Survey findings 'will help shape facilities plan' for clubs and courses

Golf Correspondent

Tuesday 12 June 2012

One of the most comprehensive surveys of Scottish golf has revealed almost half of the country's clubs are operating at a loss.

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Nick Rodger

The findings of the National Facilities Survey, an in-depth audit of 1300 golfers and 498 clubs or facilities across the nation, were produced last night and unveiled some interesting figures. Some make for grim reading, others offer encouraging signs to cling to going forward.

It is well known that clubs have been toiling for a number of years and face a constant battle with membership retention. Such struggles have been laid bare with 49% of respondents stating they did not make a profit over the past 12 months while 42% said they did not expect to make a profit during the next year. Some 89% of clubs surveyed said they are actively seeking new members. With 597 courses in Scotland, the research highlights what many observers already know; the domestic market is near saturation point.The wide-ranging survey indicated a lack of good practice facilities, either indoor or outdoor, with limited access to coaches, all combining to prevent the average Scottish golfer from reaching his or her potential.The worrying trends are bountiful yet, amid the sombre stats, there are some more optimistic numbers.The feedback illustrated a strong emphasis towards junior development, with 85% of clubs having a junior membership while 70% provided regular coaching for youngsters. Steps towards the retention of juniors into adult membership have also been taken, with 69% of respondents having introduced an intermediate category to target young adults.The results of the survey are set to tee-off a new facilities plan aimed at improving the development of the game at all levels over the next decade, including the creation of 50 development centres. This won't come cheap, of course. A predicted £7.2m of public sector and private funding over the next eight years – an average investment of £900,000 each year until 2020 – will be required to achieve the goals. Some £5m already has been pumped into golf facility development since Clubgolf, the national junior strategy, was launched in 2003."The findings have helped us shape our facilities plan to provide a more structured approach to supporting the long-term sustainability of clubs and courses," said Andy Salmon, the Scottish Golf Development Manager.

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Survey findings 'will help shape facilities plan' for clubs and courses

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