What Some Golf Clubs Do Wrong

What Some Golf Clubs Do Wrong is a short golf blog post that looks at a few basics that would make golf clubs more attractive. There are still many golf clubs out there that are struggling to attract new members or retain existing members. Since I have looked into this a little deeper, I have found several things that they all have in common. Poor Customer Service This is a massive problem that many golf courses are guilty of. There is nothing worse than arriving at a golf course to find miserable/unfriendly staff. According to Tripadvisor, nearly 40% of all customer complaints at golf clubs are about Poor Customer Service. Many Tripadvisor reviewers articulated that ‘they would not return’ due to how they were treated. “Today’s visitors are tomorrow’s members” Tell that to the one specific person in the one specific place in St Andrews (Naming no names, but everyone knows him) On/Off Course Facilities Over 30% of all complaints are about the food. Many golf clubs still seem to believe that all golfers want is Bacon Sandwiches, Chicken Wings, Fish & Chips, and Burgers. How wrong they are! When are they going to open their eyes and start offering different dishes? The golfers are not just complaining about the food choices, but also about the quality of the produce and how it is cooked and served. Poor locker room facilities are also discussed and complained about. Complaints include the facilities being old and filthy, with poor showers and uncleaned toilets. Halfway houses (if there is one) are either closed or sell unwanted consumables like steak pies, sausage rolls and alcohol. These are often too expensive or have a lack of choice. Should Halfway Houses be compulsory stops? Poor Communication In this day and age, when so many of us use email & social media daily, there is no excuse for poor or non-existent communication. Regular newsletters or social media posts are all that it takes to keep your members up to speed. Some golf clubs still fail to see the importance of a good website. If you want to attract new visitors and members, then surely the priority is to showcase the golf club and its facilities. Strict Dress Rules This will always be a discussion/debate among golfers, but golf clubs should start relaxing some of their rules. There should be no reason to wear Jackets and Ties in the clubhouse unless it is a special occasion. Spikeless golf shoes should now be allowed in the clubhouse, or at least have a purpose-built spike bar available to guests. Having a strict dress code in the clubhouse is just another way of pushing members and visitors away. What are your thoughts on What Some Golf Clubs Do Wrong? Please leave a comment by filling out a Contact Form. To read more of my golf blog posts, click here. Image by talha khalil from Pixabay Main Image by Tumisu from Pixabay