Interesting listen to a recent podcast with Andy Johnson interviewing Rodney Hine. Rodney stated that courses should just “ be themselves” and not copy others, latch onto trends, etc.
This could also be called differentiation.
What examples of this has your club done on the course? Small or large?
What sets your course apart?
I keep telling people here that no other course has our history, our location and our sense of natural. Why would we want to be the third best club in the region when we can be the BEST at what WE do! And attract people who like authenticity (ahem, millennials) as our next generation of members.
Sadly, I battle these misperceptions as I'm sure many others do.
That natural means weeds (sometimes, yes),
That we should water the fairways in hottest days of summer because the bermuda is dying (nope, just dormant and we have rocks in some places just under the turf that dries the fastest).
That we should have "fill in the blank" like "fill in the blank" does. (rolleyes)
I find those clubs and courses who have a sense of "self", don't really worry about these things. And they seem to be the best.
A couple of years ago, we removed the "no dogs on the course" rule. My thinking was that where else would a dog owner want to have his buddy tag along and get some exercise? As long as both dog and owner are respectful, all is good! We have had zero problems. Same with walking the course by the local morning walkers
Don't like dogs? Don't play here. Don't like walkers, same! LOL