How to Increase Golf Club Memberships
- Know Your Market. One of the best ways of finding additional members is to analyze the characteristics of your current members and market toward individuals who share those traits.
- Encourage Referrals. There’s no better advertising for a golf club that the kind that comes from current members. ...
- Add Benefits. The more value a customer sees in a membership, the more likely he is to buy. ...
- Adjust Initiation Fees. Initiation fees can be a barrier when seeking new members, as the upfront costs to join can be too high for those who don’t feel they’ll use ...
- Strategic Partnerships. If your golf club is focused solely on the course and lacks amenities found in rival facilities, partnering with complementary businesses can make up for that perceived deficiency.
Full Answer
What are the different ways to become a golf club member?
7 Cheap Ways To Become A Golf Club Member 1 Flexible Membership. Many clubs offer flexible membership packages that can be tailored to suit individual requirements. ... 2 Country Membership. ... 3 Academy Membership. ... 4 Youth Membership. ... 5 Municipal Course Club Membership. ... 6 Social Membership. ... 7 Five/Weekend Membership. ...
Is a golf club membership worth it?
Becoming a golf club member is a great way for those starting out in the sport to progress in the game, to meet fellow golfers, to obtain a handicap and to start playing competitively. But golf club memberships can be expensive and difficult to justify, particularly for those unable to play regularly.
What is the cheapest way to join a golf club?
A good option for a cheaper membership is to join a club that plays over a municipal course. As the club won’t be responsible for paying for the upkeep of the course, subscriptions are lower – they only need to cover the administration of the club and the running of the clubhouse.
What is a flexible membership to golf clubs?
A flexible membership suits those who wish to become a golf club member but are unable to commit to playing on a regular basis. Most clubs offer significantly discounted country memberships to those living outside of a certain radius from the club.
How do I increase my golf club membership?
How to Increase Golf Club MembershipsKnow Your Market. One of the best ways of finding additional members is to analyze the characteristics of your current members and market toward individuals who share those traits. ... Encourage Referrals. ... Add Benefits. ... Adjust Initiation Fees. ... Strategic Partnerships.
How do you attract people to golf?
Here are some tips to attract young adults to your course.1: Offer free club rentals with PGA lesson or round of golf. ... 2: Different style of play. ... 3: Social media interaction. ... 4: Have a social tournament for local young adults. ... 5: Incentivize your golf round with local business. ... 6: Inbound Marketing.
Do golf memberships make sense?
Of course the fundamental question you need to ask yourself is how often do you play golf and if you play at least once a week, it will probably save you money but if only play occasionally and are thinking of getting more involved, getting a membership probably won't make sense straight away, unless you are sure you ...
How much should I spend on a golf membership?
Annual dues tend to run in a range of $1,000 - $5,000 per year or roughly $100-$400 per month (depending on the type of membership: Family, Individual, Corporate, Out-of-State) although there many clubs that fall outside of either end of that range. Typically, the annual dues cover unlimited use of the golf course.
Do golf courses make a lot of money?
Profitable golf courses are generally selling for six to eight times EBITDA, while courses that aren't profitable tend to sell at 0.8 to 1.4 times revenue.
How do I promote my golf outing?
10 Quick Tips to Attract More Players to your Charity Golf OutingMake registration as easy as possible. ... Set up an event website. ... Contact past participants. ... Call on your board members. ... Connect with local businesses. ... Send strategic reminder and promo emails. ... Make sure players understand the impact of their purchase.More items...•
Why is golf membership so expensive?
Many courses work on the principle that they need enough money from membership to continue to function (ie that they are not making profit), so all the income goes back into the course by employment of the staff, and reinvesting to keep the course running and looking presentable enough to play.
Why is a golf membership worth it?
A golf club membership can help you save money in the long run (if you play regularly), add extra convenience and freedom to tee it up whenever you want, and provide a great opportunity to meet people through social events and competitions.
What does golf club membership include?
Membership also entitles you to full use of all the facilities a club has to offer: not just the course (or multiple courses), but often a driving range, practice ground, putting green, professional shop and possible added extras such as a snooker table and discounted clubhouse bar.
How do golf club bonds work?
Others utilize a system of bonds, whereby entering member must buy part of the “ownership” of the club, which theoretically can be sold back to the club or to another new member on resignation. Members of country clubs say that their annual expenses have been rising steadily in recent years.
Are country clubs for the rich?
There are some things that money can't buy. Membership to one of the world's most exclusive golf and country clubs is the most sought-after privilege for the rich and famous, and yet it is nearly impossible for the wealthy to become members.
How do you get invited to a country club?
Many clubs require that you receive a reference from a current member before you will be allowed to apply.A current member may approach you with the suggestion that you join his or her club. ... You can look among friends and acquaintances for a reference. ... You can inquire with the golf club.
What to do if your golf club is focused on the course?
If your golf club is focused solely on the course and lacks amenities found in rival facilities, partnering with complementary businesses can make up for that perceived deficiency. For example, partnering with a local swim club to allow your members to join at discounted rates gives you something extra to offer, while avoiding the costs of maintaining a pool yourself and ensuring that only those who would use a pool have to pay for the privilege.
How long can you avoid paying a club fee?
Allowing members to avoid paying the fee if they agree to be members for at least three years, for example, can ensure that the club is winning members interested in doing more than simply giving the club a trial run, and it maintains cash flow.
Is there better advertising for golf clubs?
