Golf Club Excellence- how do we do it? Help plz
Discussion
Our company has recently taken over responsibility for running a golf club in East Yorkshire. It was established in 1976 and is a park land course with a flat and long layout. The course and customer service is not well reviewed by its members and its losing membership and visitors year on year. But the membership have a strong desire to stay and see it excel plus the core staff team are loyal and up for the hard challenge ahead.
This is where I need your help! We have canvassed feedback and recommendations from our members, but we want to find "role models" in terms if stunning golf courses and examples of brilliant customer service. I want our team to see what excellent looks like and what goal we should be setting.
I know a sports thread and not business but I want golfers from all around the UK to share their best experiences. By the way I'm a 5 handicap golfer but too close to the club sometimes . I personally like Woburn for contrast of length, the layout and manicured aspects. Rockcliffe is great, Selby close to us is all year great but please help me with your best examples and any recommendations we should implement that you feel would make a difference and exceed expectations. Thank you
This is where I need your help! We have canvassed feedback and recommendations from our members, but we want to find "role models" in terms if stunning golf courses and examples of brilliant customer service. I want our team to see what excellent looks like and what goal we should be setting.
I know a sports thread and not business but I want golfers from all around the UK to share their best experiences. By the way I'm a 5 handicap golfer but too close to the club sometimes . I personally like Woburn for contrast of length, the layout and manicured aspects. Rockcliffe is great, Selby close to us is all year great but please help me with your best examples and any recommendations we should implement that you feel would make a difference and exceed expectations. Thank you
Just my opinion;
Good offers for guests; reasonable twilight rounds and offers 2 for 1 etc.
A friendly website preferably displaying course conditions and listing any course restrictions temp greens etc.
Good online booking system.
Different subscription packages I.e student rates, off peak membership..
A friendly and helpful pro to welcome new players, on too many occasions I have been intimidated by stuffy staff at courses..
These are the things I look for, hope this helps!
ETA: this is my home courses website http://www.lilleybrook.co.uk I think a golf course guide is also a nice thing to have online!
Good offers for guests; reasonable twilight rounds and offers 2 for 1 etc.
A friendly website preferably displaying course conditions and listing any course restrictions temp greens etc.
Good online booking system.
Different subscription packages I.e student rates, off peak membership..
A friendly and helpful pro to welcome new players, on too many occasions I have been intimidated by stuffy staff at courses..
These are the things I look for, hope this helps!
ETA: this is my home courses website http://www.lilleybrook.co.uk I think a golf course guide is also a nice thing to have online!
Condition of the course should be your number one priority.
Greens and fairways goes without saying, but pay attention to the details. Things that are often overlooked but make a big difference, well cut holes with nice flags, condition of the bunkers, neat tidy paths, flat tidy tee boxes, ball washers that work and a hundred other things.
People will come if the course is nice. Then you can focus the customer service side of things.
A well stocked well laid out pro shop. With friendly welcoming is always a nice start when visiting a new course. I find it often sets the tone for the rest of the day.
These days I think the club house needs to open and welcoming than the stuffy old club house of the past. Allow jeans
as long as they are smart. This should encourage families in.
Reasonably priced good food and decent beer is a must. Again the staff in the club house need to be friendly and welcoming.
I agree with what has been said above, but nothing is more irritating than a course having a fancy website showing a great looking course and the reality being some what different when you get there.
Greens and fairways goes without saying, but pay attention to the details. Things that are often overlooked but make a big difference, well cut holes with nice flags, condition of the bunkers, neat tidy paths, flat tidy tee boxes, ball washers that work and a hundred other things.
People will come if the course is nice. Then you can focus the customer service side of things.
A well stocked well laid out pro shop. With friendly welcoming is always a nice start when visiting a new course. I find it often sets the tone for the rest of the day.
These days I think the club house needs to open and welcoming than the stuffy old club house of the past. Allow jeans
as long as they are smart. This should encourage families in.Reasonably priced good food and decent beer is a must. Again the staff in the club house need to be friendly and welcoming.
I agree with what has been said above, but nothing is more irritating than a course having a fancy website showing a great looking course and the reality being some what different when you get there.
