So here goes, together with 8 friends and colleagues we have been working on a specialised golf website , to make it a success we believe it will be, we've had to do a lot of research and thanks to some amazing help from 5 interns at Coventry University Business School we've now got a much clearer picture about Golf.
Here is a glimpse at one stat we found
I believe Golf isn't in decline it's just being accessed in a different way.
Traditionally people joined golf club , played mostly at that venue, made friends and formed micro communities. The golf club became a central meeting place and a go to environment. All this happened way before current communication was the norm. Back then golfers agreed to meet up next week and stuck to their plans.
So let's fast forward to 2015, mobile technology and the Internet, how's these 2 things transformed the golfing world?
Quite simply choice, we can choose where and when we play we can invite friends at the touch of a button , choose the amount we want to pay at a course of our choice, Golf Clubs fight for our business and make it a NO BRAINER not to join theirs because the deals are so fantastic for the consumer, why on earth would the modern Savvy Golfer want a membership weight around their neck?
Golfers don't need to be loyal anymore, they can get their handicaps on line, track their scores, seek out advice on forums , get the best deals on golfing equipment and have it sent to their home FOC.
Just because Non Members of golf clubs can't easily be tracked doesn't mean that they are not playing. It's different to how it used to be, unions fees are dropping through the roof and they scream golfs on the decline, when it really isn't , clubs have just created a MUNICIPAL culture and the Internet has enabled it to grow.
Golfers CAN have their cake and eat it.
I love this saying from "FIELD OF DREAMS" if you build it they will come, give golfers a reason to come to your venue and they probably will; but not alone, they will invite their Facebook friends, txt their mates and share in linked in and twitter groups. The golfing world is the smallest it's ever been because of these social media sites, stories are spread to every corner of the world and before you know it's gone viral.
Once clubs wake up to the power of sharing and do something about it, then their stories will be told, stop being exclusive and become inclusive, welcome the modern golfer into their world and all of a sudden courses will be full again.
Remember Golfers haven't stopped playing they just do it when they want to, not when you want them too.
Become open minded to new ideas, and make sure you spread the word preferably not on the notice board stuck in the corner.
These are some of my own thoughts and I'm always happy to share your spin on this story.
Thanks for reading
JULIAN MELLOR
PGA PROFESSIONAL
Julianmellorpga.blogspot.co.uk
www.julianmellorgolfschool.co.uk
