to 20-30 people with a recommended format for a Saturday or Sunday game, then grouped into 3-4 for a fun "mini-event."

[Tim Martin]

If you're talking golf participation,I think it comes down to the Head Pro and Green Chairman.They have to design outings/tournaments/clinics which appeal to everyone.More importantly,they have to do a lot of outreach--persuading the members that the outings/tournaments/clinics are worth playing in.

There's really no substitute for calling members on the phone and asking them to play--no e-mails,no newsletters,no posters in the Pro Shop.You have to have people willing to call the members personally.I've always thought this kind of membership participation is,or should be,the job of the Green Committee.

If you're talking club participation in general,that's easy.Appeal to the wives and kids.

JME-That is a strategy I have never heard of  when it comes to soliciting players for club tournaments. I would think that it would catch some people flat footed and could cause some uncomfortable exchanges. "Hey JME it's Tim from the club. Just wondering if you would like to play in our scotch 3 club ramble next week followed by a Thai Buffet and Make Your Own Sundae Bar? Hey JME that sounds great but my wife has been nagging me to clean my sock drawer. Maybe next time bud".

[Ian Andrew]

I happen to think its a generational change.
Most families I know revolve around kids activities.

If you can't get the kids to the golf club, it's hard to attract the husband or wife to come out on a regular basis.

[Tom_Doak]

If you're talking golf participation,I think it comes down to the Head Pro and Green Chairman.They have to design outings/tournaments/clinics which appeal to everyone.More importantly,they have to do a lot of outreach--persuading the members that the outings/tournaments/clinics are worth playing in.

There's really no substitute for calling members on the phone and asking them to play--no e-mails,no newsletters,no posters in the Pro Shop.You have to have people willing to call the members personally.I've always thought this kind of membership participation is,or should be,the job of the Green Committee.

If you're talking club participation in general,that's easy.Appeal to the wives and kids.

If you're talking golf participation, really, the key is to appeal to the wives.  If the wives want to play, then the kids can come along and everything is 1000% easier.  If they don't want to be there, then you can't go too often, either.

Plus, from a sheer numbers standpoint, the participation level among men who can afford to play has been stagnant at x% for 80 years.  But if you could just get women to participate at that same number, the overall rounds would go up by at least 50%.

[Joe Sponcia]

Jason,

1. Ever taken a gander at the Tennis pro's schedule at any club USA?  They have junior clinics broken down by age (at least three groups), womens clinics, mens clinics, and advanced clinics every month.  If golf pros could copy what the tennis pro's do, golf would get a huge boost...but I haven't seen one engaging pro/club really do this for more than a few sessions.  Instead, the members create what little happens beyond a dog fight at lunch twice per week or a mens league.  

2. Most clubs don't even follow up with a new member 30, 90 or 120 days after they join.  Few introductions are made outside of the first week to stimulate different groups.  

3.  And many, many clubs still utilize grandfathered tee times. No wonder members rarely get excited.

[Steve Kline]

Because tennis is taking off in popularity. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Michael Moore]

Jason -

I joined Riverside Municipal because of their popular and highly competitive sweeps competition. Here are the keys -

1. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday morning from May through October. If there is an event in the afternoon, they always have a shotgun start early, which is even more festive.

2. The results are published in the newspaper and prominently at the club.

3. The tee times are by lottery. Singles can just show up and are easily slotted in. This is how most new members assimilate.

4. The format, a two-ball with everyone in your group, individual, skins, pins, and points, has something for everyone and holds your attention for eighteen holes.

5. Everyone gets better at the game, rivalries develop, there is always something to talk about at the bar.

6. Inexpensive to play, decent payouts.

7. Most people stick around for a sandwich and a few pints.

It is a great way to get people to the course, meet different members, enjoy some competition, and learn how to get your ball in the hole. As I said at the top, the best part is that you know it's happening.

[Chris DeToro]

I think Tom is right in terms of appealing to the wives to bring in the children.  

Is the problem not enough of the male members playing?  I know most of my clubs have always had a "men's league" where you pay in for the year and then every Saturday, there's a game that pays out in credit.  You can play at any time during the day, just need someone to attest your score, so you can't play alone.  From my experience, this has been a huge draw if you get people to buy into the league

[Joe Sponcia]

Sorry (Mr. Kline/all) to mention Tennis again (which I don't play, but my son does)...but Lessons are more times than not half of what most Pro's charge.  I just wrote a check for $220 for two months, twice per week, for one hour for my son.  The lessons are group, with 4-5 kids max, and sometimes he is the only one there.  I am not saying Golf Pro's aren't worth $90-150 per hour...but I have seen few doing lots of lessons over the years.  What would happen if the average was $35-50 per hour?  If they had group clinics for $20 per session.  Golf is a tough game for many people, I think most would be excited and play more if they could improve.

[Josh Stevens]

Surely if you have to be begging your members to show up occasionally there is a problem, or perhaps several problems.  Are there not enough members, or it the club not an appealing place to go to.