Im a new person to golf, so I can only give a limited insight, but the big challenge I face is the intimidation of certain golf clubs, and the stuffiness of clubhouses. Especially if your new to the game unsure about some of the rules, and etiquette.
Perhaps some ideas to attract new members?
- Deals on golf lessons with a Pro
- 241 on Green Fee's
- Opportunity for new members to join 3 or 4 Balls
- Discounted membership for 6 months
Not sure if you have a driving range, but one idea would be that the pro spends sometime at the range when its busy informally chatting to people, giving some tips/advice. Would certainly help new people to golf and would be a good easy way to advertise their lessons.
Perhaps some ideas to attract new members?
- Deals on golf lessons with a Pro
- 241 on Green Fee's
- Opportunity for new members to join 3 or 4 Balls
- Discounted membership for 6 months
Not sure if you have a driving range, but one idea would be that the pro spends sometime at the range when its busy informally chatting to people, giving some tips/advice. Would certainly help new people to golf and would be a good easy way to advertise their lessons.
Hi, I agree with most of the above but do not ignore the customer service!! This is the quickest way to change the customer experience. You can have the most beautifully manicured greens but if the staff in the clubhouse collecting green fees and serving a much needed drink are rude and surly then this is where your business is lost!!
You mention customer comments what are the negatives? Digest them and put them right. This should very easy to particularly if as stated the staff are willing to help. It may be the previous owner had them all demotivated....
You mention customer comments what are the negatives? Digest them and put them right. This should very easy to particularly if as stated the staff are willing to help. It may be the previous owner had them all demotivated....
http://www.cardenpark.co.uk/
http://www.hartfordgolf.co.uk/
Two clubs I frequent at different ends of the golfing experience. Hartford could probably teach you a lot for such a small operation. It is cheap and cheerful and where I improved my game when first getting serious with golf. Not fussy but a
lovely little nine holer. I know I can ring in the week get a round at short notice and play in my jeans if I want. They have century acquired a second course so the recipe is clearly working!
http://www.hartfordgolf.co.uk/
Two clubs I frequent at different ends of the golfing experience. Hartford could probably teach you a lot for such a small operation. It is cheap and cheerful and where I improved my game when first getting serious with golf. Not fussy but a
lovely little nine holer. I know I can ring in the week get a round at short notice and play in my jeans if I want. They have century acquired a second course so the recipe is clearly working!
28Valves said:
Condition of the course should be your number one priority.
Greens and fairways goes without saying, but pay attention to the details. Things that are often overlooked but make a big difference, well cut holes with nice flags, condition of the bunkers, neat tidy paths, flat tidy tee boxes, ball washers that work and a hundred other things.
This...this...this.Greens and fairways goes without saying, but pay attention to the details. Things that are often overlooked but make a big difference, well cut holes with nice flags, condition of the bunkers, neat tidy paths, flat tidy tee boxes, ball washers that work and a hundred other things.
The biggest most consistent moan you will here is the state of the greens, followed by the cups being worn so you can't hit the putt firm. Not enough/ too much sand in the bunkers, and crap bounces off the fairways into un-kept first cut rough will be next,then not being able to tee it up on a flat bit of grass. Then it will be slow play (posters about this everywhere you look will go down well),followed by members moaning that they can't get a tee-time due to a society block booking (unfortunately a double edged sword if ever there was one).
Get the above right, and the odd crap burger or barmaid that has had a bad day is soon forgotten( as long of course that it is a rare occurrence).
With regards to the members, although over the last 25 years Societies have become massively important to the financial well being of golf clubs, make sure the members aren't feeling that they get a crap deal compared with the once-a-yearers.It would be advisable to contact lost members to research their reasons, my guess is there will bea common theme.
You'll never please everyone all the time, but golfers know there's much more chance of a great round on a well looked after course than a neglected one, and they remember the good rounds(and where it was)for a long long while.
sjc said:
28Valves said:
Condition of the course should be your number one priority.
Greens and fairways goes without saying, but pay attention to the details. Things that are often overlooked but make a big difference, well cut holes with nice flags, condition of the bunkers, neat tidy paths, flat tidy tee boxes, ball washers that work and a hundred other things.