There’s no better advertising for a golf club that the kind that comes from current members. Encourage them to refer their friends and colleagues to the facility by offering benefits for doing so, such as a month’s worth of free dues or free rounds of golf.
What is social membership?
This type of membership does not allow for any golfing rights, but it will give you the use of the clubhouse and the chance to participate in social functions.
Do you need credits to play Saturday Medal?
A game at off-peak times may cost relatively few credits, while a start in the Saturday Medal would require more credits. A flexible membership suits those who wish to become a golf club member but are unable to commit to playing on a regular basis.
Can you pay a green fee to play golf?
If you do want to play some golf occasionally, you can pay a green fee, which would be at a cheaper member’s guest rate at some clubs. Again, this type of membership is a good stepping stone towards full membership.
Can you play counting rounds in the World Handicap System?
With the new World Handicap System, you’ll be able to play counting rounds wherever you play so retaining your handicap will not be a problem.
What is an individual membership in golf?
Typically, an individual memberships gives an individual unlimited access to the golf course, dining room, practice facilities, etc…You may find clubs that charge and individual member an added fee for use of a pool (if applicable). Many clubs offer reduced initiation fees and monthly dues for members under 36 years old. Upon reaching 36 years of age, these clubs typically start to increase the fees over time until they reach the "standard" individual membership fee levels.
How often can you play golf with a social membership?
Many clubs also included limited golfing privileges for social members - typically, the right to play once or twice per month.
What is a semi private membership?
Like Private club memberships, Semi-Private memberships have a wide range of costs and amenities offered. As all Semi-Private clubs offer access to the golf course to the public on a daily fee basis, the "feel" is quite different from private clubs. Members generally have priority access to tee-times (usually they can make them far in advance of when the public can make them). Like Private clubs, most Semi-Private courses offer several members only tournaments, weekly leagues, etc… The typical cost structure and membership types offered are:
Is the golf course open to the public?
The golf course and other club amenities (pool, restaurant, etc…) are closed to the public. Most private clubs do an excellent job of building a strong community, offering multiple golf events (tournaments, weekly matches, etc…) as well as social events (brunches, holiday parties, etc…) for their members to enjoy.
Do semi-private clubs have food and beverage minimums?
Most semi-private clubs do not have food & beverage minimums. Members are treated the same as paying customers although, from time to time, you will find clubs that offer charge privileges to members.
Do equity clubs refund initiation fees?
Clubs that offer equity memberships normally refund a large percentage of the initiation fee upon a member's resignation from the club. Non-equity clubs (like those typically found in the north/northeast) typically do not offer any refund of the initiation fee.
Which golf courses have more than one club?
In the UK and Ireland, there are many courses which each serve more than one discrete golf club. St. Andrews is a classic example. Everyone has heard of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, but it is one of several clubs whose members play over the Links Trust courses.
What is corporate membership?
In these cases, companies buy into a certain level of membership at a club, designating a certain number of employees as eligible to use the club facilities, often for business-related activities.
How many clubs does ClubCorp own?
ClubCorp is another such company you may have heard of. In business for more than 60 years, it owns more than 200 clubs, including Firestone Country Club in Ohio, The Woodlands in Texas and Mission Hills Country Club in California.
How many clubs does Troon Golf have?
Troon Golf, which operates more than 400 facilities worldwide, has more than 100 clubs in its Troon Prive division. If you're a member of one club, you are entitled to arrange rounds for yourself, fellow members and up to three guests at any other club in the family, pending availability and certain time restrictions.
How many members does Sonoma Golf Club have?
Around the same time, Sonoma Golf Club in California asked the local county government for permission to increase its membership from 319 to 554 members, a 70% bump that included provision for 125 new golf memberships and 100 new social memberships. Even before the pandemic, courses of all stripes have sharpened their focus on customer loyalty ...
What is equity membership?
Equity membership. In simple terms, each member owns a piece of the club. Typically, the up-front initiation fee (sometimes called a "joining fee") represents a share of the club. On top of that, the member pays regular dues, usually monthly.
Where is Boca Rio Golf Club?
Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla., is an exclusive private club with small membership that collectively administrates the course and related amenities. Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor.
1. What is the structure of the club?
There are several factors to consider here. Each has pros and cons you should weigh. As mentioned above, “bundled vs. non-bundled” is probably the most important structure to consider.
2. What has the club done in the last few years and what is it considering doing in terms of renovations and enhancements?
You want to know you are investing in a club that is willing to reinvest. The club landscape is constantly evolving. You will want to make sure you are joining a club committed to keeping up with the club trends and desires of both existing as well as new members to ensure it remains competitive and sustainable long into the future.
3. How will I get involved and meet people?
Once you have ironed out the more quantitative details, it is as important, if not more so, to be sure you’ve found a club that is a good fit for you personally. In my experience, every club has a unique personality and culture.
4. What is my exit strategy?
You might not be inclined to think about this when you’re excited about joining a club and starting a new adventure, but the reality is you may find that you are not able to play golf anymore, or maybe you want to move to another part of the state, or back up north. It’s crucial to know what your obligations are before you are in that situation.
5. Why should I choose this club over another club?
Central Oregon is full of clubs to choose from, including Pronghorn, home to 36 holes. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
A final word from Golf Life Navigators
When the search involves a club membership and a home, there can be a bit of anxiety of whom to trust. After all, it is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. Be sure to interview the club and real estate agent thoroughly before getting serious about an investment.