Australian clubs I think tend to have larger memberships - being more in the middle of cities rather than the outskirts, and have having better golfing and grass growing weather, means they can handle a lot more traffic.
Gosh at my club the committee is thinking more about how to tell members to go away and stop cluttering up the place quite so much - but that's their fault for lifting the course to top standard and making the clubhouse a fun place to be.
Begging I think is possibly the last resort

[Steve Kline]

I wonder how the average distance from the club a member lives has changed over time and if that has anything to do with it. I know that the fact I live 3 or 4 miles from my club makes it really easy to be out there more. At a moment's notice I can go hit balls for a half hour or get in a quick nine if the weather breaks. If I lived 20-30 minutes away then I wouldn't be doing that.

Also, I agree that kids activities make a difference. Kids used to play a sport or two. Now, parents have them doing something all the time. And, it gets really intense at a really young age.

[Chris_Hufnagel]

I wonder how the average distance from the club a member lives has changed over time and if that has anything to do with it. I know that the fact I live 3 or 4 miles from my club makes it really easy to be out there more. At a moment's notice I can go hit balls for a half hour or get in a quick nine if the weather breaks. If I lived 20-30 minutes away then I wouldn't be doing that.

This was certainly part of the equation for me - as with many of us, time is the most precious resource right now and I had to make some trade-offs along the way when I made a decision for my home club.  

The architecture is lacking for sure, but the club is 4 minutes from my house, has thirty-six holes, and a good range and short game area.  When I have time to get there, I know I can always play and I am not spending 30 minutes or more in traffic.

Or to put it into GCA terms, if I had ten rounds to split between my local club and national club - it would be an easy call, 10-0 at my national club.

[Ian Murray]

Here’s a radical idea and one that might be a longer term strategy to get kids and newbies attracted to the game- a short course dedicated to Juniors.

My grandfather’s favourite design-Fraser Edmundston Golf Club in New Brunswick, Canada-some time ago added a 5 hole Junior course -one of the rare facilities in Canada that has one- and it is a hit, and sensible to do for so many obvious reasons.






www.alberthmurray.com

[Brett Wiesley]

My club, and it seems many, are filled with many small cliques.  There isn't much interaction between members outside of one's respective clique.  I think part of it has to do with a "no tee time policy" at our club.  Over the years we have lost several events due to lack of participation: men's league, weekend game, year long points race.  The club championship this year had a dozen guys at most.  

Then there is always the every present discussion about a new clubhouse.  As a means to pull the membership together.  Crazy it seems, being so friendly already!  Kinda stuck in a rock and a hard place with such a divided membership.

[Brett Wiesley]

Ian,  I like the short course idea, just not enough room at many courses.  I find the lack of access for juniors more bothersome.  Many courses will not allow kids out until 6 or 8 y/o.  Not even in evenings.  The promise of the future of golf if to interest junior golfers now!

[Dan Herrmann]

I'll tell you how NOT to get people to participate - charge too much for each event.

It's my #1 gripe when a club bundles a tournament with food and ends up charging > $120 for my wife and I to play MY OWN GOLF CLUB.  Just charge for the tournament prizes and let me decide if I want to eat at the club.

[jeffwarne]

No matter where you go you hear the same arguments.

If you have the same # of people complaining you have too many events as not enough, you've got it about right.

One of my recent favorites was a member complaining that the Club Championship was taking up too many prime times from those who might have houseguests.

[Mike_Trenham]

We had a lot of new members and poor participation, an informal Wednesday night nine hole format men's league got people out to play, the members mixed it up more got to know one another and participation is up across the board.  Clubs can be competitive but it is more fun to compete against people you know a little bit.

[Wayne_Kozun]

My grandfather’s favourite design-Fraser Edmundston Golf Club in New Brunswick, Canada-some time ago added a 5 hole Junior course -one of the rare facilities in Canada that has one- and it is a hit, and sensible to do for so many obvious reasons.

However many courses in Canada, and I assume elsewhere, have 9 hole par 3 courses that are used primarily by juniors.  Toronto GC and Hamilton G&CC being two examples that come to mind immediately.  And Coppinwood has three "practice" holes that aren't part of the main course although they aren't short holes.

[Josh Stevens]

Short courses are an expensive luxury, but worth it if you have the cash and he land.  We have one and my young'uns love to go out and dig it up, without interrupting anyone on the main track.  But they are rare

[Jim Sherma]

I'll tell you how NOT to get people to participate - charge too much for each event.

It's my #1 gripe when a club bundles a tournament with food and ends up charging > $120 for my wife and I to play MY OWN GOLF CLUB.  Just charge for the tournament prizes and let me decide if I want to eat at the club.

+1

We have the Member-Guest, Member-Member, Club Championship and a very good tournament that attracts a very good field from outside of the club all within 4 or 5 weks of one another. Playing in all four events the cost of them easily more than doubles my expenses for that month. I love tournament golf and more events centered solely on the golf and some drinks afterwards would drive a more regular golf-centric culture at my club.

[Chris DeToro]

I second the nickel and diming at a lot of clubs.  That's one of the biggest pains.  Pay the range fee, pay the locker fee, pay for the opening day tournament, the member-member, the member-guest (which is always the biggest dollar ring), the junior-senior, yadda yadda...

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