This...this...this.Greens and fairways goes without saying, but pay attention to the details. Things that are often overlooked but make a big difference, well cut holes with nice flags, condition of the bunkers, neat tidy paths, flat tidy tee boxes, ball washers that work and a hundred other things.
The biggest most consistent moan you will here is the state of the greens, followed by the cups being worn so you can't hit the putt firm. Not enough/ too much sand in the bunkers, and crap bounces off the fairways into un-kept first cut rough will be next,then not being able to tee it up on a flat bit of grass. Then it will be slow play (posters about this everywhere you look will go down well),followed by members moaning that they can't get a tee-time due to a society block booking (unfortunately a double edged sword if ever there was one).
Get the above right, and the odd crap burger or barmaid that has had a bad day is soon forgotten( as long of course that it is a rare occurrence).
With regards to the members, although over the last 25 years Societies have become massively important to the financial well being of golf clubs, make sure the members aren't feeling that they get a crap deal compared with the once-a-yearers.It would be advisable to contact lost members to research their reasons, my guess is there will bea common theme.
You'll never please everyone all the time, but golfers know there's much more chance of a great round on a well looked after course than a neglected one, and they remember the good rounds(and where it was)for a long long while.
Thank you so much for feedback. Thank you
Jamie
Tuffer
SJC
Bit of a Unit
Challo
28 Valves
I'm having team meeting next Monday 9th June, I'm going to print off all the suggestions and share. The session is a bit of opening up all the frustration, get them on the table then agree that is the past. Then a full review of member feedback, go through this forum ideas then a brainstorm of ideas. Then next 2-4 weeks will pull together a vision of what we aspiring to be like, and strategy / actions etc. to deliver to a timely plan.
From my experience a average plan achieves average results, so I want something completely out of the box, something to be proud to get up for on a Monday morning. We haven't got budget to deliver a Belfry, a Celtic Manor, Forest Pines facility etc but Im sure with focus on basics and willingness to be best at customer service and focus on detail on the course.
So any further ideas very much appreciated, they will make a difference. Plus when looking for a course to visit what is you key purchasing criteria, how do you look for a course, what websites etc.
Wasn't thinking about competitions, but as you guys/girls are really helping, I will provide a round for 4 people including a meal for the best contribution poster. If our location is too far I will substitute for Dozen pack of Titleist PRO V1's delivered. Ill ask thread contributors to choose winner no later than Thursday 19th June.
Thanks again.
Jamie
Tuffer
SJC
Bit of a Unit
Challo
28 Valves
I'm having team meeting next Monday 9th June, I'm going to print off all the suggestions and share. The session is a bit of opening up all the frustration, get them on the table then agree that is the past. Then a full review of member feedback, go through this forum ideas then a brainstorm of ideas. Then next 2-4 weeks will pull together a vision of what we aspiring to be like, and strategy / actions etc. to deliver to a timely plan.
From my experience a average plan achieves average results, so I want something completely out of the box, something to be proud to get up for on a Monday morning. We haven't got budget to deliver a Belfry, a Celtic Manor, Forest Pines facility etc but Im sure with focus on basics and willingness to be best at customer service and focus on detail on the course.
So any further ideas very much appreciated, they will make a difference. Plus when looking for a course to visit what is you key purchasing criteria, how do you look for a course, what websites etc.
Wasn't thinking about competitions, but as you guys/girls are really helping, I will provide a round for 4 people including a meal for the best contribution poster. If our location is too far I will substitute for Dozen pack of Titleist PRO V1's delivered. Ill ask thread contributors to choose winner no later than Thursday 19th June.
Thanks again.
Customer service should be easy at a golf course. As a member of a golf course for a few years now, and also running a fairly large golf society you see good and bad customer service, and I never understand the bad!
These are the key things I would say for your members:-
1) The club has to feel like it belongs to the members (even if it doesn't!).
2) Make sure members get priority for bookings, and have a set time that are members only - members can bring guests - but guests cannot play on their own.
3) Make sure the club is available to the members. Ensure that they can get a breakfast and a cup of tea 30 mins before the first tee off, and a pint after golf. No good having tee times, and not being able to eat before, and drink after. So many clubs get this wrong.
