Is the title of this thread still accurate? Is golf in Scotland struggling it, or has it benefitted from the post-Covid golf boom that we have seen in other places? It seems that golf tourism is booming and many courses seem to have increased guest fees. How many courses are struggling these days?
Covid was good for golf probably increased golf by c30%. Sadly things have slipped since. We have had TWO very wet winters and the following has happened.
1. The golf course was shut quite a lot between October and April (say 30 days)
2. The golf course was open but the NO TROLLEYS were in force (say 100 days)
3. The golf course was open with push/pull trolleys but not electric ones (say 30 days)
SO to some 60 year olds and older that can't carry their clubs the course was CLOSED.
This manifests into the customer feeling he has not got his value and to some they cease to be a member.
A high percentage of golfers that cease to be a member enter the path of becoming a non golfer.
Golf tourism is a doing well but is a very different market and one that is only open to about 5% of UK golf clubs. Club like Westhill won't be claiming much GCA traffic (until Mr Arble visits and casts his view)