4) As others have said course needs to feel special to members. No temp tees, no temp greens (except in exceptional circumstances), make sure there is always noticeable work going on the course, and this work gets done in a reasonable time. Better to repair 2 bunkers a month, than 6 over 3 months - if that makes sense. The members see the effort is being made.
5) Ensure there is at least two comps per month on weekends. Make some of them 2 x days. Make sure there is a weekly medal, a seniors medal, a ladies medal etc every month.
6) Get a starter on the tee checking bag tags, green fees paid. Members don't like to see people sneaking on and playing their course. Also the starter becomes your eyes and ears of the course. The members will always tell the starter what they think.
7) Make the members want to come back in the evenings, quiz nights, horse racing, golf on tv (when on in US), dinner dance etc.
8) Make sure that the members understand that it is their course, and they are priority - BUT they have to give you the chance to make some money, to allow the club to prosper - see below!
Now for your guests - and where the club can make the most money
1) Open lunchtimes for food - and try and attract local business to come and eat there
2) Allow societies on at weekends. Need to compromise with members on this one - perhaps they can only go from 12:00 in DST, and from 10:00 in GMT. Explain to members that your competition weekends will be no societies.
3) Offer a free place for society organizer for over 16 players. It makes a huge difference to society on a budget
4) Offer to do 20% off purchases for society prizes from the shop. Offer society prize packages for a set amount.
5) Up the society price by a few quid and throw a towel, sleeve of balls, and tees in. Great free advertising when people play elsewhere.
6) Contact society organizer after the day to see how it went. You will get lots of repeat business if the course is good, and the customer service is met.
7) Offer a reward package for return casual golfers. Play 5 times and get a buggy free, or a round free. Remember is most likely you will have paid for the tee time already. That golfer on the free round may bring mates with him that will cover the tee time.
I would love to run a golf course. It is my dream job when I win the lottery, and don't need to rely on working for a living! By the way I don't play with PRO V's - they spin too much for me!
Hope some of that helps.
These are the key things I would say for your members:-
1) The club has to feel like it belongs to the members (even if it doesn't!).
2) Make sure members get priority for bookings, and have a set time that are members only - members can bring guests - but guests cannot play on their own.
3) Make sure the club is available to the members. Ensure that they can get a breakfast and a cup of tea 30 mins before the first tee off, and a pint after golf. No good having tee times, and not being able to eat before, and drink after. So many clubs get this wrong.
4) As others have said course needs to feel special to members. No temp tees, no temp greens (except in exceptional circumstances), make sure there is always noticeable work going on the course, and this work gets done in a reasonable time. Better to repair 2 bunkers a month, than 6 over 3 months - if that makes sense. The members see the effort is being made.
5) Ensure there is at least two comps per month on weekends. Make some of them 2 x days. Make sure there is a weekly medal, a seniors medal, a ladies medal etc every month.
6) Get a starter on the tee checking bag tags, green fees paid. Members don't like to see people sneaking on and playing their course. Also the starter becomes your eyes and ears of the course. The members will always tell the starter what they think.
7) Make the members want to come back in the evenings, quiz nights, horse racing, golf on tv (when on in US), dinner dance etc.
8) Make sure that the members understand that it is their course, and they are priority - BUT they have to give you the chance to make some money, to allow the club to prosper - see below!
Now for your guests - and where the club can make the most money
1) Open lunchtimes for food - and try and attract local business to come and eat there
2) Allow societies on at weekends. Need to compromise with members on this one - perhaps they can only go from 12:00 in DST, and from 10:00 in GMT. Explain to members that your competition weekends will be no societies.
3) Offer a free place for society organizer for over 16 players. It makes a huge difference to society on a budget
4) Offer to do 20% off purchases for society prizes from the shop. Offer society prize packages for a set amount.
5) Up the society price by a few quid and throw a towel, sleeve of balls, and tees in. Great free advertising when people play elsewhere.
6) Contact society organizer after the day to see how it went. You will get lots of repeat business if the course is good, and the customer service is met.
7) Offer a reward package for return casual golfers. Play 5 times and get a buggy free, or a round free. Remember is most likely you will have paid for the tee time already. That golfer on the free round may bring mates with him that will cover the tee time.
I would love to run a golf course. It is my dream job when I win the lottery, and don't need to rely on working for a living! By the way I don't play with PRO V's - they spin too much for me!
Hope some of that helps.
Stunning thanks Fats25. Although I'm not picking winner, I think your in the hat! I have a dozen lake balls that don't spin too much any good??!! All other leading brands etc come to mind.
What was your best door to door experience of been a society visitor, what has left a distinct great memory??
Thank you
What was your best door to door experience of been a society visitor, what has left a distinct great memory??
Thank you
I would like to add, make everybody feel welcome, not be an elitist course.
With regard the course, Clean tidy and presented, however make sure bins are emptied, that if you're and 18 and you have a pit stop at the 9/10th the times are noted at the start of a round, I like getting out very early and have noticed very few pit stops have clear opening times.
Rakes in bunkers, ball washes, fairway distance markers, just be consistent, flags and pet hate, divot marks, please ask players to repair them.
Club house, open and welcoming, are the rules stuffy? A round of golf is not cheap, and spending money afterwards should be wanted to be done, not feel as if you are unwanted as a guest.
If you have space, chipping, putting practice area.
Oh clean toilets.. and a changing room with lockers
With regard the course, Clean tidy and presented, however make sure bins are emptied, that if you're and 18 and you have a pit stop at the 9/10th the times are noted at the start of a round, I like getting out very early and have noticed very few pit stops have clear opening times.
Rakes in bunkers, ball washes, fairway distance markers, just be consistent, flags and pet hate, divot marks, please ask players to repair them.
Club house, open and welcoming, are the rules stuffy? A round of golf is not cheap, and spending money afterwards should be wanted to be done, not feel as if you are unwanted as a guest.
If you have space, chipping, putting practice area.
Oh clean toilets.. and a changing room with lockers
hello there,
I`ve worked in the golf industry 25 years give or take and I`ve given up playing in the UK give or take a round or two.
If you really want to see how golf should be in the UK, i.e. more participatory, non elitist and what it should be.......FUN and RELAXING take a trip to Scandinavia; I promise it will pay dividends. I`d recommend Hillside Golf Club in Finland.
I also work for one of the UK`s leading agrochem and fert companies with a specialist sportsturf division. PM me and I will make sure you/your greenkeeping team get access to preferred pricing through one of our distributors.
One other piece of advice, EVERYONE will offer advice on course maintenance and agronomics. For your first year get a decent INDEPENDANT advisor on board. I can recommend http://www.bjgolf.co.uk/about.html but there are many more.
I have run training seminars for the greenstaff at Rockliffe on various technologies and the head greenkeeper there is a really good guy. I`m sure he wouldn`t mind talking to you.
I`ve worked in the golf industry 25 years give or take and I`ve given up playing in the UK give or take a round or two.
If you really want to see how golf should be in the UK, i.e. more participatory, non elitist and what it should be.......FUN and RELAXING take a trip to Scandinavia; I promise it will pay dividends. I`d recommend Hillside Golf Club in Finland.
I also work for one of the UK`s leading agrochem and fert companies with a specialist sportsturf division. PM me and I will make sure you/your greenkeeping team get access to preferred pricing through one of our distributors.
One other piece of advice, EVERYONE will offer advice on course maintenance and agronomics. For your first year get a decent INDEPENDANT advisor on board. I can recommend http://www.bjgolf.co.uk/about.html but there are many more.
I have run training seminars for the greenstaff at Rockliffe on various technologies and the head greenkeeper there is a really good guy. I`m sure he wouldn`t mind talking to you.
SagMan said:
Stunning thanks Fats25. Although I'm not picking winner, I think your in the hat! I have a dozen lake balls that don't spin too much any good??!! All other leading brands etc come to mind.
What was your best door to door experience of been a society visitor, what has left a distinct great memory??
Thank you
With regards to courses we play a variety of cheap and cheerful, and more expensive. Check out my website http://www.letournoi.co.uk/?page_id=1631 for the courses we have booked for this year. All of them so far have been excellent, and we book them all for different reasons. What was your best door to door experience of been a society visitor, what has left a distinct great memory??
Thank you
You will get to see what their websites look like, and what they offer and charge. e.g. our January event gets our business every year. They never close, they give a good breakfast, cheap (so we make more money as everyone wants to get our in Jan and we charge a supplement for our society), no temp greens or tees. However I would never play the course in June - as there are far better courses for the money.
Then June society is a Friday - we can't get on that course on weekends, but it is an excellent summer course, so we are prepared to take a day off and pay the premium.
We played a course last year. http://www.farleighfox.co.uk/golf/golf-at-farleigh... The best clubhouse (modern) I have ever been in the UK. Really showed what a club house should be all about. Excellent customer services as well. However the course was awful - so we have never been back.
Another local course http://www.sweetwoodspark.com/ - a cracking course always fantastic customer service, and then they stopped societies on weekends and tried to become elitist. It lasted 3 years, and they lost loads of members as they could not afford the upkeep of the course. Change of management, societies back on weekends, making money = better course = more members. They are back on track.
One more thing that is cheap as chips and really makes a difference - either a halfway house if you can, or even better ensure there is a buggy going round the course selling hot drinks in the winter, and cold drinks in the summer. Get an 18 year old and you can sell alcohol - pay them minimum wage, and let them keep the tips. Societies will spend a fortune. To be fair a halfway house in winter with pasties, sausage rolls, and tea/coffee is perfect. Summertime the buggy works better.
To be honest the most important factor that brings me to a course is value for money, I dknt always pick the cheapest but will always choose the one that I perceive as the best deal.
A couple of recent examples; round of golf and a meal £25.
I also play at a course that offers a loyalty card scheme which is nice.. I think every 6th round is free!
Another important thing in my opinion is getting the balance between the feel of a members club but also a welcoming club for visitors. There needs to be regular slots set aside just for members and also members nights (3 club comps etc).
Regular newsletters and useful mail shots are also a good idea letting members and potential members know what's going on at the course and keeping them informed of upcoming events.
A nice touch my course is doing at the moment is called. 'Play with the pro' it gives members the opportunity to arrange a round with the pro and then a write up is posted on the fortnightly newsletter.
A decent halfway hut selling drinks and snacks if space/budget permits.
Water fountains strategically placed around the course for water refills.
A starter on weekends is a nice touch but getting the right person is key..
The reason I joined my club as a member is because they offer student rates, I can't afford £1200 a year. However they recognise that hopefully when I graduate I will be in the market to join at at 'propper subscription rate' so it's a nice thing to offer me an affordable way to play..
Crowne golf send out an e-advent Callander each year with deals to open Each day which was quite good fun!!
I believe you understand In terms of course quality what is expected but the smaller customer focused details are also hugely important.
Apologies my post doesn't have much flow as I'm just rambling on..
Edited for spelling..
A couple of recent examples; round of golf and a meal £25.
I also play at a course that offers a loyalty card scheme which is nice.. I think every 6th round is free!
Another important thing in my opinion is getting the balance between the feel of a members club but also a welcoming club for visitors. There needs to be regular slots set aside just for members and also members nights (3 club comps etc).
Regular newsletters and useful mail shots are also a good idea letting members and potential members know what's going on at the course and keeping them informed of upcoming events.
A nice touch my course is doing at the moment is called. 'Play with the pro' it gives members the opportunity to arrange a round with the pro and then a write up is posted on the fortnightly newsletter.
A decent halfway hut selling drinks and snacks if space/budget permits.
Water fountains strategically placed around the course for water refills.
A starter on weekends is a nice touch but getting the right person is key..
The reason I joined my club as a member is because they offer student rates, I can't afford £1200 a year. However they recognise that hopefully when I graduate I will be in the market to join at at 'propper subscription rate' so it's a nice thing to offer me an affordable way to play..
Crowne golf send out an e-advent Callander each year with deals to open Each day which was quite good fun!!
I believe you understand In terms of course quality what is expected but the smaller customer focused details are also hugely important.
Apologies my post doesn't have much flow as I'm just rambling on..
Edited for spelling..
Edited by Jamie VTS on Wednesday 4th June 14:22
SagMan said:
Then a full review of member feedback.
I really would make a big effort to find from former members the reasons they left. Ironically since I suggested that above a few hours ago, I've had a call from West Ham United asking my reasons for not renewing my season ticket. Although I've run a business myself for 26 years, it still perked me up to get the call.Sagman said:
We haven't got budget to deliver a Belfry, a Celtic Manor, Forest Pines facility etc but Im sure with focus on basics and willingness to be best at customer service and focus on detail on the course.
Exactly, the experience at the Belfry is nothing to get excited about,without the Ryder cup history it would be nothing, and as for Celtic Manor, my favourite out of the three is the Monty course, not the one that's had millions spent on it for TV with zero character. Both the Belfry and Celtic Manor also suffer from the typical overplayed corporate non golfer/society pitfalls of divots and pitch marks everywhere by 11am.This is another bugbear, especially when you are playing there for the "experience". Just try and maybe market your course as a bit of a hidden (but not too hidden!)gem.SagMan said:
Plus when looking for a course to visit what is you key purchasing criteria, how do you look for a course, what websites etc.
Word of mouth. A website can say or promise anything, golfers talk to golfers and share their experiences. They'll tell you about every shot they played, what way the stripes went on the grass,the temperature,how good looking the barmaid was and God knows what else..... but I've never heard one say how much they loved the website....Edited by sjc on Wednesday 4th June 14:47
sjc said:
Word of mouth. A website can say or promise anything, golfers talk to golfers and share their experiences. They'll tell you about every shot they played, what way the stripes went on the grass,the temperature,how good looking the barmaid was and God knows what else..... but I've never heard one say how much they loved the website....
Absolutely. However you will be amazed how many times I get a call from society members telling me how crap a website is on a new course we have not played before when they are trying to look at the course!
They want to see a course planner, photos and directions. Funnily enough as a member, I have never heard anyone mention the website!
sjc said:
but I've never heard one say how much they loved the website....
Personally, the first impression I get of a course is the website, I want to know how much it's going to cost, when I can play and see some photos or videos of the holes.Edited by sjc on Wednesday 4th June 14:28
Obviously a flash website and a s
t course is no good but if a club has a user friendly and regularly updated website that will play a huge factor in making my decision!jontysafe said:
hello there,
I`ve worked in the golf industry 25 years give or take and I`ve given up playing in the UK give or take a round or two.
If you really want to see how golf should be in the UK, i.e. more participatory, non elitist and what it should be.......FUN and RELAXING take a trip to Scandinavia; I promise it will pay dividends. I`d recommend Hillside Golf Club in Finland.
I also work for one of the UK`s leading agrochem and fert companies with a specialist sportsturf division. PM me and I will make sure you/your greenkeeping team get access to preferred pricing through one of our distributors.
One other piece of advice, EVERYONE will offer advice on course maintenance and agronomics. For your first year get a decent INDEPENDANT advisor on board. I can recommend http://www.bjgolf.co.uk/about.html but there are many more.
I have run training seminars for the greenstaff at Rockliffe on various technologies and the head greenkeeper there is a really good guy. I`m sure he wouldn`t mind talking to you.
Ive sent you a PM. Thank you sir.I`ve worked in the golf industry 25 years give or take and I`ve given up playing in the UK give or take a round or two.
If you really want to see how golf should be in the UK, i.e. more participatory, non elitist and what it should be.......FUN and RELAXING take a trip to Scandinavia; I promise it will pay dividends. I`d recommend Hillside Golf Club in Finland.
I also work for one of the UK`s leading agrochem and fert companies with a specialist sportsturf division. PM me and I will make sure you/your greenkeeping team get access to preferred pricing through one of our distributors.
One other piece of advice, EVERYONE will offer advice on course maintenance and agronomics. For your first year get a decent INDEPENDANT advisor on board. I can recommend http://www.bjgolf.co.uk/about.html but there are many more.
I have run training seminars for the greenstaff at Rockliffe on various technologies and the head greenkeeper there is a really good guy. I`m sure he wouldn`t mind talking to you.
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